Key Points

• There were 44,310 individual carers included in the final results who were supported by local services across Scotland in 2022-23. This represents a 5% increase from the reported number of carers in 2021-22 (42,050).
• Three in five carers (60%) included in the Carers Census in 2022-23 were working age (18 - 64 year old) adults. Adults aged 65 and over accounted for a quarter of carers identified (25%) while young carers (carers aged under 18) made up 15% of the individual carers identified in 2022-23.
• There was a notable deprivation effect for unpaid carers supported by local services, but this was greater for young carers. In 2022-23, 15% of young carers lived in areas within the most deprived Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) decile, while 4% lived in areas within the least deprived SIMD decile.
• Based on the 31,780 records with information on intensity of care in 2022-23, 55% of unpaid carers who were supported by local services spent an average of 50+ hours a week providing unpaid care.
• The most commonly reported impact of providing unpaid care in 2022-23 was on carers’ emotional well-being. For records where this information was available; 79% of adult carers and 89% of young carers experienced an impact on their emotional well-being due to their caring role.
• In 2022-23, carers were more likely to experience impacts, such as on their health, with more intense caring roles. For instance, 31% of carers providing up to 19 hours of care a week experienced an impact on their health in 2022-23 compared to 65% of those caring for 50+ hours a week.
• Based on records where information on Adult Carer Support Plans (ACSPs) and Young Carer Statements (YCSs) were available; 45% of carers supported by local services had a complete ACSP or YCS in place, while for 51% their ACSP or YCS was incomplete. Some carers were recorded as having both a complete and incomplete plan which may reflect changes to their situation.
• Based on the 20,540 records for which information on carers’ support needs was available in 2022-23, nearly 4 in 5 carers were recorded as needing advice and information.
• Based on records where information on support provided to carers was available; the most common form of support provided to carers was advice and information (provided to 79% of carers). Young carers supported by local services were more likely to be provided with short breaks or respite than adult carers (55% compared to 36%).
• The data presented here for 2022-23 will likely be an undercount of the true number of carers being supported by local services, as complete returns were not received from all areas.