A total 10,291 persons were registered as having a disability last year, the National Statistics Office said.

In data released on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities tomorrow, the NSO said that 54 percent of the 10,291 were males. Disabilities were most prevalent among males aged 55-69.

Disabilities in females were most prevalent in older age groups, namely 75 and over.

Overall, 27 percent of persons registered with a disability were in the 75+ age bracket. Of registered disabilities in 2007, 6,556 were physical while 2,052 were intellectual.

Sixty percent of physical disabilities were registered among persons older than 60, while nearly 35 percent were registered among persons in the 17-59 age bracket. Visual and hearing disabilities were most prevalent among 60+ persons. Nearly 59 percent of intellectual disabilities were registered among persons aged 17-59.

Holders of a special identity card totalled 9,038 as at end 2007 while new applications for this facility numbered 1,041, the absolute majority of which were accepted.

The blue sticker enables individuals with disabilities to park their cars in reserved spaces.

As at the end of the year under review, there were 5,267 blue-sticker holders and 982 new applications, of which over 700 were recommended for acceptance. There were also 301 applications for exemption from car registration tax and 191 applications for exemption from road licence payment.