Social environment: providers of unpaid care

Scottish census (2022) data suggests that in 2022 almost 14% of the population, aged 16 and over, provided unpaid care. As Chart 1 shows, that figure varies from approximately 10% in Aberdeen City to 16% in North Lanarkshire. Various factors will influence these figures, not least the age of the population.

According to 2023 Women and Unpaid Care in Scotland briefing, providing unpaid care often negatively affects mental and physical health and wellbeing. Providing unpaid care in Scotland is gendered, with women presenting 59% of the unpaid carers. When asked what impact caring has on their health and wellbeing, more than four in five (81%) women said they felt stressed or anxious due to their caring role. In addition to this, over half (51%) said they felt lonely with similar numbers (47%) saying they felt depressed because of their caring role.