Accessibility by the numbers: 22 key stats to know
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Can you imagine having to navigate a website and finding it impossible without a mouse, or trying to make a purchase online when buttons aren’t labelled and products lack alt text? For over 80 million people in the EU living with disabilities, these examples are a daily reality; that is why the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will address these digital barriers.
Coming into effect on the 28th of June 2025, the EAA is set to change the way businesses operate in the digital world. It will be a legal requirement for businesses to make sure all their digital services (e.g. mobile apps, websites, booking systems) meet the new EAA accessibility standards.
As a performance marketing agency, we see this compliance deadline as an opportunity to enhance user experience, boost SEO and expand reach as we make sure our digital services and our clients’ digital services are inclusive and accessible according to the EAA. For many, this new obligation will mean a significant shift in how their digital services are designed and maintained. In this blog, I am going to address the EAA in more detail, the stats you need to know, why accessibility is both a legal requirement and a smart business move, as well as so much more.
If you haven’t started work on your accessibility standards, or maybe you aren’t sure what you need to do, get in touch. Our team can make sure your website and digital services are compliant with the EAA, but also competitive in the market. Contact us today.
What is the EAA?
The EAA is an act aimed at improving the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities within the EU. By establishing common accessibility rules across the EU, it aims to create a more inclusive and accessible market. It will set requirements for areas such as websites, apps, e-commerce, banking services, transport and digital devices. The ultimate goal is to remove digital market barriers for those with disabilities and make sure that everyone has equal access to online content. It is important to note that this is a legal requirement for businesses, and you can’t opt out.
For more information on what EAA is, what it means for businesses and how you can prepare yourself for it, I recently wrote a blog that details all of this, which you can read here.
The key stats you need to know:
From users that are currently being excluded due to inaccessible sites to the fines that the European Union are bringing down on businesses that aren’t compliant, there is a wide range of stats surrounding the new laws. I have broken down a few key ones that showcase why laws like the EAA are needed:
- Over 96% of the top 1,000,000 websites are not accessible
- 4.5% of the UK population is colour blind
- Approximately 10% of the UK population has dyslexia
- 16.1 million people in the UK had a disability in the 2022/23 financial year
- 61% of users are unlikely to return to a site on mobile if they have trouble browsing it
- 79% of users will visit a competitor’s site instead if they have trouble accessing it
- Websites with excellent user experience convert users 3 times as often
- 13% of customers will tell 15 or more people about their bad experiences.
- Only 1 out of 26 customers complains when they are unsatisfied.
- 91% of unsatisfied customers who don’t complain simply leave.
- Individuals with disabilities control $1.2 trillion worldwide in annual disposable income
With these kinds of shocking statistics, we can see why laws around accessibility need to be introduced! The EAA aims to ensure that key products and services are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. But this is nothing new, it’s been in the pipeline for years.
- The act officially entered into force on June 28, 2019
- Member states had to transpose the EAA into national laws by June 28, 2022
- Full compliance from each state is expected by June 28, 2025
With the range of businesses, agencies and companies this affects, what is stopping a business in the UK from ignoring the new accessibility standards and continuing to use their current inaccessible website?
- There are going to be fines of €5,000 to €20,000 per issue based on severity from the 28th June 2025
- They are also implementing ongoing fines of up to €1,000 per day for unresolved violations.
- In 2022, 2,387 digital accessibility-related lawsuits were filed in the United States under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
While the focus of web accessibility and the new European Accessibility Act (EAA) should be solely on the inclusion of individuals with disabilities, the financial impact to a business is undeniable. This has a huge impact on businesses from local businesses, right the way up to multinational corporations that operate a brand in the UK.
- 68% of all businesses have a website, and regardless of industry, they will be subject to the new regulations
- 52% of those businesses either maintain it themselves or have a dedicated web team to update it. The responsibility will fall on these people.
Not all businesses feel that they can comply with these new laws:
- Only around 11% of businesses feel confident that they will comply with the EAA by the deadline
- A lack of in-house expertise and budget constraints make up the top reasons businesses don’t feel prepared
We spoke to the Regional Vice President of Sales at AudioEye, Matthew Freeman, about businesses who feel they can’t comply with the new laws:
With the impending EAA deadline, most companies who feel behind or unprepared, aren’t. They just haven’t had a clear roadmap. With the right tools and support, compliance becomes both manageable and an opportunity to create digital experiences that work for all. The most important step is the first one — getting started today.
Although the documentation around the new laws is very in-depth and gives developers the exact standards that they need to meet for new and existing websites, here is a short video to explain what it means from a business’s point of view.
The business case for accessibility
For most businesses, accessibility has been deemed a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity, but that is all going to change once the EAA comes into full effect in June 2025. However, you must understand that by following these regulations, there are plenty of benefits you will receive, as well as avoiding a fine.
Ultimately, the more accessible your designs and content are, the more usable and inclusive your digital service is to a broader audience. Therefore, by making your website more accessible, you can tap into a market segment that you possibly overlooked in the past.
We all know the importance of user experience and how the overall user experience can impact engagement and conversions. Therefore, by using readable fonts, creating a clear navigation and using heading structures, you can improve your user experience and increase the time users spend on your site and, in turn, generate more conversions. Many accessibility regulations align very closely with good SEO practices, so the better your website is in terms of accessibility, the higher it will rank in the SERPs.
Beyond this, accessibility is also directly linked to your brand reputation. In today’s society, consumers expect a site / digital service to be inclusive. Therefore, by making sure you commit to the EAA, you are showing your consumers that your brand cares and values its audience. The more users trust your brand, the more likely they are to engage with your content.
Finally, it is important to note that the EAA is a legal obligation. You should meet the requirements to avoid a hefty fine. Therefore, addressing accessibility is cost-effective for your business.
In short, accessibility is a huge benefit for businesses, and it is a smart investment in growth, inclusivity and long-term digital success.
Do I need to comply with these new laws?
If your business operates in the EU and offers digital services/products to consumers, then the simple answer is yes; you need to comply with the EAA laws. If your website allows consumers to go and purchase products, book tickets, access information or interact with content digitally, then all digital services must meet the standards.
The EAA primarily aims to target medium to large businesses (those with more than 10 employees) and an annual turnover of more than 2 million euros. However, this doesn’t mean that smaller companies should ignore the EAA; by working with government agencies or larger businesses, smaller businesses may need to meet the standards as part of a partnership requirement.
Beyond just the legal aspect of the EAA, consumer expectations surrounding inclusivity are becoming the standard, so businesses that do not comply could receive negative backlash and a loss of engagement.
These new laws and standards aim to make sure that the internet and all websites are accessible to people regardless of disability or accessibility blockers. If you fall into one of the following groups, you may be exempt from the laws:
- Compliance would fundamentally alter the nature of your service or impose an unreasonable burden (e.g. cost of implementation and available resources)
- Your business qualifies as a microenterprise:
- Fewer than 10 employees
- Annual turnover or balance sheet under €2 million
June 28th is approaching!
Hopefully, from this blog, you now understand that the EAA is fast approaching and reshaping the way digital businesses operate in the EU. Now is the time for businesses to take action and make sure they are prepared for the deadline. Remember that meeting these standards isn’t just about avoiding legal risks, but exploring new growth opportunities and improving the user experience for everyone.
As a digital marketing agency, we know how to make your website accessible in both a legal necessity and a smart business move. If you invest in accessibility now, you gain a competitive edge and improve SEO, user experience and tap into a new market segment.
If you are unsure where to begin or how to make sure your website meets the standards, then we are here to help. Let us support you and ensure your business is ready. Contact us today to start your journey to inclusivity and accessibility.
