Eurostat reports on discrimination against people with disabilities in the EU

Data released by Eurostat on Monday reveals that 9.4% of people with disabilities aged 16 and over in the European Union reported discrimination when interacting with public services in 2024. This figure is more than double the 4% rate reported by individuals without disabilities. Cyprus and Italy recorded the lowest rates of discrimination in public services at 3.1%, while Estonia and Spain reported the highest at 14.6% and 14.5% respectively. Disparities in reported discrimination also persist in other sectors, including housing, where 8.2% of disabled individuals reported negative experiences compared to 5.2% of the non-disabled population. In public spaces, 5% of people with disabilities reported discrimination versus 3% of others, and in educational institutions, the rates were 4.1% and 2.3% respectively. Across all EU countries, individuals with disabilities consistently report higher levels of perceived discrimination than their counterparts. The release of these figures marks the beginning of the EU Diversity Month.