Section 1 Population and Prevalence
(14 tables in this section)This section presents statistics on U.S. resident population and projected population, as well as disability prevalence. The prevalence statistics describe disability prevalence by age and by disability type. The principal source of these data is the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the American Community Survey.
Table 1.1 - Resident Population—States: 2006 to 2009
In 2010, the resident population in the United States was estimated to be 309,050,816 individuals, up from 298,431,771 individuals in 2006—a 3.4 percent increase. The state with the largest population in 2010 was California, with 37,266,600 individuals. The state with the smallest population in 2010 was Wyoming, with 547,637individuals. The largest percentage increase in population from 2006 to 2010 was in Utah—a 8.8 percent increase, while the largest decrease in population was in Michigan—a 1.5 percent decrease.
Table 1.2 - State Resident Population—Projections: 2015 to 2030
The projected 2030 resident population in the United States is 363,584,435 individuals—a projected 19.6 percent increase from 2008. The state with the largest projected population in 2030 is California, with 46,444,861 individuals. The largest projected percentage increase in population from 2008 to 2030 is in Arizona—a 64.8 percent increase, while the largest projected decrease in population was in the District of Columbia—a 26.8 percent decrease.
Projections for July 1. These state projections were produced in correspondence with the U.S. interim projections released in March 2004. Projections in this table were developed for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia by age and sex for the years 2000 to 2030, based on Census 2000 results.
Table 1.3 - Civilians Living in the Community for the United States and States, by Disability Status: 2010
Based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS), in 2010, there were 304,287,836 individuals living in the community, 36,354,712 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 11.9 percent. The state with the largest number of individuals with disabilities was California, with 3,640,092 individuals with disabilities, while the state with the smallest number of individuals with disabilities was Wyoming, with 65,570 individuals with disabilities. West Virginia had the highest prevalence rate, 18.9 percent, while Utah had the lowest prevalence rate, 8.5 percent.
Table 1.4 - Civilians Ages Under 5 Years Living in the Community for the U.S. and States, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, there were 20,132,071 individuals under 5 years old living in the community, 156,038 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 0.8 percent. For this age range, Maine had the highest prevalence rate, 1.8 percent, while North and South Dakota had the lowest prevalence rate, 0.3 percent.
Table 1.5 - Civilians Ages 5 to 17 Years Living in the Community for the U.S. and States, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, there were 53,885,453 individuals ages 5 to 17 years living in the community, 2,798,597 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 5.2 percent. For this age range, the District of Columbia had the highest prevalence rate, 8.4 percent, while North Dakota had the lowest prevalence rate, 4.1 percent.
Table 1.6 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the U.S. and States, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, there were 191,138,060 individuals ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 19,048,426 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 10.0 percent. For this age range, West Virginia had the highest prevalence rate, 17.2 percent, while New Jersey had the lowest prevalence rate, 7.3 percent.
Table 1.7 - Civilians Ages 65 Years and Over Living in the Community for the United States and States, by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, there were 39,132,252 individuals ages 65 years and over living in the community, 14,351,651 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 36.7 percent. For this age range, Mississippi had the highest prevalence rate, 45.5 percent, while Delaware had the lowest prevalence rate, 31.3 percent.
Table 1.8 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Hearing Disability: 2010
3,924,360 individuals (or 2.1 percent) had a hearing disability,
Table 1.9 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Vision Disability: 2010
3,209,067 individuals (or 1.7 percent) had a vision disability
Table 1.10 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Cognitive Disability: 2010
7,943,002 individuals (or 4.2 percent) had a cognitive disability,
Table 1.11 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Ambulatory Disability: 2010
9,856,708 individuals (or 5.2 percent) had an ambulatory disability,
Table 1.12 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Self-Care Disability: 2010
3,444,202 individuals (or 1.8 percent) had a self-care disability,
Table 1.13 - Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States—Independent Living Disability (ILD): 2010
6,648,058 individuals (or 3.5 percent) had an independent living disability.
Table 1.14 - Change in Civilians with Disabilities Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2009 to 2010
In 2009, there were 36,150,710 individuals with disabilities living in the community. In 2010, there were 36,354,712 individuals with disabilities living in the community, a 0.56 percent increase. The largest percentage increase in the population of individuals with disabilities from 2009 to 2010 was in the Rhode Island, a 10.26 percent increase. The District of Columbia had the largest decrease in the population of individuals with disabilities from 2009 to 2010, an 8.54 percent decrease.
American Community Survey (ACS)—The ACS is a large, continuous demographic survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that will provide accurate and up-to-date profiles of America’s communities every year. Annual and multi-year estimates of population and housing data are generated for small areas, including tracts and population subgroups. This information is collected by mailing questionnaires to a sample of addresses.
Ambulatory Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals five or more years old who responded “yes” when asked if they had “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.”
Cognitive Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals who indicated “yes” when asked if due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition, they had “serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.”
Disability Status (ACS)—The U.S. Census Bureau used six questions to identify persons with disabilities. A response of “yes” to any one of the questions indicates that the person in question has a disability—vision, hearing, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living. However, the cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living related questions are not used to identify disability in individuals less than 5 years old, and the independent living related question is not used to identify disability in individuals less than 18 years old.
Hearing Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals who indicated “yes” when asked if they were “deaf or … [had] serious difficulty hearing.”
Independent Living Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals who indicated “yes” when asked if, due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition, they had difficulty “doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping.”
Resident Population—All residents (both civilian and Armed Forces) living in the United States (all 50 states and the District of Columbia).
Self-Care Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals five or more years old who responded “yes” when asked if they had “serious difficulty dressing or bathing.”
Vision Disability (ACS)—In the ACS, individuals who indicated “yes” when asked if they were “blind or … [had] serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses.”