Accessibility Statistics
Welcome to the Accessibility Statistics Hub, a collaborative initiative between Employment and Social Development Canada and Statistics Canada to share data on accessibility with the Canadian public. Data are organized according to the 7 priority areas as set out in the Accessible Canada Act.
Find data on
Built environment
Communication
Design and delivery of programs and services
Employment
Information and communication technology
TransportationFeatures
Performance Indicator Framework for Accessibility Data
The Performance Indicator Framework (PIF) for Accessibility Data represents the Government of Canada's approach to measuring progress in the identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to accessibility over time. The PIF for Accessibility Data is guided by the Federal Data and Measurement Strategy. To date, performance indicators to measure the identification and removal of barriers related to the seven priority areas have been developed.
Employment
For measurement purposes, accessible employment means a barrier-free experience for people with disabilities in all phases of the employment journey from hiring, to progressing in their career, all the way to retirement.
Work-related barriers to accessibility
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term condition who encounter barriers with the onboarding process | 24.2 |
Labour market-related barriers to accessibility
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers to accessibility related to information and communications technologies | 34.9 |
Labour market opportunities
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Employment rate for persons with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years, 2022 | 61.8 | |
Proportion of employed persons with disabilities with full-time employment, 2022 | 78.9 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who are self-employed, 2022 | 13.9 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who do not work due to lack of available transportation, 2022 | 21.4 | |
Proportion of employed persons with disabilities who are overqualified for their position, 2022 | 19.6 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who are employed in involuntarily part-time work, 2022 | 34.3 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who are discouraged workers, 2022 | 5.2 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who have a difficulty changing jobs or securing a promotion due to their disability, 2022 | 39.2 | |
Proportions of persons with disabilities who have attained a secondary or post-secondary certificate, degree, or diploma, 2022 | 79.7 | |
Proportion of youth with disabilities not in employment, education or training | 19.6 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who received workplace training paid for or provided by employer or company | 55.7 | |
Proportion of employees with disabilities who are in unionized positions | 32.1 | |
Disability pay gap | 0.79 |
Indicator | 2023 constant dollars | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Median employment income of working-age persons with disabilities | 37,700 |
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to accessibility within education, unmet needs for accessible features of the physical environment | 20.1E | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to accessibility within education, unmet needs for specialized transportation | 26.7E | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to accessibility within education, unmet needs for devices, support services or modifications | 46.3 | |
E - Use with caution | ||
Work potential
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of non-working persons with disabilities with work potential | 42.0 |
Workplace accommodations
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Persons with disabilities whose required workplace accommodations have been provided, 2022 | 64.6 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who feel uncomfortable asking for accommodations, 2022 | 42.2E | |
E - Use with caution | ||
Employment Equity
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of federal sector employees with disabilities as a percentage of labour market availability, 2017 | 9.1 | |
Proportion of federal sector new hires who are persons with disabilities | 2.6 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities whose federal sector position was terminated | 3.0 | |
Proportion of federal sector employees with disabilities in permanent full-time position, 2021 | 4.4 | |
Promotion rate for federal sector employees with disabilities, 2021 | 4.9 |
Indicator | Number of persons | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Net change in number of persons with disabilities employed within the federal sector, 2021 | -529 |
Transportation
For measurement purposes, transportation means barrier-free transportation for persons with disabilities.
Barriers to accessibility related to transportation
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities whose transportation needs have been met, 2025 | 48.9 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities with unmet transportation needs, 2025 | 47.3 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities using transportation services who experience barriers related to the built environment, 2025 | 80.5 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities using transportation services who experience barriers related to information and communication technologies, 2025 | 44.9 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities using transportation services who experience barriers related to communication, 2025 | 35.7 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities using transportation services who experience barriers related to accommodations, 2025 | 21.4 |
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
For measurement purposes, accessible ICT means barrier-free access to information and communication technologies like smart phones, computers, television, assistive devices and so on for people with disabilities.
Barriers to accessibility related to ICT
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers related to hardware | 17.1 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers related to software applications | 21.9 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers related to self-service technology | 30.1 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers related to hardware or software on mobile or smartphone | 29.2 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers related to using the Internet | 23.8 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers while using or accessing files or documents | 32.1 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience barriers when watching or listening to online content | 24.0 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience television-related barrier while watching | 25.1 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience support service-related barrier for television or mobile or smartphones | 21.2 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities or long-term conditions who experience radio-related barriers while listening to the radio | 15.5 |
ICT assistive aids, devices, and technologies
Indicator | Number of persons | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
Persons with disabilities who have required ICT assistive aids, devices, and technologies, 2022 | 2,535,950 | 66.0 | |
Persons with disabilities who do not have required ICT-related aids and assistive devices due to cost, 2022 | 637,710 | 73.9 |
Access to internet
Indicator | Number of persons | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
Persons with disabilities who have access to broadband internet, 2022 | 6,776,540 | 85.4 |
Built environment
For measurement purposes, accessible built environment means barrier-free access to indoor and outdoor spaces where persons with disabilities live, work, and play.
Barriers to accessibility in public spaces
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to accessibility in public spaces | 56.3 |
Communications, other than ICT
For measurement purposes, accessible communications, other than ICT, means barrier-free communication for persons with disabilities.
Barriers to accessibility related to communication
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to communication | 47.8 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers to communication-related supports | 31.1 |
Accessibility in communications
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of organizations that consider accessibility in their approach to communication in printed materials | 34.0 | |
Proportion of organizations that consider accessibility in their approach to virtual communication | 26.7 | |
Proportion of organizations that consider accessibility in their approach to communication in person or over the phone | 22.1 | |
Proportion of organizations that consider accessibility in their social media posts | 37.0 | |
Proportion of organizations that provide training on accessible communications | 55.5 |
Programs and services
For measurement purposes, accessible programs and services means barrier-free access to programs and services for persons with disabilities.
Barriers to accessibility in programs and services
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers when accessing programs and services | 48.4 | |
Proportion of persons with disabilities who experience barriers related to behaviours, misconceptions, or assumptions | 28.0 |
Accessibility training in programs and services
Indicator | Percent | Data source |
|---|---|---|
Proportion of organizations that provide training on accessible program and service delivery – client interaction | 46.2 | |
Proportion of organizations that provide training on accessible program and service delivery – technical job-related training | 27.4 | |
Proportion of organizations that provide training on accessible program and service delivery – diversity, equity and inclusion | 78.9 | |
Proportion of organizations that provide training on accessible program and service delivery – workplace accommodations | 21.9 |
Infographics
Infographics provide quick overviews to help you understand key information from surveys and other data collection activities.
Analysis
Find Statistics Canada analysis on accessibility and disability at Statistics by subject: Disability.
Canadian Survey on Disability: Data visualization tools
- Employment and labour characteristics of persons with disabilities, 2017 and 2022: Interactive dashboard uses data from the 2017 and 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability.
- Barriers to accessibility among persons with disabilities in Canada is based on data from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability.
- Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017: Data Visualization Tool rates by age and sex for provinces and territories based on data from the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability.
Additional information related to accessibility
- About an Accessible Canada
- Advancing employment for persons with disabilities: Progress update on the Accessibility Strategy (2025)
- The Accessibility Commissioner of Canada’s 2024-2025 Annual Report
- Accessibility Standard Canada: Standards, technical guides, and funded research projects by priority area
- Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada
- Monitoring the Rights of People with Disabilities
- 2024 Public Opinion Research on Accessibility
- Centralized Enabling Workplace Fund: Final Report
- Accessibility - Monitoring the right to housing for people with disabilities | Canadian Human Rights Commission
- Public Service Accessibility Plans
Legislation, regulations, and standards
Find out more information about regulations, policies, and standards related to accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Legislation
- Accessible Canada Act
- Ontario: Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
- Manitoba: Accessibility for Manitobans Act
- British Columbia: Accessible British Columbia Act
- Quebec: Act to secure handicapped persons in the exercise of their rights with a view to achieving social, school and workplace integration (Quebec)
- Newfoundland and Labrador: An Act Respecting Accessibility in the Province
- Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia Accessibility Act
- Saskatchewan: The Accessible Saskatchewan Act
- New Brunswick: New Brunswick Accessibility Act (2024)
Regulations and policies
- Accessible Canada Regulations
- Accessible Transportation Planning and Reporting Regulations
- Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy: Accessibility of Telecommunications and Broadcasting Services
- The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Accessibility Reporting Regulations
- Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations
Standards
- Standards published by Accessibility Standards Canada:
- CAN/ASC - EN 301 549:2024 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (EN 301 549:2021, IDT)
- CAN/ASC-1.1:2024 (REV-2025)-Employment
- CAN/ASC-2.8:2025 – Accessible-Ready Housing
- CAN-ASC-3.1:2025 – Plain Language
- CAN-ASC-6.2:2025 – Accessible and Equitable Artificial Intelligence System
- CAN-ASC-5.2.1:2026 - Accessible Service Delivery
- Standards published jointly by CSA Group and Accessibility Standards Canada: