Residents of the county of Ostergötland, Sweden, who were 16-64 years of age in December 1984 and not pensioned (n=229,864), were followed in a prospective, cohort, study of data collected between 1985 and 1996. Using survival methods as the method of analysis, the likelihood of being granted a disability pension was 14% for women, 11% for men, and increased with age. Women less than 54 years of age were at higher risk than men (P<0.001), 69% of disability pensions granted were full-time and 31% were part-time, more women received part-time pensions (P<0.001). Whether the differences observed are due to gender bias in social insurance practices, to disease patterns, to occupational and work-related factors, or to a cohort effect has yet to be determined.