Discrimination and Harassment in Scotland, results from the 2023 Scottish Household Survey

Discrimination and harassment across Scotland

In 2023, nearly 1 in 13 people (7%) reported that they experienced discrimination, and 1 in 20 people (5%) reported that they experienced harassment, in the last 12 months (Table 1).

These findings are similar to the previous year 2022, when 1 in 13 adults (8%) reported that they experienced discrimination and 1 in 20 adults (5%) experienced harassment, in the last 12 months (source: Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings).

Perceived reasons for discrimination and harassment

SHS respondents were asked if they perceived that they experienced discrimination or harassment because they belong to a particular group. Respondents were provided with a list of possible reasons, see the methodology section for more information.

In 2023, the most common perceived reasons for experiencing discrimination were: sex or gender, ethnicity, age, nationality, accent, mental ill-health, and health problems or disability. At least 1 in every 10 respondents that experienced discrimination, reported one of these reasons (Table 4).

The most common perceived reasons for experiencing harassment were: sex or gender, ethnicity, nationality, mental ill-health, and health problems or disability. At least 1 in every 10 respondents that experienced harassment, reported one of these reasons (Table 5).

These findings are similar to 2022, with a few exceptions. The reporting of ‘accent’ as a perceived reason for discrimination and harassment decreased between 2022 and 2023 (21% compared to 15% for discrimination, and 16% compared to 8% for harassment). The reporting of ‘mental-ill health’ as a perceived reason for discrimination and harassment increased between 2022 and 2023 (9% compared to 15% for discrimination, and 8% compared to 14% for harassment) (Tables 4 and 5).