Figure 3.1 shows the number of persons in each age group by type of disability. The most common disability was difficulty with pain, breathing or other chronic illness followed by a difficulty with basic physical activities, both strongly age related.

Among children of school going age a difficulty with learning, remembering and concentrating was most common.

The incidence of deafness was relatively low up to age 50 before rising steadily thereafter, while blindness begins to increase at age 75 and beyond. Psychological conditions peaked during the mid-life years from age 30-60, while intellectual disability peaked for those aged 10-14.

Figure 3.2 below shows the percentages of disabled persons who experienced each type of disability (as people can experience more than one disability the data will not add to 100). Just under half (46.1%) of disabled people indicated they had had difficulty with pain, breathing or other chronic illness, with just over 4 in 10 (40.9%) having difficulty with basic physical activities.

Interactive table: StatBank Link E9006

In Census 2016, 54,810 persons, amounting to 1.2 per cent of the population, had a sight related disability, 3,092 higher than in 2011, representing a 6 per cent increase. Males exceeded females at all ages up to the 70-74 age group.

Of those with a sight disability the most common second disability was physical activities, with 25,014 persons, followed by pain and breathing with 20,662, as illustrated in Figure 3.4. The number both blind and deaf was recorded at 13,635 persons.

Interactive table: StatBank Link E9041

The most common type of difficulty experienced by visually impaired people was participating in leisure and other activities, which affected 23,710 persons (43.3%), with 23,099 (42.1%) having difficulty going outside the home.

Census 2016 showed that a total of 103,676 people or 2.2 per cent of the population had a hearing related disability. This was an increase of 11,616 (12.6%) from 2011, when they made up 2 per cent of the population.

Figure 3.6 shows that hearing was an age related disability. Numbers increased significantly from age 50 onwards particularly among men. Up to age 42 less than 1 per cent of the population had a hearing difficulty but this increased to 1 in 10 by age 77 and 1 in 4 by 89 years.

Interactive table: StatBank Link E9008

For those who have a second disability the most common difficulty was one which limited basic physical activities, 38,512 people (37.1%) followed by pain, breathing or chronic illness at 31,939 persons (30.8%).

Everyday difficulties

The most common type of difficulties which hearing impaired people experienced was participating in leisure and other activities, which affected 30,194 persons (29.1%) with 29,048 (28%) having difficulty going outside the home as illustrated in Figure 3.8.

In Census 2016, 66,611 persons representing 1.4 per cent of the population, have an intellectual disability, 8,902 higher than in 2011 representing a 15.4 per cent increase. For males between the ages of 6 and 18 there were close to a 1,000 persons in each age with an intellectual disability, more than double that of females for the same ages.

Intellectual and other disabilities

Among this group the most common second disability was difficulty with learning and remembering with 47,390 (71.1%) persons followed by psychological issues which affected 24,024 persons. 

The most common type of difficulty experienced by those with an intellectual disability was difficulty with a job, business or attending school or college, this affected 37,658 persons (56.5%), with 37,048 (55.6%) having difficulty going outside the home.

In Census 2016, 262,818 persons representing 5.5 per cent of the population had a difficulty with basic physical activities, 18,079 higher than in 2011, representing a 7.4 per cent increase.

This disability increases sharply with age and accordingly there were more females than males in this group, as illustrated in Figure 3.12, the gap growing more sharply from age 75 onwards.

For those who experienced a physical disability the most common second disability was pain and breathing with 145,607 persons, followed by learning, remembering and concentrating with 65,076 persons.

Participating in leisure and other activities affected 6 in 10 (157,689) of those with a physical disability, while just over half (133,782) experienced difficulty going outside alone.  115,317 persons with a physical disability experienced difficulty with dressing, bathing and getting around inside the home.

In Census 2016, 156,968 persons amounting to 3.3 per cent of the population, had a difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating. This was 19,898 higher than in 2011, representing a 14.5 per cent increase.

As with intellectual disabilities, the greatest incidence among males was for those aged 10-14 years, affecting 10,457 persons, compared with just 5,104 females.

Less than 3 per cent of the population were affected up to the 60-64 age group, increasing to nearly 23 per cent (22.7%) in the 85+ age group, primarily affecting women, as shown in Figure 3.15 below.

Learning and other disability

The most common second disability was physical activities with 65,076 (41.5%) persons followed by pain and breathing with 52,864 (33.7%). 

Everyday difficulties

The most common type of difficulty experienced by persons with learning, remembering or concentrating was participating in leisure and other activities. This affected 74,112 persons (47.2%), with 73,319 (46.7%) having difficulty with working at a job, business or attending school or college.

Pain and breathing

In Census 2016, 296,783 persons amounting to 6.2 per cent of the population, had a difficulty connected with pain, breathing or other chronic illnesses. This was 22,021 higher than in 2011, representing an 8 per cent increase.

Figure 3.18 charts the data and shows that the numbers increased sharply with age. By age 60, one in ten persons with this condition, increasing to one in five by age 76.

Pain and breathing and other disability

The most common second disability was physical activities, with 145,607 (49.1%) persons, followed by learning with 52,864 (17.8%). 

Everyday difficulties

The most common type of difficulty experienced by persons with a disability related to pain, breathing or other chronic illness was participating in leisure and other activities. This affected 129,117 persons (43.5%), with 110,409 (37.2%) having difficulty with working at a job, business or attending school or college.

Psychological or emotional condition

In Census 2016, 123,515 persons amounting to 2.6 per cent of the population, had a psychological or emotional condition. This was 27,511 higher than in 2011, representing a 28.7 per cent increase.

Figure 3.21 charts the data and shows that the age profile of those with this condition is different from other disabilities, in that it mostly affects those in the mid-life years, peaking in the 40-44 age group (4,834 men, 5,868 women).

Psychological or emotional condition and other disability

The most common second disability was learning, remembering or concentrating, with 47,503 (38.5%) persons, followed by pain, breathing or other chronic conditions with 40,344 (32.7%). 

Everyday difficulties

Just under half (59,518 persons, 48.2%) of those with a psychological or emotional condition had difficulty with working at a job, business or attending school or college, followed by 51,857 persons (42%) having difficulty with participating in leisure and other activities.