A national survey published on Friday shows there are now an
estimated 82.96 million disabled people in China which is an
increase of 31 million from 1987.?
The dramatic rise reflects the significant increase in China's
aging population.
"The proportion of the population aged 60 years and over grew to
11 percent in 2005 from 8.5 percent in 1987. Disabled people now
account for 6.34 percent of China's 1.3 billion people," said a
statement from the organizers of the second China National Sample
Survey on Disability.?
In 1987 elderly people accounted for less than 5 percent of the
population.?
Of the total number of disabled people 44.16 million are aged
over 60. This is an increase of 23.65 million on the first survey
of 1987. Seniors account for three quarters of the increase in the
number of China's disabled, according to the survey.
"Due to cerebrovascular diseases, arthropathy, dementia and
other senile diseases disability is higher among elderly people,"
the statement said.?
But the growth of the aging population is not the whole story
behind the explosion in the numbers. Disability classifications
have been revised with the criteria brought into line with the
latest international standards and other social and environmental
factors taken into account, the statement explained.?
The survey was conducted in all 31 provinces, autonomous regions
and municipalities on the Chinese mainland by 16 government
organizations including the National Statistics Bureau, the
Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the China
Disabled Persons' Federation from April 1 to May 31, 2006.
(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2006)