Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland
Ireland: Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income was 12.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
12.6%
Change on year
up 100.0%
World rank
6th
of 46 countries
All-time high
12.6%
in 2025
All-time low
2.9%
in 2008
Years of data
18
2008–2025
Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 12.6% for level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in 2025. That is the highest value across all 18 years on record.
The figure is up 100.0% on the previous year and up 223.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland peaked at 12.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2008.
That places Ireland 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2.9% | — |
| 2009 | 4.6% | +58.6% |
| 2010 | 3.4% | -26.1% |
| 2011 | 3.1% | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 4.1% | +32.3% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +19.5% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +22.4% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -35.0% |
| 2016 | 4.1% | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 4.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +61.9% |
| 2021 | 7.2% | +5.9% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | -8.3% |
| 2023 | 6.5% | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 12.6% | +100.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 12.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.5%, 2.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 12.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.5%, 2.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.8% | 2.9% | 4.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 3.1% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.7% | 6.3% | 12.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 3 Norway 13.6% compare
- 4 Netherlands 12.9% compare
- 4 Netherlands 12.9% compare
- 7 Sweden 11.8% compare
- 8 Luxembourg 11.3% compare
- 9 Iceland 10.7% compare
More economy & growth data for Ireland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.52 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 67.14 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.1102 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 12,444 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 103.44 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0079 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 893.09 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland?
- Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income in Ireland was 12.6% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 12.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2008.
- How does Ireland rank for level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income?
- Ireland ranks 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
- Is level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 223.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Level of disability (activity limitation) by sex, age and income quintile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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