Introduction
For the 2021 Census, people who assessed their day-to-day activities as limited by long-term physical or mental health conditions or illnesses were considered disabled.
This definition of a disabled person meets the harmonised standard for measuring disability and is in line with the Equality Act (2010). This was a change in the question asked in 2011.
Summary of results
Nearly one fifth (19%, 51,797 people) reported that their day-to-day activities are limited by a long-term physical or mental health condition or illness, with 7% reporting their activities are limited a lot and 11% a little.
This is higher than England (17%) and higher than the South East (16%).
Brighton & Hove has seen a larger increase in the number of people with a long-term health condition or disability since 2011 (16%, 7,228 more people) than England (5%) and the South East (10%). But it should be noted that the questions changed in 2021.
In 2021, half (50%, 139,078 people) of the Brighton & Hove population reported their general health to be very good, with 5% reporting it to be bad or very bad (14,029 people).
The percentage in very good health was higher than England (48%) and similar to the South East (50%). Neither Brighton & Hove, England or the South East have seen significant change since 2011.
Brighton & Hove, England and the South East have seen a significant increase in the percentage of people in very good health since 2011.
Long-term health conditions or disabilities in Brighton & Hove
The number of people with a long-term health condition or disability in Brighton & Hove is increasing, with a 16% increase in the total number from 2011 and 2021, equivalent to 7,228 more people.
This change is driven by an increase in the number of people who reported that their activities are limited a little (7,322 more people), with the number of people reporting their activities are limited a lot falling slightly (92 fewer people). In 2021 this was higher than England (17%) and the South East (15%), and a larger increase was seen from 2011 to 2021 in the city than in England (5% increase) or in the South East (10% increase).
The percentage of people reporting their general health to be very good has increased in 2021 (50%) compared with 2011 (49%). Due to the overall population increasing, this corresponds to 4,405 more people. This is similar to the South East (50%) and higher than England (48%).
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Long-term health condition or disability
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2021 Census, Brighton & Hove (n) | 2021 Census, Brighton & Hove: Percentage of total population | 2021 Census, South East: Percentage of total population | 2021 Census, England: Percentage of total population | 2011 Census, Brighton & Hove (n) | 2011 Census, Brighton & Hove (%) | Change Brighton & Hove (n) | Change Brighton & Hove (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disabled under the Equality Act | 51,797 | 19% | 16% | 17% | 44569 | 16% | 7228 | 16% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a lot | 20,351 | 7% | 6% | 7% | 20445 | 7% | -94 | 0% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a little | 31,446 | 11% | 10% | 10% | 24124 | 9% | 7322 | 30% |
| Health level | 2021 Census, Brighton & Hove (n) | 2021 Census, Brighton & Hove: Percentage of total population | 2021 Census, South East: Percentage of total population | 2021 Census, England: Percentage of total population | 2011 Census, Brighton & Hove (n) | 2011 Census, Brighton & Hove (%) | Change Brighton & Hove (n) | Change Brighton & Hove (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very good health | 139,078 | 50% | 50% | 48% | 134,673 | 49% | 4405 | 3% |
| Good health | 91,878 | 33% | 34% | 34% | 91,970 | 34% | -92 | 0% |
| Fair health | 32,118 | 12% | 12% | 13% | 32,298 | 12% | -180 | -1% |
| Bad health | 10,757 | 4% | 3% | 4% | 11,151 | 4% | -394 | -4% |
| Very bad health | 3,272 | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3,277 | 1% | -5 | 0% |
People in Brighton & Hove are in the top half of local authorities for long-term health condition or disability. The city has the 51st highest percentage of people disabled under the equalities act definition in England, out of 153 upper tier local authorities in England.
Brighton & Hove has the 52nd highest percentage of people reporting that they are in very good health.
People living with a disability, and those who reported bad or very bad health, are not living evenly across the city and are more concentrated in certain areas. See maps of the 2021 Census results.
Information from Census 2021, including different geographical levels, maps and 2011 census data is available at:
Characteristics
Age and gender
Among those resident in households in Brighton & Hove, more females reported that their day-to-day activities are limited by a long-term physical or mental health condition or illness (20%, 27,180 people) than males (17%, 21,906 people).
As people in Brighton & Hove get older they are more likely to report that their day-to-day activities are limited by a long-term physical or mental health condition or illness.
Gender identity
A lower percentage of people whose gender identify was the same as the sex registered at birth reported that their day-to- day activities are limited (20%) than:
- those whose gender identity different from sex registered at birth but no specific identity given (27%)
- trans women (44%)
- trans men (48%)
- all other gender identities (58%)
Sexual orientation
A lower percentage of people who reported their sexual orientation as straight or heterosexual reported that their day-to-day activities are limited (19%) than those who reported they are:
- gay or lesbian (25%)
- bisexual (37%)
- all other sexual orientations (43%)
Ethnicity
People who reported that they are of white ethnicity were more likely to report that their day-to-day activities are limited (19%) than those who reported their ethnic group as:
- Asian (11%)
- Black (13%)
- Mixed or multiple (16%)
- other (17%)
Religion
There was some variation by religious affiliation in those who reported that their activities are limited. Those who reported their religious affiliation as other (36%), Jewish (23%), Buddhist (22%) and Christian (21%) were more likely to report their activities are limited than those who reported their affiliation as Muslim (12%), Sikh (12%) or Hindu (10%).
Unpaid care
Residents who reported that they provide some amount of unpaid care were more likely to report that their activities are limited (30%) than those who do not provide care (18%). Those who provide more care (50 hours or more per week) were more likely to report their activities are limited (38%) than those who provide 19 hours care or less (26%).
Veterans
People who reported that they have previously served in the UK armed forces (regular or reserve) were more likely to report that their activities are limited (59%) than those who have not (26%).
Migration
People who were born outside the UK were less likely to report that they are disabled under the equalities act definition (day-to-day activities limited a little or a lot, 13%) than those who were born in the UK (20%).