People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age was 22.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
22.8%
Change on year
up 7.5%
World rank
4th
of 47 countries
All-time high
22.8%
in 2018
All-time low
12.8%
in 2012
Years of data
11
2008–2018

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom, 2008–2018

05101520252008201320182008: 14.1 Percentage2009: 14.5 Percentage2010: 14.2 Percentage2011: 15.9 Percentage2012: 12.8 Percentage2013: 15.2 Percentage2014: 14.8 Percentage2015: 15.1 Percentage2016: 18.6 Percentage2017: 21.2 Percentage2018: 22.8 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 22.8% for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in 2018. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

That represents a change of up 7.5% on the previous year and up 61.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom peaked at 22.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2012.

That places United Kingdom 4th out of 47 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and labour status in United Kingdom, 2008 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2008 14.1%
2009 14.5% +2.8%
2010 14.2% -2.1%
2011 15.9% +12.0%
2012 12.8% -19.5%
2013 15.2% +18.7%
2014 14.8% -2.6%
2015 15.1% +2.0%
2016 18.6% +23.2%
2017 21.2% +14.0%
2018 22.8% +7.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.3% 14.1% 14.5% 2
2010s 16.7% 12.8% 22.8% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 1 Finland 35.8% compare
  2. 2 Norway 31.5% compare
  3. 3 Sweden 23.1% compare
  4. 4 Estonia 22.8% compare
  5. 4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 22.8% compare
  6. 4 Estonia 22.8% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom?
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom was 22.8% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 22.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2012.
How does United Kingdom rank for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age?
United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 61.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and labour status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/people-having-a-long-standing-illness-or-health-problem-by-sex-age-and-labour-status/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and labour status
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 854 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed