Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational was 10.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
10.2%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
11th
of 47 countries
All-time high
10.2%
in 2018
All-time low
4.2%
in 2009
Years of data
11
2008–2018

Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom, 2008–2018

02.557.5102008201320182008: 5.8 Percentage2009: 4.2 Percentage2010: 6.7 Percentage2011: 5.8 Percentage2012: 4.6 Percentage2013: 6.1 Percentage2014: 5.8 Percentage2015: 6.6 Percentage2016: 7.9 Percentage2017: 9.9 Percentage2018: 10.2 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2018, level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom stood at 10.2%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.0% on the previous year and up 75.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom peaked at 10.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2009.

That places United Kingdom 11th out of 47 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational attainment level in United Kingdom, 2008 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2008 5.8%
2009 4.2% -27.6%
2010 6.7% +59.5%
2011 5.8% -13.4%
2012 4.6% -20.7%
2013 6.1% +32.6%
2014 5.8% -4.9%
2015 6.6% +13.8%
2016 7.9% +19.7%
2017 9.9% +25.3%
2018 10.2% +3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 5.0% 4.2% 5.8% 2
2010s 7.1% 4.6% 10.2% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 9 Luxembourg 10.8% compare
  2. 10 Ireland 10.6% compare
  3. 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10.2% compare
  4. 13 Iceland 9.5% compare
  5. 14 Denmark 9.2% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom?
Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom was 10.2% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2018.
What is the lowest level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2009.
How does United Kingdom rank for level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational?
United Kingdom ranks 11th out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 75.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/level-of-disability-activity-limitation-by-sex-age-and-educational-attainment-level/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and educational attainment level
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 853 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed