Scotland: Population characteristics

Scotland's population size is 5,295,403

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  1. Learning disabilities
  2. Autism

Scotland's Census, 2011, reported 26,349 people to have learning disabilities (15,149 males and 11,200 females), which is 0.5% of Scotland's population. This page provides further breakdowns of the population with learning disabilities. Our report describes in more details the numbers and percentages of people with learning disabilities, and why these can and do vary over time and geography.

Scotland's policy makers, and local health, social, and education commissioners and providers, have to make plans for the whole of Scotland, and for each locality, to support the needs of people with autism. It is therefore important that detailed breakdowns of population characteristics are available.

Population by age and gender

All people
Age Female Male Total
0-15 447,225 469,106 916,331
16-24 315,605 316,883 632,488
25-34 338,720 328,607 667,327
35-44 377,084 357,670 734,754
45-54 402,239 384,517 786,756
55-64 340,491 326,922 667,413
65-74 256,430 225,362 481,792
75+ 250,165 158,377 408,542
All ages 2,727,959 2,567,444 5,295,403
People with learning disabilities
Female Male Total
1,981 0.4% 3,253 0.7% 5,234 0.6%
1,661 0.5% 2,501 0.8% 4,162 0.7%
1,450 0.4% 2,025 0.6% 3,475 0.5%
1,650 0.4% 2,209 0.6% 3,859 0.5%
1,845 0.5% 2,456 0.6% 4,301 0.5%
1,324 0.4% 1,539 0.5% 2,863 0.4%
762 0.3% 805 0.4% 1,567 0.3%
527 0.2% 361 0.2% 888 0.2%
11,200 0.4% 15,149 0.6% 26,349 0.5%
People with learning disabilities
Age Female Male Total
0-15 1,981 0.4% 3,253 0.7% 5,234 0.6%
16-24 1,661 0.5% 2,501 0.8% 4,162 0.7%
25-34 1,450 0.4% 2,025 0.6% 3,475 0.5%
35-44 1,650 0.4% 2,209 0.6% 3,859 0.5%
45-54 1,845 0.5% 2,456 0.6% 4,301 0.5%
55-64 1,324 0.4% 1,539 0.5% 2,863 0.4%
65-74 762 0.3% 805 0.4% 1,567 0.3%
75+ 527 0.2% 361 0.2% 888 0.2%
All ages 11,200 0.4% 15,149 0.6% 26,349 0.5%

Number of people with learning disabilities by age group

Number of people with learning disabilities by age group

5,234

aged 0-15 yrs


4,162

aged 16-24 yrs


3,475

aged 25-34 yrs


3,859

aged 35-44 yrs


4,301

aged 45-54 yrs


2,863

aged 55-64 yrs


1,567

aged 65-74 yrs


888

aged 75+ yrs


Proportion of people with learning disabilities by age group

Proportion of people with learning disabilities by age group compared with the general population

Number of people with learning disabilities by gender

15,149

Males


11,200

Females


Proportion of males by age group

Proportion of males and females by age group

Compare areas

  1. Local authority
  2. Health board
  1. Ayrshire & Arran
    Ayrshire & Arran

    2109 / 373712

    0.56%
    Borders
    Borders

    612 / 113870

    0.54%
    Dumfries & Galloway
    Dumfries & Galloway

    718 / 151324

    0.47%
    Fife
    Fife

    1667 / 365198

    0.46%
    Forth Valley
    Forth Valley

    1349 / 297636

    0.45%
    Grampian
    Grampian

    2537 / 569061

    0.45%
    Greater Glasgow & Clyde
    Greater Glasgow & Clyde

    6656 / 1213408

    0.55%
    Highland
    Highland

    1545 / 320298

    0.48%
    Lanarkshire
    Lanarkshire

    2791 / 574637

    0.49%
    Lothian
    Lothian

    3921 / 834350

    0.47%
    Orkney
    Orkney

    94 / 21349

    0.44%
    Shetland
    Shetland

    89 / 23167

    0.38%
    Tayside
    Tayside

    2149 / 409709

    0.52%
    Western Isles
    Western Isles

    136 / 27684

    0.49%

Summary information

0.5% of people in Scotland have learning disabilities, that’s 26,340 people


  • Prevalence of learning disabilities ranges from 0.4 - 0.6% across Scotland


  • Prevalence of learning disabilities is lower in older age groups


  • The proportion of men differs between people with learning disabilities and the general population in younger age groups


  • More males than females have learning disabilities



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