Brazil is home to 14.4 million people with disabilities
Data from Brazil’s 2022 census shows that the country had 14.4 million people with disabilities—or 7.3 percent of the population aged two and over. The survey was published Friday (May 23) by the statistics bureau IBGE.
The figures encom individuals aged two and over who are unable or have difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, and picking up small objects. Also included are those who, due to some limitation in their mental functions, are unable or have great difficulty communicating, carrying out personal care, working, and studying, among other activities.
In 2022, 8.3 million people with disabilities were women (8.1 percent of the total female population) and 6.1 million were men (6.4 percent of the male population).
The results revealed that 7.9 million people had difficulty seeing; 5.2 million had difficulty walking or climbing steps; 2.7 million had difficulty handling objects; and 2.6 million had difficulty hearing. In addition, 1.4 million of those interviewed had mental limitations that caused them difficulties. The statistics also found that two percent of the population had two or more disabilities.
Autism
The 2022 census also states that 2.4 million people reported having been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a health professional. This figure corresponds to 1.2 percent of Brazilians.
The prevalence of autism is higher among men (1.5 percent of the population). Among women, the percentage stood at 0.9 percent. Brazilian men with ASD numbered 1.4 million, and women 1 million.
In of age, the population aged 5–9 showed the highest proportion of ASD diagnoses (2.6%), followed by children aged up to four (2.1%), 10–14 (1.9%), and 15–19 (1.3%). In other age groups, the proportion varies from 0.8 to one percent, which is below average.
“Access to diagnosis and the way to get it have recently become more widespread. So children and young people end up having a higher incidence,” Alves noted.
As for skin color and race, white Brazilians have a higher prevalence of ASD diagnoses (1.3%), followed by Asians (1.2%), black and pardo (1.1%), and indigenous people (1.9%).
IBGE pointed out that not all people with autism are considered disabled in the census, only those who are unable or have great difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, handling objects and those with great mental limitations. However, there are no figures showing the number of people with ASD who also have a disability.
