Wheelchairs, which are chairs equipped with wheels to assist in walking, are categorized into manual folding wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. They serve as crucial mobile tools for wounded, ill, and disabled individuals for home rehabilitation, transportation, medical visits, and outdoor activities.
Driven by the aging population and the increasing number of traffic accidents, the global wheelchair market has seen rapid growth in recent years. In 2020, the global wheelchair market was approximately $2.7 billion, with a year-on-year growth rate of 12%. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 severely impacted the transportation and mobility sectors, disrupting the supply channels for wheelchairs. The demand in hospitals continued to rise as older adults were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infections. With the easing of lockdown measures, it is anticipated that businesses will resume operations, and the global wheelchair market is expected to continue its upward trend in the coming years.
In terms of wheelchair types, manual wheelchairs dominated the market in 2020, accounting for the largest revenue share of 60.9%. Due to their low cost and lightweight design, there is a high demand for manual wheelchairs globally. However, in economically developed regions such as Europe and the United States, manual wheelchairs for the elderly and disabled, as well as standard electric wheelchairs, are gradually being replaced by smart electric wheelchairs. These advanced electric wheelchairs offer superior performance, simple operation, and safer and more reliable navigation.