Disability Facts and Figures
FACT #1
Existing data from government agencies estimated that approximately 3% of the resident population are unable to or had some difficulty performing at least one basic activity.1
FACT #2
Persons with physical disabilities would constitute half of the disability group. The remainder comprises those with sensory (hearing or vision loss), intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.2
FACT #3
Only 3 in 10 persons with disabilities who are in the working age are employed and two-thirds in this age group are outside of the labour force.3
FACT #4
About 7,000 children are diagnosed with developmental needs such as autism and language development delays in Singapore every year.4
FACT #5
In 2022, there are 27,000 students with mild special education needs in mainstream schools, while 7,000 students are in SPED schools.5
FACT #6
Singaporeans are living longer but those aged 60 and above will spend 3 to 8 years of their lives with some form of disabilities.6
- Department of Statistics Singapore.(2020) Singapore Census of Population 2020, Statistical Release 2.
- Ministry of Social and Family Development.(2018) Total Number Of Persons With Disabilities In Singapore.
- Channel News Asia. (2019) Almost 3 in 10 people with disabilities who are of working age are employed: MOM survey.
- 65% of parents of kids with development needs require professional mental health support_ The Straits Times
- The Straits Times. (2022) Support available in schools for families caring for special needs children: Chan Chun Sing.
- The Straits Times. (2018) Programmes that help with seniors’ needs.
