January 2, 2003

Less than 17 Percent of North Dakotans Disabled

Less than 17 percent of North Dakota’s civilian noninstitutionalized population 5 years and older reported a disability in 2000, according to the latest Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University. Comparable data from the 1990 Census were not collected.

Less than half of the civilian noninstitutionalized population 5 years and older reporting a disability in North Dakota reported having multiple disabilities (42 percent). Nearly half of all disabilities reported were physical or employment-hindering disabilities. However, 64 percent of persons 21 to 64 with a disability of some kind were employed.

The proportions of civilian noninstitutionalized persons 5 years and older in North Dakota with a disability increased with age. Less than 6 percent of persons age 5 to 15 reported a disability in 2000, 10.3 percent of persons 16 to 20, 15.4 percent of persons 21 to 64, 27.9 percent of persons 65 to 74, and 49.9 percent of persons 74 and older.

"A significant and growing portion of North Dakota’s population is above the age of 65, thus the number of disabled persons in our state will rise over time. We need to be aware of this trend and seek ways to help improve the situation, especially by removing unnecessary barriers that limit the disabled," said Richard Rathge, director of the State Data Center.

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Sources: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard.rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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