Scotland: Households

Scotland's population size is 5,295,403

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  1. Learning disabilities
  2. Autism

In the past, people with learning disabilities experienced significant periods of segregation, with large numbers living in long-stay institutions. By the 1960s, over 7,000 people with learning disabilities lived in long stay hospitals. In 2000, the Scottish Government introduced policy - The same as you? - presenting a blueprint for service redesign and most notably the closure of long stay hospitals. This successfully drove forward change, and in 2016 the overwhelming majority of people with learning disabilities live in private households, with health and social care support being provided either at home or in the community - on the Census day only 346 were in hospital.

Scotland's new learning disabilities strategy, The keys to life, was introduced in 2015. One of the four priorities of its implementation framework for 2015-2017 is independence; with people with learning disabilities being able to live independently in the community, with equal access to all aspects of society. Given the historical context, and current strong focus on independence, it remains important to check trends in housing and accommodation. 

Types of private accommodation

  All People People with learning disabilities
Total % Total %
living in a home that is owned outright 1,253,193 24.1% 3,825 16.6%
living in a home that has a mortgage or loan or shared ownership 2,153,767 41.4% 5,102 22.2%
Socially rented accommodation from council/local authority 608,152 11.7% 5,209 22.6%
Socially rented other 507,393 9.8% 6,677 29.0%
Privately rented accommodation 673,881 13.0% 2,203 9.6%
Total 5,196,386 100.0% 23,016 100.0%

Households

People with learning disabilities in private accommodation

3,825

living in a home that is owned outright


5,102

living in a home that has a mortgage or loan or shared ownership


5,209

socially rented accommodation from council/local authority


6,677

socially rented other


2,203

privately rented accommodation


Type of accommodation for people aged 16 and over

Type of accommodation for all people

  All People People with learning disabilities
Total % Total %
Private households 4,283,213 97.8% 17,856 84.6%
Communal establishments 95,859 2.2% 3,259 15.4%
Total 4,379,072 100.0% 21,115 100.0%

Did you know

346

people with learning disabilities aged 16+ were in hospitals on the Census day

Type of accommodation for all people by age group and gender

Deprivation levels (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation; SIMD)

  All People People with Learning Disabilities
Total % Total %
Most deprived area 1,019,452 19.4% 7,417 28.1%
Deprived area 1,030,680 19.6% 6,348 24.1%
Average area 1,070,026 20.3% 5,217 19.8%
Affluent area 1,089,632 20.7% 4,186 15.9%
Most affluent area 1,059,264 20.1% 3,181 12.1%
Total 5,269,054 100.0% 26,349 100.0%

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) for all people by age group and gender

Urban/Rural Classification

  All People People with Learning Disabilities
Total % Total %
Urban area 3,666,430 69.6% 18,985 72.1%
Small town 659,577 12.5% 3,353 12.7%
Rural area 943,047 17.9% 4,011 15.2%
Total 5,269,054 100.0% 26,349 100.0%

Urban/ Rural classification for all people by age group and gender

Summary information

51.6% of people with learning disabilities in private accommodation live in socially rented households, compared with 21.5% of all people


  • Of adults aged 16 and over, 15.4% with learning disabilities live in communal establishments, compared with 2.2% of all adults


  • Of adults aged 16 and over in communal establishments, 346 (1.6%) people with learning disabilities were in hospital compared with 3665 (0.1%) of all adults



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