Part I. Current Status of Persons with Disabilities
Section 1. Number of Persons with Disabilities
(1)Overview
In Japan, there are about 3.516 million persons with physical disabilities (28 out of 1,000 persons), about 0.459 million persons with intellectual disabilities (4 out of 1,000 persons), and about 2.584 million persons with mental disorders (21 out of 1,000 persons). In other words, about 5% of the total population has disability of some kind.
Figure 1-1: Number of Persons with Disabilities in Japan
| (Persons) |
| Total | Persons living in home | Persons living in institutions |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Persons with physical disabilities
|
3,516,000 (28) | 3,327,000 (27) | 189,000 (2) | |
| Under 18 years of age | 90,000 | 82,000 | 8,000 | |
| 18 years of age or older | 3,426,000 | 3,245,000 | 181,000 | |
| Persons with intellectual disabilities | 459,000 (4) | 329,000 (3) | 130,000 (1) | |
| Under 18 years of age | 103,000 | 94,000 | 9,000 | |
| 18 years of age or older | 342,000 | 221,000 | 121,000 | |
| Age unknown | 14,000 | 14,000 | 0 | |
| Persons with mental disorders | 2,584,000 (21) | 2,239,000 (18) | 345,000 (3) | |
| Under 20 years of age | 142,000 | 139,000 | 3,000 | |
| 20 years of age or older | 2,436,000 | 2,095,000 | 341,000 | |
| Age unknown | 6,000 | 5,000 | 1,000 | |
Notes:
- The figures in parentheses are the number of persons out of a population of 1,000(based on the 2000 Population Census).
- The figures are rounded off to the nearest thousand.
"Persons with physical disabilities"
-
Persons living in home:
"Survey on the Actual Status of Children/Persons with Physical Disabilities(2001)", Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) -
Persons living in institutions:
"Survey on Social Welfare Institutions (2001)" and others, MHLW
-
Persons living in home:
"Comprehensive Survey on Children/Persons with Intellectual Disabilities(2000)", MHLW, -
Persons living in institutions:
"Survey on Social Welfare Institutions (2001)" and others, MHLW
- Persons living in home:
- Persons living in institutions:
Based on "Patient Survey (2002)", and arranged by Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, Social Welfare and the War Victimsf Relief Bureau, MHLW
(2) Number of persons with disabilities by age
60.2% of persons with physical disabilities are aged 65 and older, which is more than 3 times as high as an aging rate, while 2.8% for persons with intellectual disabilities and 27.2% for persons with mental disorders.
Figure 1-2: Rate of Persons with Disabilities by Age Group (Persons with Physical Disabilities Living in Home)
Notes:The survey on children with physical disabilities (0 to 17) was not conducted in 1980.
Source:"Survey on the Actual Status of Physically Disabled Children/Persons (2001)h, MHLW,
(3) Number of persons with disabilities by type of disability
Among persons with physical disabilities, the number of persons with visual disabilities and persons with hearing/speech disabilities remain almost unchanged, while the number of persons with physical disabilities and persons with organ disabilities are increasing.
Among persons with mental disorders, the number of persons with schizophrenia remains almost unchanged, and the number of persons with depressive disorder increasing.
Figure 1-3: Number of Persons with Disabilities by Type of Disability (Persons with Physical Disabilities Living in Home)
Notes:The survey on children with physical disabilities (0 to 17) was not conducted in 1980.
Source:"Survey on the Actual Status of Physically Disabled Children/Persons", MHLW,
(4) Age and causes in which persons become disabled
Almost 60% of persons with physical disabilities became disabled at the age of 40s or older. With regard to cause of disability, the rate of diseases and accidents is high.
Almost 40% of persons with mental disorders living in home have their first medical examination under 20 years old. In particular almost 60 % of persons with schizophrenia are under 20 years old.
Almost 40% of persons with mental disorders living in home have their first medical examination under 20 years old. In particular almost 60 % of persons with schizophrenia are under 20 years old.
Figure 1-4: Age in which Person became Disabled (Persons with Physical Disabilities Living in Home)
Source:"Survey on the Actual Status of Physically Disabled Children/Persons(2001)", MHLW,
Figure 1-5: Age in which Person became Disabled (Persons with Mental Disorders Living in Home)
Source: "Survey on Needs for Rehabilitation Services for Persons with Mental Disorders (2003)", MHLW
(5) Severe and multiple disabilities
With regard to level of sever and multiple disabilities, more than 40% of persons with physical disabilities have severe disabilities categorized in Grade 1 or Grade 2. The number of persons with severe disabilities categorized in Grade 1 or Grade 2 has been increasing in recent years.
