Data Resource Profile: The Disability Statistics - Estimates Database (DS-E Database). An innovative database of...

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• The Disability Statistics (DS) Database aims to provide internationally comparable data on the rights of persons with disabilities.
• The DS-E Database specifically offers national and subnational descriptive statistics derived from population and housing censuses and household surveys.
• These statistics are crucial for informing policies and programs designed to advance the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the scope and findings of the Disability Statistics - Estimates (DS-E) Database as of 2024.
• To highlight the prevalence of disability and its association with key life domains such as education, health, and poverty.
• To underscore the utility of the DS-E Database for policy-making and advocacy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 53 national datasets (23 censuses, 30 surveys) from 40 countries to generate estimates for 29 indicators.
• Disaggregated estimates by disability type and severity for various adult population subgroups, including by sex, residence (rural/urban), and age groups.
• Provided estimates at the first subnational level for all countries and at the second subnational level for 17 countries.

Main Results:

• The DS-E Database contains over 4.3 million estimates across 40 countries and 6,584 subnational locations.
• Results indicate consistent within-country and cross-country inequalities, demonstrating that persons with disabilities experience higher rates of deprivation and multidimensional poverty.
• Data is accessible via an interactive platform and downloadable tables, including means and standard errors.

Conclusions:

• The DS-E Database provides critical statistics on disparities faced by people with disabilities.
• These statistics are valuable for advocating for disability-inclusive policies and practices.
• The data can be integrated with other datasets to identify areas where persons with disabilities are underserved and where services are most needed.