Severe or profound core activity limitation

Definition: The percentage of people who ‘sometimes’ or ‘always’ need help with core activities of daily living (mobility, self-care or communication).

Source: ABS 2016c; Table S1.4.7.

  • In 2015, 5.8% of the population (1.4 million people) had a severe or profound core activity limitation – that is, a limitation in communication, mobility and/or self-care activities (ABS 2016c).
  • The likelihood of having a severe or profound core activity limitation generally increased with age. Females aged 85 and over had the highest rate of severe or profound core activity limitation (56%) in 2015, followed by males aged 85 and over (38%). The lowest rate of severe or profound core activity limitation (1.5%) was for girls aged 0–4, followed by men aged 25–34 (1.8%).
  • Overall, females (6.4%) were more likely than males (5.3%) to have a core activity limitation.
  • After adjusting for differences in population structures, the rate decreased from 6.2% in 2003 to 5.4% in 2015.

For more information, see Chapter 5.4 'People with disability'.

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