Child Population Drops by 2.27 Million, While Number of Children with Disabilities Increases by 20,000

While the overall child population plummeted by over 2.27 million in a decade, the number of children with disabilities rose by nearly 20,000, increasing their share from 0.82% to 1.39%. According to recent data published by the Korea Institute for Development Strategy, the population of children with disabilities continues to grow even as the general child population declines.

The Korea Institute for Development Strategy reported that, based on 2025 figures, intellectual disabilities accounted for the largest share at 42.6%, followed by autism spectrum disorders (34.0%) and cerebral palsy (9.2%). In terms of severity, children with severe disabilities made up the vast majority at 87.9%, while those with milder disabilities accounted for 12.1%.

The proportion of children with disabilities increased across both infancy and adolescence age groups. Among children under 6, the share rose from 0.30% in 2015 to 0.45% in 2025, an increase of 0.15 percentage points. The rate for adolescents aged 6 to 18 saw a larger increase, rising from 1.05% to 1.67% during the same period, up 0.62 percentage points.

These demographic shifts are also reflected in educational statistics. Despite a shrinking school-age population, the demand for special education has grown. The total school-age population dropped from 6,607,497 in 2021 to 5,936,412 in 2025, a decrease of over 670,000 in four years. Conversely, the number of students receiving special education increased by 22,581 in the same period, rising from 98,154 to 120,735.

The Korea Institute for Development Strategy published the 'Children with Disabilities in Statistics (KODDI Statistics) Newsletter.' The data highlights that amidst a declining child population, the number and proportion of children with disabilities, as well as the number of special education students, are all on the rise.