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Tigray, Amhara, and Gambella Report Highest Disability Rates as Federation Disputes Survey Findings
Capital Ethiopia · 3 hours ago · Read the Full Story on Capital Ethiopia
AI SUMMARY
A new National Disability Survey indicates Tigray, Amhara, and Gambella have Ethiopia's highest household disability rates, prompting rejection from the National Federation of Disabled Persons’ Associations.
- The Ethiopian Policy Institute, UNICEF, and Inclusive Development Partners released the National Disability Survey Report on September 23, 2026.
- The survey estimates that 5.8 percent of Ethiopia’s total population lives with disabilities, consisting of 5.79 percent of females and 5.77 percent of males.
- Data was gathered from 9,200 households and 42,269 individuals across all regions and city administrations, excluding prisons, medical facilities, and the homeless.
- Tigray, Amhara, and Gambella recorded the highest household-level disability rates at 30 percent, 25.8 percent, and 22 percent respectively.
- Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and Afar recorded relatively lower disability rates.
- The National Federation of Disabled Persons’ Associations rejected the survey due to a lack of initial involvement and the exclusion of their feedback.
- Abayneh Gujo, the federation’s Director General, noted that past national data estimated disability at 1.1 percent while international bodies cited around 17 percent.
- The survey found that children with disabilities are 24 percent less likely to access education and about half are unable to read and write.
- 66 percent of people with disabilities in urban areas are unemployed, and only 13 percent use assistive devices or support equipment.
- Armed conflict, road traffic accidents, natural disasters, and injuries during pregnancy were identified as major causes of disability.
- National household disability rates average 20 percent overall, breaking down to 17 percent in urban areas and 22 percent in rural areas.
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