Disability and Functioning (Noninstitutionalized Adults Aged 18 and Over)

Related Links

• National Health Interview Survey
• National Health Interview Survey on Disability
• Disability and Health Data System (DHDS)
• National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• National Institutes of Health
• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
• Washington Group on Disability Statistics

Selected sensory problems

• Number of adults with hearing trouble: 37.2 million
• Percent of adults with hearing trouble: 15.3%
• Number of adults with vision trouble: 22.9 million
• Percent of adults with vision trouble: 9.4%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table A-6 [PDF – 151 KB]

Difficulties in physical functioning

• Number of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 18.2 million
• Percent of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 7.5%
• Number of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 39.6 million
• Percent of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 16.3%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table A-10 [PDF – 272 KB]

Basic actions difficulties or complex activity limitations

• Number of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 77.0 million (2015)
• Percent of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 32.2% (2015)
• Number of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 26.5 million (2015)
• Percent of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 59.8% (2015)

Source: Health, United States, 2016, table 42 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Need help with personal care

• Percent of adults aged 65-74 who need help with personal care from other persons: 3.4%
• Percent of adults aged 75 and over who need help with personal care from other persons: 12.0%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table P-3c [PDF – 104 KB]

Selected sensory problems

• Number of adults with hearing trouble: 37.2 million
• Percent of adults with hearing trouble: 15.3%
• Number of adults with vision trouble: 22.9 million
• Percent of adults with vision trouble: 9.4%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table A-6 [PDF – 151 KB]

Difficulties in physical functioning

• Number of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 18.2 million
• Percent of adults unable (or very difficult) to walk a quarter mile: 7.5%
• Number of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 39.6 million
• Percent of adults with any physical functioning difficulty: 16.3%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table A-10 [PDF – 272 KB]

Basic actions difficulties or complex activity limitations

• Number of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 77.0 million (2015)
• Percent of adults aged 18 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 32.2% (2015)
• Number of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 26.5 million (2015)
• Percent of adults aged 65 and over with at least one basic actions difficulty or complex activity limitation: 59.8% (2015)

Source: Health, United States, 2016, table 42 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

Need help with personal care

• Percent of adults aged 65-74 who need help with personal care from other persons: 3.4%
• Percent of adults aged 75 and over who need help with personal care from other persons: 12.0%

Source: Summary Health Statistics Tables for the U.S. Population: National Health Interview Survey, 2015, Table P-3c [PDF – 104 KB]