People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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

In 2018, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 22.8%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

The figure is 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 22.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.8%, in 2012.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and labour status in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  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 Estonia 22.8% compare
  6. 4 United Kingdom 22.8% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 12.8% in 2012.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 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/

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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