oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services


Oklahomans with Disabilities Basic Statistics

Putting It Into Perspective

The Prevalence of Disability in Oklahoma
2009 data from the Census American Community Survey

Note: Most data does not include persons living in nursing homes or institutions.

  • Oklahoma population, civilian, noninstitutionalized, in 2009: 3,590,307
  • Oklahomans with disabilities, civilian, noninstitutionalized: 565,619
  • 15.8% of Oklahomans age 5 and over – one in six - have disabilities.
  • Year 2000 population in nursing homes and institutions for people with disabilities (latest available data): 31,214
  • 167,463 Oklahomans (all ages) have hearing difficulties.
  • 116.343 Oklahomans (all ages) have vision difficulties.
  • 206,578 Oklahomans (age 5 and up) have cognitive difficulties.
  • 315,748 Oklahomans (age 5 and up) have ambulatory difficulties.
  • 103,770 Oklahomans (age 5 and up) have self-care difficulties.
  • 169,492 Oklahomans (age 18+) have independent living difficulties.
  • 322,022 (14.6%) work-age Oklahomans (18-64) have disabilities.
  • In 2009, 27.9% of Oklahomans age 16 and over with disabilities were employed, compared to 67.3% of persons without disabilities.
  • In 2009, 68.8% of Oklahomans age 16 and over with disabilities were not in the labor force, compared to 28.1% of those without disabilities.
  • 200,631 or 42.4% of Oklahomans age 65 and over have disabilities, not counting persons living in nursing homes or other institutions.
  • Oklahomans with disabilities are poor at a higher rate than Oklahomans without disabilities. In 2009, 21.9% of persons with disabilities age 16 and over had incomes below the federal poverty level, compared to 12.6% of people without disabilities. More persons with disabilities also lived in near poverty. Altogether, 35.8% of Oklahomans with disabilities age 16 and over had incomes below 150% of poverty, compared to 21.9% of people without disabilities.

2009 Population Comparisons

  • Oklahomans with disabilities  565,619

  • Population of City of Oklahoma City  551,754

  • Population of City of Tulsa  386,622

  • School enrollment grades K-12  653,585

  • Oklahomans age 65 and over  473,565

  • Civilian veterans  313,711