Updated figures show Australia has witnessed a significant surge in disability prevalence, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s understanding and measurement of disability.
According to the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, gathered in 2022, the number of Australians living with a disability increased to 5.5 million or 21.4% of the population.
This is a striking increase from 17.7% in 2018, a figure that had remained relatively consistent for two decades (15% in 1998). The rise was seen across genders, with a notable uptick in the number of people reporting profound or severe disability. The proportion of primary carers with disability also dramatically increased from 32.1% to 43.8%.
