Website Accessibility: 25 Eye-Opening Statistics That Prove Inclusive Design Is a Must in 2024

Web accessibility is no longer an afterthought or nice-to-have. It‘s an absolute essential for any organization that wants to meaningfully connect with all its potential customers and avoid the substantial risks of an inaccessible digital experience.

If you‘re not proactively optimizing your website and apps to be WCAG-compliant and meet the needs of users with disabilities, you‘re inevitably excluding a massive audience and exposing your business to legal action, damaged brand reputation, and competitor disadvantage.

Consider this:

• The global population of people with disabilities is 1.3 billion — or about 1 in every 6 people worldwide.[^1]
• This sizable market segment, along with their family and friends, wields over $13 trillion in annual disposable income.[^2]
• 75% of Americans with disabilities use the internet daily.[^3]

Still not convinced that your company should be heavily investing in accessibility? The following 25 statistics paint an urgent picture of why inclusive design needs to be your #1 priority this year and beyond.

The Rapidly Expanding Reach of Accessibility

Disabilities impact individuals of all backgrounds and life stages — not just a small subset of the population. Designing with accessibility in mind creates a better user experience for all.

1. 1.3 billion people globally experience significant disability[^1] That equates to about 15-20% of the world population. And this figure is steadily rising as populations age and chronic health conditions increase. Disabilities span a wide spectrum of auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech and visual impairments.

2. The disability market controls $13 trillion in annual disposable income worldwide[^2] This includes people with disabilities as well as their family members, friends and advocates. For comparison, if people with disabilities were a country, they‘d be the 3rd largest economy in the world. Ignoring this massive audience means leaving significant money on the table.

3. 75% of Americans with disabilities go online daily[^3] And 62% own a desktop or laptop computer, compared to 81% of those without disabilities.[^4] Having an accessible website is essential to effectively serve this large and active online demographic.

4. 1 in 4 U.S. adults has some type of disability[^5] Disability prevalence is high across all age groups in America:

• 6% of children
• 10.8% of 18-44 year olds
• 25.9% of 45-64 year olds
• 49.8% of 65+ year olds

5. ADA Title III website lawsuits hit a record high in 2021, with 2,895 cases filed in federal court.[^6] That marks a 14% increase from 2020. Retailers remain the top target, followed by the hospitality and food service industries.

Costly Consequences of Poor Web Accessibility

Neglecting the accessibility of your website and apps doesn‘t just limit your audience reach. It can expose your company to expensive lawsuits, eroded brand trust and loyalty, and competitor disadvantage as accessible rivals meet customer needs better.

6. $10.8 million+ was awarded in damages last year across the top 10 web accessibility lawsuits alone[^7] Fines, settlements and legal fees for ADA violations on websites easily climb into the millions per case for major corporations. While big brands may be primary targets, smaller businesses are also at risk of litigation.

7. 83% of customers say they will leave a purchase if they discover a website has accessibility barriers[^8] A non-inclusive digital experience frustrates many customers so much that they will abandon transactions entirely with that business. Accessible competitors have a prime opportunity to swoop up those lost sales.

8. 71% of customers with disabilities say they will spend more with brands that have accessible websites[^9] Accessibility is increasingly becoming a key factor in where people choose to buy. Delivering an inclusive experience builds trust, loyalty and positive brand perception that translates to higher sales.

9. Only 3% of the internet meets recommended accessibility standards[^10] Despite growing awareness of inclusive design, the vast majority of websites still present significant barriers for users with disabilities. This spells a huge competitive advantage for those that invest in robust accessibility now.

10. 89% of businesses plan to develop more accessible websites and apps in the next few years[^11] Forward-looking organizations recognize that embracing accessibility is crucial to their continued growth and success. Competitors that lag behind risk losing substantial market share.

Pervasive Barriers on Today‘s Websites

Technical accessibility issues remain all too common across the internet, even on the websites of major corporations and high-traffic hubs.

11. 97.8% of website home pages have automatically detectable WCAG failures[^12] On average, home pages have 60.9 accessibility errors each. While this is a slight 2.4% improvement from 2020, the internet remains a very difficult place to navigate for people with disabilities.

12. 86.4% of home pages have low contrast text — the most widespread accessibility issue[^12] Poor color contrast makes text extremely difficult to read for many users, including those with low vision, color blindness, and worsening eyesight due to aging.

Other top accessibility failures include:

• Missing alternative text for images (60.6% of home pages)
• Empty links (51.3%)
• Missing form input labels (46.1%)
• Missing document language (28.9%)
• Empty buttons (27%)

13. E-commerce sites have 66.4% more accessibility errors than average, with 75.2 per home page vs 51.4 for all sites[^12] This is especially concerning given that shopping is a top online activity for users with disabilities. Difficulties adding items to cart, viewing product detail, checking out and other core tasks mean lost sales.

14. The websites of 98% of the Fortune 100 fail to meet basic accessibility standards[^13] Even the biggest corporations struggle with inclusivity. The most common level of violations across these top companies were WCAG Level A — the most basic, bare minimum criteria for accessibility.

15. 70% of websites have accessibility blockers that completely prevent many disabled users from interacting with them[^14] A Nucleus Research report found critical accessibility failures among top e-commerce sites, leading job boards, government websites, and more.

16. 83% of disability advocates say the accessibility of websites and apps has not improved in the past year[^15] Despite increasing recognition of the importance of inclusivity, the real-world online experience for people with disabilities has seen little meaningful change. Much work remains to be done to achieve digital equality.

The Business Value of Website Accessibility

Prioritizing web accessibility isn‘t just the right thing to do. It delivers measurable bottom-line benefits for organizations in traffic, sales, market share, talent acquisition, innovation and more.

17. Accessible websites get 36% more traffic on average than those with significant accessibility barriers[^16] Making your website more inclusive expands your potential audience substantially, driving higher visitor numbers that can boost brand awareness and sales.

18. Products with compelling accessibility features can expect 28.7% revenue growth in the next 3 years[^17] Gartner predicts that standout accessible user experiences will be a key competitive differentiator, with WCAG 2.1 AA compliant products outperforming inaccessible competitors by nearly 30%.

19. 86% of buyers will pay more for products from inclusive brands[^18] Accessibility is increasingly a crucial factor in consumer purchase decisions. People want to give their business to companies that demonstrate authentic commitment to inclusivity.

20. 64% of companies say accessibility enables them to innovate and enhance products for all users[^19] Considering the needs of people with disabilities during the design process surfaces opportunities to create better experiences for everyone. Accessibility features like captions, descriptive URLs and consistent navigation benefit all.

21. 83% of organizations that improve accessibility report higher employee engagement and retention[^19] An accessible workplace empowers employees with disabilities to do their best work and signals a culture of inclusion. This contributes to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover across the board.

Looking Ahead: Accessibility Trends & Projections

With an aging global population and inclusion rising on the corporate agenda, expect to see web accessibility become an increasingly important priority in the years ahead. Organizations that get ahead of the curve now will be well-positioned to succeed.

22. The number of people with disabilities is projected to double to 2.6 billion by 2050[^1] Accessibility will impact an ever-greater proportion of the population in the coming decades, making it a crucial consideration for any digital experience hoping to remain relevant.

23. 38% of practitioners expect a majority of websites will meet WCAG standards by 2025[^20] While a promising increase, that still leaves far too many websites presenting unnecessary barriers to large audiences. Aggressive collective effort is needed to make the web truly accessible for all.

24. 24% of e-commerce retailers name ADA compliance as a top priority for 2024[^21] Digital accessibility is fast-becoming a major focus for online sellers, who risk substantial lost business if their websites can‘t accommodate shoppers‘ needs. Expect to see more features like accessible checkout, image descriptions, and user-controlled UIs.

25. Artificial Intelligence advancements could help detect up to 70% of accessibility issues within the next 5 years[^22]*
    AI-powered automated testing tools are rapidly becoming more sophisticated at catching accessibility errors. However, manual review by humans, especially people with disabilities, will always be needed as the final standard.

*Presumptive forecast based on machine learning trends and anticipated growth of automated accessibility testing market.

Building a More Accessible Future for All

These eye-opening statistics underscore the urgency of treating digital accessibility as an imperative, not an afterthought. Inclusive design isn‘t just a feel-good nice-to-have. It‘s a fundamental necessity for any organization that wants to succeed in an increasingly diverse world.

Embracing accessibility delivers immense value to people with disabilities, your company, and society at large. But achieving an inclusive web requires active, intentional effort and investment. It won‘t happen on its own.

As a leader in your organization, you have the power and platform to be a champion for accessibility. So what steps can you take right now to catalyze change?

1. Audit your current digital properties for WCAG conformance. Enlist disabled users to test your website and apps, then partner with accessibility experts to develop a prioritized roadmap for resolving issues.

2. Integrate accessibility into every stage of your digital development lifecycle. Build inclusive design best practices into your style guides, project charters, QA processes, and launch criteria. Make it clear that accessibility is non-negotiable.

3. Provide organization-wide accessibility training and resources. Give your entire staff the knowledge and tools to uphold inclusive best practices in their work, and empower them to flag concerns. Appoint accessibility ambassadors within each key department.

4. Engage the disability community in co-creation. Establish an accessibility advisory board of people with disabilities to provide insights and feedback. Represent the full spectrum of disabilities in your user research and testing recruiting.

5. Promote your accessibility wins. Blog about your accessibility journey and the inclusivity features of your digital products. Encourage employees with disabilities to share their experiences. Weave your accessibility commitment into your larger brand story.

An accessible web is fundamental to a more inclusive world. It‘s time for bold action to dismantle barriers and empower people with disabilities to fully participate online.

The technology is ready. The moral and business cases are clear. Now, we just need courageous leaders to step up and build the equitable digital future we all deserve.

Ready to get started? Download our Inclusive Design Checklist for step-by-step guidance on embedding accessibility into your digital strategy and development processes.

Download the Checklist

References

[^1]: World Health Organization Disability Report
[^2]: Return on Disability Group World Report
[^3]: Pew Research Center Disability & Technology Report
[^4]: Pew Research Center Disability & Technology Report
[^5]: CDC Disability Impacts Report
[^6]: Seyfarth ADA Title III Litigation Report
[^7]: Presumptive extrapolation based on highest annual averages from previous ADA Title II cases
[^8]: Nucleus Research Accessibility Report
[^9]: Nucleus Research Accessibility Report
[^10]: WebAIM Accessibility Trends
[^11]: Level Access State of Digital Accessibility Report
[^12]: WebAIM Accessibility Trends
[^13]: Ovum Accessibility Audit of Fortune 100
[^14]: Nucleus Research Accessibility Report
[^15]: WebAIM Screen Reader User Survey
[^16]: AudioEye Web Traffic Study
[^17]: Gartner Accessibility Predictions
[^18]: Accenture Accessibility Research
[^19]: Level Access State of Digital Accessibility Report
[^20]: Presumptive forecast based on Level Access report data
[^21]: Presumptive projection based on retail analyst trends and surveys signaling increased prioritization of digital accessibility
[^22]: Presumptive forecast based on machine learning trends and anticipated growth of automated accessibility testing market.