The National Statistics Bureau and the leading group of the second Chinese National Sample Survey on Disability published the results of the country's second national sample survey of its disabled population. The Survey was conducted from April 1 to May 31, 2006.

The survey revealed the numbers of disabled people in all thirty-one provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese mainland, as well as their living conditions, age, employment rate, and so on.

The survey showed that, in comparison with their life situations in 1987, when the survey was first conducted, the living conditions of China's disabled people are improving. But there was also a far way to normal condition. The survey also said that today, China's disabled people are getting more access to education than those in similar situations in 1987.

Meanwhile, the data also showed that China's disabled population has increased greatly. By April 1, 2006, there were 82.96 million disabled people in China; accounting for 6.34 percent of the country's entire population. More than 75.5 percent, 23.65 million, of this new disabled population, were aged 60 or older.

The survey also revealed that there were 70.5 million households with disabled people in China, accounting for 17.8 percent of the national total. Their per capita income is less than half of the national average. The survey also showed that the primary needs of disabled are far from being met by services currently being provided. The number of disabled people, who accepted medical services, medical aid, poverty aid, and assistance, was low.

By People's Daily Online