Identifying the total population of people with a disability is a major point
of interest for people with disabilities and policy-makers alike. The 2001 Census
of Population of Jamaica recorded a total population of 2,607,633. The census
taken in 1991 recorded a population of 2,380,667. Each of the last two censuses
attempted to identify the number of people with disabilities. In 2001, the census
recorded 162,860 persons with disabilities, comprising 6.2% of the population. In
comparison, the 1991 census recorded a total of 111,114 persons with disabilities,
comprising 4.7% of the population.3 Table one illustrates the composition of the
disability population in Jamaica.
Table 1: Population Totals in 1991 and 2001
Policy-makers and disability advocates both reported that the census figures understate the actual population figures for people with disabilities. Instead, they tend to use the World Health Organization's estimate that an average of 10% of the world's population is comprised of people with disabilities.
Another source which identifies the population with disabilities is the annual Survey of Living Conditions. The survey is conducted jointly by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica and the Planning Institute of Jamaica. Questions about disabilities are included in the health module, which has been included in two of the surveys conducted since 2000. The module aims to determine if individuals have either physical and/or mental disabilities and how long they have had those disabilities. The results have never been published because the number of persons identified in the sample is too small to allow for meaningful analysis.4
The registrations of various agencies for persons with disabilities indicate
that the percentage of people with disabilities has not changed significantly over
the past five years. However, as shown in table one, there has been a steady
increase in the numbers of people with disabilities. This gradual increase is likely
due to better reporting and public awareness. Also there have been noticeable
changes in the nature of some disabilities. For instance, in the case of the
3. Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Population Census 2001.
4. Kristen Fox, interviewed by author, August 2003; Huber Serrard, interviewed by author, September 2003.
|
Total Population 1991 |
Population
with Disabilities 1991 |
% of total |
Total Population 2001 |
Population
with Disabilities 2001 |
% of total | |
| Total | 2,380,667 | 111,114 | 4.7% | 2,607,633 | 162,860 | 6.2% |
| Males | 1,167,496 | 50,966 | 4.4% | 1,283,547 | 80,004 | 6.2% |
| Females | 1,213.171 | 60,148 | 5.0% | 1,324,085 | 82,856 | 6.3% |