Wheelchairs Market-Current Analysis By Market Share (2025-2032)

Wheelchairs Market Synopsis

The Global Wheelchairs Market size is expected to grow from USD 4.16 billion in 2023 to USD 5.69 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period (2024-2032).

When walking becomes difficult or impossible due to an illness, injury, age-related issues, or a disability, a wheelchair is a chair with wheels that is used for transportation. It’s a manually operated or power-driven device designed primarily for use by an individual with a mobility disability for the main purpose of indoor, or both indoor and outdoor, locomotion.

Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of formats to meet and offer different larger demands than the specific needs of their users. They may include specialized seating adaptions, and individualized controls, and may be specific to particular activities.

 There is a wide range of accessories for wheelchairs. There are cushions, cup holders, seatbelts, storage bags, lights, and more. A wheelchair user uses seatbelts for security or posture. Some wheelchair users want to use a seatbelt to make sure they never fall out of the wheelchair.

There are a wide variety of types of wheelchairs, differing by propulsion method, mechanisms of control, and technology used. Some wheelchairs are designed for general everyday use, others for single activities, or to address specific access needs. Innovation within the wheelchair industry is relatively common.

A recent development related to wheelchairs is the handcycle. They come in a variety of forms, from road and track racing models to off-road types modeled after mountain bikes. While dedicated handcycle designs are manufactured, clip-on versions are available that can convert a manual wheelchair to a handcycle in seconds.

The Wheelchairs Market Trend Analysis

Increasing Geriatric Population And Rising Number of Disabilities

• The global population aged 60 years or over numbered 962 million in 2017, more than twice as large as in 1980 when there were 382 million older persons worldwide. The number of older persons is expected to double again by 2050 when it is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion.
• In most countries, the growth in the absolute number of older persons will occur in the context of low or declining fertility, leading to increasing shares of older persons in the population. ?
• An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disabilities. This represents 16% of the world’s population or 1 in 6 of us. This number is growing because of an increase in noncommunicable diseases and people living longer.
• Some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities. Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity, or poor oral health. Thus, the increasing Generic population factor driving the growth of the Wheelchairs Market. 

Technological Advancement in The Wheelchairs

• There are 131 million wheelchair users worldwide. Mass-market wheelchair design has changed little in the past four decades. By applying the latest digital technology can help improve mobility, safety, and accessibility.
• In South Korea, Guru IoT is, as the name suggests, an Internet of Things company. It has created a self-driving wheelchair using the concept of digital twinning. Stored on a cloud-computing platform, a detailed map can be accessed by the wheelchair, allowing it to navigate its way around its environment safely.
• Jered Dean, the co-founder of Luci (Wheelchair), which has been designed to augment existing powered wheelchairs and transform them into smart chairs. It will equip a wheelchair with a frame containing eight sensors to guide the chair and avoid obstacles. The sensors use ultrasonic, radar, and cameras to perform tasks like slowing the chair down safely to prevent accidents.
• Phoenix I chair is made from 3D-printed carbon fiber and is extremely lightweight. It can be switched into ‘intelligent mode’ so that the chassis and wheels move in sync with the rider. This gives the chair greater agility and greater stability at the same time. Increasing the advancement in the technology in Wheelchairs expecting the major opportunities for the Wheelchair market.

Segmentation Analysis of The Wheelchairs Market

Wheelchair market segments cover the Type, Category, Application, and Region.

By Type, the Manual segment is Anticipated to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast period.

• Manual wheelchairs have several advantages and many active people prefer to use a manual wheelchair as much as possible. Manual wheelchairs come in a variety of weights and configurations, from standard to ultralightweight, and even sport recreation wheelchairs. If someone is going to be spending a lot of time in their wheelchair, opt for a lighter-weight chair as they will use less energy throughout the day to operate it.
• Manual wheelchairs function well as dependent mobility systems. They are built for the caregiver to propel and for stability to protect the user. The large rear wheels can make curbs and other obstacles easier to manage
• Manual wheelchairs are cost-effective with little maintenance. Manual wheelchairs require little space. Manual wheelchairs are easily manoeuvrable and can be configured to meet your needs. Manual wheelchairs are easily transportable and many foldable options are great for travel and easy storage.

Regional Analysis of The Wheelchairs Market

North America is Expected to Dominate the Market Over the Forecast period.

• In 2020, about 16.9 percent of the American population was 65 years old or over; a figure which is expected to reach 22 percent by 2050. This is a significant increase from 1950, when only eight percent of the population was 65 or over which increased sales of wheelchairs. It is anticipated that growing geriatric populations in nations like the U.S. and Canada will increase demand for wheelchairs. The growth of revenue in this area is accelerating as a result of technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences.
• Wheelchairs with bag hooks, adjustable handle straps, and features that are simple to mount are available. Such initiatives make using wheelchairs appealing and raise public demand for them.
• Improvements in government-implemented funding mechanisms to assist patients in need of long-term care are also expected to support market growth. The government of the United States has launched numerous programs to help individuals living with disabilities, which will propel market growth.

Top Key Players Covered in The Wheelchairs Market

• Invacare Corporation (U.S.)
• Graham-Field Health Products Inc (U.S.)
• Karman Healthcare(U.S.)
• Quantum Rehab (U.S.)
• Ostrich Mobility Instruments Pvt. Ltd. (India)
• Ottobock SE (Germany)
• Pride Mobility Products Corp. (U.S.)
• Medline (U.S.)
• Sunrise Medical LLC (Germany)
• Carex Health Brands, Inc. (U.S.)
• Meyra Group GmbH (Poland)
• LEVO AG (Switzerland)
• Seating Matters (Canada)
• Numotion (U.S.)
• Magic Mobility Pvt Ltd. (Australia)
• Other major players.

Key Industry Developments in the Wheelchairs Market

• In April 2024, Invacare, a leading designer and manufacturer of mobility solutions, announced the launch of Move for Mobility, a global fundraising initiative in collaboration with its partner, Free Wheelchair Mission, located in Irvine, California, USA. The Invacare fundraiser took place this May across twenty participating countries. During last month’s Move for Mobility initiative, hundreds of Invacare employees around the world participated in a collective effort to support Free Wheelchair Mission’s work in providing life-changing wheelchairs to people living in remote communities with no access to mobility equipment.
• In April 2024, Medline announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the global surgical solutions business of Ecolab, Inc., including the industry-leading Microtek product lines. Upon closing, the acquisition would provide Medline with innovative sterile drape solutions for surgeons, patients, and operating room equipment, as well as Ecolab’s fluid temperature management system.