2011 census analysis: unpaid care in England and Wales, 2011 and comparison with 2001

The provision of unpaid care was included in the Census in 2001 and 2011, when Census forms asked whether people provided unpaid care to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill health or disability, or problems related to old age, and for how many hours per week. This document presents an overview of the provision of unpaid care in England and Wales in 2011, including key findings at regional and local authority level and by area deprivation groupings, and comparisons with 2001. It notes that the provision of unpaid care is becoming increasingly common as the population ages, and that there were approximately 5.8 million people providing unpaid care in England and Wales in 2011. It includes a brief summary of key points and is accompanied by interactive maps and a short video about the provision of unpaid care in England and Wales.