Social care · Unpaid carers · England and Wales · Census 2021
Who cares unpaid, and for how long?
4.7 million people in England — 8.9% of those aged 5 and over, age-standardised — gave unpaid care on Census Day 2021. 1.4 million did so for 50 hours a week or more. Women and people in deprived areas were more likely to be carers.
Evidence last reviewed 3 October 2026
Hours of care
How much unpaid care do people give?
Unpaid carers cluster at the two ends: a few hours a week, or 50 hours and more
Usual residents aged 5 and over providing unpaid care, by hours in a typical week, England and Wales, Census Day 21 March 2021, thousands.
England and Wales · Census 2021 · Official statistics (Census)
Sources, definitions and data — Unpaid carers cluster at the two ends: a few hours a week, or 50 hours and more
- Geography:
- England and Wales — Usual residents aged 5 and over
- Measure:
- Thousands of people
- Period:
- Census 2021
- Status:
- Official statistics (Census)
- Calculation:
- As published (rounded counts).
- Compare with:
- England alone: 4.7 million carers (8.9% age-standardised), 1.4 million caring 50+ hours a week
- Not included / breaks:
- The question and answer categories changed between 2011 and 2021, and the census was taken during the pandemic, which may have affected how people answered. Self-reported; includes care for anyone with a long-term condition, disability or problems related to old age.
Source: ONS, Unpaid care, England and Wales: Census 2021 (released 19 January 2023). Chart CARE-05.
View the data as a table
| Hours a week | People |
|---|---|
| 9 hours or less | 1,800,000 |
| 10–19 hours | 678,000 |
| 20–34 hours | 483,000 |
| 35–49 hours | 552,000 |
| 50 hours or more | 1,500,000 |
Who provides it
Women and people in the most deprived areas are more likely to care
Usual residents aged 5 and over providing any unpaid care, age-standardised per cent, England, Census 2021.
- Women10.3%
- Men7.6%
- Most deprived areas10.1%
- Least deprived areas8.1%
- All, England8.9%
Source: ONS, Unpaid care by age, sex and deprivation, England and Wales: Census 2021 (13 February 2023).
About 120,000 carers in England were aged 5 to 17 (1.4% of that age group). In England, 1.7 million carers gave nine hours or less a week and 1.4 million gave 50 hours or more (2.7% of people aged 5+, age-standardised).
Fewer carers, or a different question?
The share of people in England and Wales reporting any unpaid care fell from 11.4% in 2011 to 9% in 2021, but the share caring for 20 hours a week or more rose. ONS cautions that the question and answer options changed between the two censuses, and that the 2021 census was taken during the pandemic, which may have affected how people provided care and how they answered. Neither census measures the quality of care or its effect on carers’ health and work.
Paid and unpaid care are separate systems. Councils have a duty to assess carers’ own needs, and the main benefit for carers, Carer’s Allowance, is paid by DWP to people caring 35 hours a week or more who meet an earnings limit. It cost about £4.2bn in 2024–25 (Great Britain, cash). Unpaid care does not appear in council activity or spending figures at all.
Unpaid care interacts with work: see ill health and work and benefits. Options are compared on the Social care page.
Sources and methods (3)
- ONS, Unpaid care, England and Wales: Census 2021 (released 19 January 2023) — hours of unpaid care and change since 2011
- ONS, Unpaid care by age, sex and deprivation, England and Wales: Census 2021 (released 13 February 2023) — unpaid care by sex, age and deprivation (England)
- DWP, Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2026 — Carer’s Allowance spending
Method notes
- Age-standardised proportions adjust for different age structures, so groups and years can be compared; counts are actual responses.
- Census 2021 asked about care for anyone with a long-term physical or mental health condition or illness, or problems related to old age.