PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES

The percentage of persons with disabilities varies by state. It also depends on how disability levels— the degree to which a disability impacts a person’s life—affect employment, income, poverty, and health behaviors. According to the 2020 Disability Statistics Compendium, 41.2 million persons had a disability in 2019, which is 12.7 percent of the nation’s total population. California was the state with the highest number (4,131,700) of persons with disabilities; Wyoming had the smallest number (77,816) due to the state’s smaller population.

Among persons with disabilities, 38.4 percent have non-physically visible disabilities, such as a learning or cognitive disability, hearing loss, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn’s disease. In 2019, Delaware had the highest percentage (43.3 percent) and South Dakota had the lowest percentage (31.8 percent) of persons with disabilities in this category.

In 2018, the percentage of workingage civilian veterans with a U.S. Veterans Administration-determined service-connected disability was 27.9 percent

12.7% With Disabilities, 2019 U.S. Population

38.4% Non-Physically Visible, 2019 U.S. Population with Disabilities

27.9% Service-Connected Civilian Veterans, 2018 U.S. Veterans Administration