diff --git a/src/material/list/list-base.ts b/src/material/list/list-base.ts
index 43ee79149dd0..bfcc230607e6 100644
--- a/src/material/list/list-base.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/list-base.ts
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ export abstract class MatListBase {
   }
   private _disableRipple: boolean = false;
 
-  /** Whether all list items are disabled. */
+  /**
+   * Whether the entire list is disabled. When disabled, the list itself and each of its list items
+   * are disabled.
+   */
   @Input()
   get disabled(): boolean {
     return this._disabled;
diff --git a/src/material/list/selection-list.spec.ts b/src/material/list/selection-list.spec.ts
index 9e063a85dde6..36258112ff18 100644
--- a/src/material/list/selection-list.spec.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/selection-list.spec.ts
@@ -804,6 +804,29 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelectionList without forms', () => {
         .withContext('Expected ripples of list option to be enabled')
         .toBe(false);
     });
+
+    // when the entire list is disabled, its listitems should always have tabindex="-1"
+    it('should not put listitems in the tab order', () => {
+      fixture.componentInstance.disabled = false;
+      let testListItem = listOption[2].injector.get<MatListOption>(MatListOption);
+      testListItem.focus();
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(
+        listOption.filter(option => option.nativeElement.getAttribute('tabindex') === '0').length,
+      )
+        .withContext('Expected at least one list option to be in the tab order')
+        .toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+
+      fixture.componentInstance.disabled = true;
+      fixture.detectChanges();
+
+      expect(
+        listOption.filter(option => option.nativeElement.getAttribute('tabindex') !== '-1').length,
+      )
+        .withContext('Expected all list options to be excluded from the tab order')
+        .toBe(0);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('with checkbox position after', () => {
@@ -1373,12 +1396,20 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelectionList with forms', () => {
     });
 
     it('should be able to disable options from the control', () => {
+      selectionList.focus();
       expect(selectionList.disabled)
         .withContext('Expected the selection list to be enabled.')
         .toBe(false);
       expect(listOptions.every(option => !option.disabled))
         .withContext('Expected every list option to be enabled.')
         .toBe(true);
+      expect(
+        listOptions.some(
+          option => option._elementRef.nativeElement.getAttribute('tabindex') === '0',
+        ),
+      )
+        .withContext('Expected one list item to be in the tab order')
+        .toBe(true);
 
       fixture.componentInstance.formControl.disable();
       fixture.detectChanges();
@@ -1389,6 +1420,13 @@ describe('MDC-based MatSelectionList with forms', () => {
       expect(listOptions.every(option => option.disabled))
         .withContext('Expected every list option to be disabled.')
         .toBe(true);
+      expect(
+        listOptions.every(
+          option => option._elementRef.nativeElement.getAttribute('tabindex') === '-1',
+        ),
+      )
+        .withContext('Expected every list option to be removed from the tab order')
+        .toBe(true);
     });
 
     it('should be able to update the disabled property after form control disabling', () => {
diff --git a/src/material/list/selection-list.ts b/src/material/list/selection-list.ts
index 468cdbcb4e73..afd22a2826c4 100644
--- a/src/material/list/selection-list.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/selection-list.ts
@@ -230,6 +230,25 @@ export class MatSelectionList
     this.disabled = isDisabled;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Whether the *entire* selection list is disabled. When true, each list item is also disabled
+   * and each list item is removed from the tab order (has tabindex="-1").
+   */
+  @Input()
+  override get disabled(): boolean {
+    return this._selectionListDisabled;
+  }
+  override set disabled(value: BooleanInput) {
+    // Update the disabled state of this list. Write to `this._selectionListDisabled` instead of
+    // `super.disabled`. That is to avoid closure compiler compatibility issues with assigning to
+    // a super property.
+    this._selectionListDisabled = coerceBooleanProperty(value);
+    if (this._selectionListDisabled) {
+      this._keyManager?.setActiveItem(-1);
+    }
+  }
+  private _selectionListDisabled = false;
+
   /** Implemented as part of ControlValueAccessor. */
   registerOnChange(fn: (value: any) => void): void {
     this._onChange = fn;
@@ -365,13 +384,24 @@ export class MatSelectionList
     }
   };
 
-  /** Sets up the logic for maintaining the roving tabindex. */
+  /**
+   * Sets up the logic for maintaining the roving tabindex.
+   *
+   * `skipPredicate` determines if key manager should avoid putting a given list item in the tab
+   * index. Allow disabled list items to receive focus to align with WAI ARIA recommendation.
+   * Normally WAI ARIA's instructions are to exclude disabled items from the tab order, but it
+   * makes a few exceptions for compound widgets.
+   *
+   * From [Developing a Keyboard Interface](
+   * https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/practices/keyboard-interface/):
+   *   "For the following composite widget elements, keep them focusable when disabled: Options in a
+   *   Listbox..."
+   */
   private _setupRovingTabindex() {
     this._keyManager = new FocusKeyManager(this._items)
       .withHomeAndEnd()
       .withTypeAhead()
       .withWrap()
-      // Allow navigation to disabled items.
       .skipPredicate(() => false);
 
     // Set the initial focus.
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md b/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
index c035d6f99ca8..da5ae144108e 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ export class MatSelectionList extends MatListBase implements SelectionList, Cont
     color: ThemePalette;
     compareWith: (o1: any, o2: any) => boolean;
     deselectAll(): MatListOption[];
+    get disabled(): boolean;
+    set disabled(value: BooleanInput);
     // (undocumented)
     _element: ElementRef<HTMLElement>;
     _emitChangeEvent(options: MatListOption[]): void;
@@ -243,7 +245,7 @@ export class MatSelectionList extends MatListBase implements SelectionList, Cont
     _value: string[] | null;
     writeValue(values: string[]): void;
     // (undocumented)
-    static ɵcmp: i0.ɵɵComponentDeclaration<MatSelectionList, "mat-selection-list", ["matSelectionList"], { "color": "color"; "compareWith": "compareWith"; "multiple": "multiple"; }, { "selectionChange": "selectionChange"; }, ["_items"], ["*"], false, never>;
+    static ɵcmp: i0.ɵɵComponentDeclaration<MatSelectionList, "mat-selection-list", ["matSelectionList"], { "color": "color"; "compareWith": "compareWith"; "multiple": "multiple"; "disabled": "disabled"; }, { "selectionChange": "selectionChange"; }, ["_items"], ["*"], false, never>;
     // (undocumented)
     static ɵfac: i0.ɵɵFactoryDeclaration<MatSelectionList, never>;
 }