Disability and activity limitation statistics from the 2023 Census provide crucial insights into the lives of persons with disabilities in New Zealand. Government agencies, service providers, and community groups use this data to monitor how outcomes for persons with disabilities compare to those of non-disabled people. The findings also help guide the development of more accessible and inclusive services nationwide.
Activity limitations are measured in the census using the Washington Group Short Set on Functioning (WGSS). The WGSS asks about six basic activities that a person might have difficulty with: seeing, hearing, walking or climbing stairs, remembering or concentrating, washing all over or dressing, and communicating. A person can have more than one activity limitation and will be counted for each limitation they give as a response.
A person was classified as disabled in the 2023 Census if there was at least one of these everyday activities that they had a lot of difficulty with or could not do at all.
The census disabled population is not an official count of the disabled population. This is because the WGSS does not capture all disabled people. The census disability and activity limitations tables should be used to understand and compare outcomes for the disabled and non-disabled populations.
Household Disability Survey 2023 – findings, definitions, and design summary provides the official disability prevalence estimates.
Using data from the Household Disability Survey and the 2023 Census provides more information about how to use the 2023 Census disability and activity limitations data and the Household Disability Survey data.
This report includes information about both data sources, best practice guidance, and examples of using data from both sources together.
