An estimated 5.0 million people aged 5 and over provided unpaid care in England and Wales at the 2021 Census, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS, Census 2021, reference date 21 March 2021).
This piece pulls together what the named official sources record about the number of unpaid carers in the UK: the headline totals from the ONS Census, how care is split by sex and age, how many hours people give, and how many people claim Carer's Allowance in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit data. Every figure below carries its source, its reference period and a link. Census figures describe England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland ran their own censuses and are noted separately where relevant.
How many unpaid carers are there in the UK?
An estimated 5.0 million people aged 5 and over provided unpaid care in England and Wales at the 2021 Census, equal to an age-standardised 9.0% of that population (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). Within that total, ONS records roughly 4.7 million carers in England and about 310,000 in Wales.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are not included in the England and Wales census figures, so a single verified UK-wide total is not stated here. Where a UK figure is needed, it can be worth combining the ONS release with the separate Scottish and Northern Irish census outputs rather than relying on a rounded estimate.
Key figures at a glance
The table below sets out the main verified figures on unpaid care in England and Wales, each with its named source and reference period. Percentages shown are age-standardised proportions (ASPs) where ONS reports them, which adjust for differences in population age structure and are the figures ONS uses for comparison over time and between areas.
| Measure | Figure | Source & period |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid carers, England & Wales | 5.0 million (9.0% ASP) | ONS, Census 2021 |
| Unpaid carers, England | ~4.7 million (8.9% ASP) | ONS, Census 2021 |
| Unpaid carers, Wales | ~310,000 (10.5% ASP) | ONS, Census 2021 |
| Providing 50+ hours a week (E&W) | 1.5 million | ONS, Census 2021 |
| Providing 9 hours or less a week (E&W) | 1.8 million | ONS, Census 2021 |
| Young carers aged 5–17, England | ~120,000 | ONS, Census 2021 |
| People claiming Carer's Allowance | 1.4 million (Aug 2025) | DWP benefit statistics, to Aug 2025 |
| Carer's Allowance weekly rate | £86.45 (35+ hours/week) | gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change |
Figures as reported by the named sources above. ONS Census figures cover England and Wales, reference date 21 March 2021. Benefit figures cover Great Britain and reflect ongoing devolution of carer benefits to Scotland.
Who provides unpaid care?
Unpaid care is more commonly provided by women than men. At the 2021 Census, 10.3% of females in England provided unpaid care compared with 7.6% of males, and in Wales 12.0% of females compared with 9.0% of males (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). Care is also provided by children and teenagers.
| Group | England | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Females providing care | 10.3% | 12.0% |
| Males providing care | 7.6% | 9.0% |
| Young carers aged 5–17 | ~120,000 (1.4%) | ~8,200 (1.8%) |
Source: ONS, Census 2021, reference date 21 March 2021. Percentages for young carers are of the 5-to-17 age group.
How many hours of care do people provide?
The hours people give vary widely, from a few hours a week to round-the-clock support. In England and Wales, an estimated 1.8 million people provided 9 hours or less of unpaid care a week, while 1.5 million provided 50 or more hours a week (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). The heaviest caring commitments sit at the top of that range.
| Hours of unpaid care a week | People (England & Wales) | ASP |
|---|---|---|
| 9 hours or less | 1.8 million | 4.4% |
| 50 hours or more | 1.5 million | 2.8% |
Source: ONS, Census 2021, reference date 21 March 2021. An intermediate band (10 to 49 hours) is also reported by ONS.
Unpaid care and deprivation
A higher proportion of people provided unpaid care in more deprived areas. In England, 10.1% of people in the most deprived areas provided care compared with 8.1% in the least deprived; in Wales the equivalent figures were 11.5% and 9.7% (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). The gap is consistent across both nations.
| Area | Most deprived | Least deprived |
|---|---|---|
| England | 10.1% | 8.1% |
| Wales | 11.5% | 9.7% |
Source: ONS, Census 2021, reference date 21 March 2021. Figures are age-standardised proportions.
The trend over time
The recorded share of people providing unpaid care fell between the two most recent censuses. The age-standardised proportion in England and Wales was 9.0% in 2021, down from 11.4% in 2011 (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). ONS notes the 2021 Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic, which may have affected how people answered.
| Census year | Age-standardised proportion providing unpaid care (E&W) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 11.4% |
| 2021 | 9.0% |
Source: ONS, Census 2021. ONS cautions that pandemic timing and changes to the question wording may have influenced the 2021 result, so the fall should be read with care.
Carer's Allowance: the benefit numbers
Carer's Allowance is the main carer benefit, and far fewer people claim it than provide care. Around 1.4 million people were claiming Carer's Allowance at August 2025 (DWP benefit statistics, data to August 2025). The allowance is worth £86.45 a week for those caring at least 35 hours a week for someone on qualifying disability benefits (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change).
Of the roughly 1.4 million claiming at August 2025, about 27% (around 380,000) were entitled to Carer's Allowance but received no payment, generally because an overlapping benefit such as the State Pension met or exceeded their entitlement (DWP benefit statistics, data to August 2025). Carer support is being devolved in Scotland, where Carer's Allowance is being replaced by Carer's Support Payment, which affects the Great Britain caseload trend.
What the numbers mean
The headline is scale: millions of people provide unpaid care, and a large minority do so for very long hours. Because the 2021 Census fell during the pandemic and the question changed, the apparent drop from 11.4% to 9.0% may reflect measurement as much as a real fall in caring, so in our view it is best treated cautiously rather than as a settled trend (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021).
Two patterns tend to matter for families planning ahead. First, the gap between roughly 5.0 million carers and around 1.4 million Carer's Allowance claimants suggests many carers give substantial time without claiming the benefit, whether through overlapping benefit rules or non-take-up (DWP, to Aug 2025). Second, unpaid care often sits alongside later-life issues such as loss of mental capacity and the cost of formal care. Where those questions arise, many people choose to look at a lasting power of attorney and their wider arrangements together, and it can be worth discussing the position with a qualified professional.
Roughly 5.0 million carers in England and Wales, but around 1.4 million Carer's Allowance claimants across Great Britain: the data counts caring and benefit take-up separately.
Where the numbers meet estate planning
Unpaid care is often the point at which families first think about later-life planning, though caring itself is separate from any legal or tax step. When someone needs a lot of care, questions can follow about who could make decisions if capacity is lost, how any formal care might be paid for, and how a will fits in. Our estate planning guide sets out how those parts connect. For the cost of formal care, our page on Care Home Fees explains the means test and the local-authority rules on deprivation of assets, including that deliberately giving away assets to reduce a care contribution can be challenged; the aim of considered planning is limiting or mitigating the impact of care fees, not avoiding an assessed charge. Because so much care relates to conditions such as dementia, our data page on dementia in the UK gives related context. These are informational pages, and specific decisions are generally best discussed with a suitably qualified professional.
Sources and methodology
Every statistic on this page comes from a named official source and has been checked against the current release. Census figures are for England and Wales with a reference date of 21 March 2021; benefit figures are from DWP administrative data. The sources are:
- ONS, Unpaid care, England and Wales: Census 2021 (reference date 21 March 2021): the 5.0 million total, the 9.0% and 11.4% age-standardised proportions, and the hours-of-care figures.
- ONS, Unpaid care by age, sex and deprivation, England and Wales: Census 2021 (reference date 21 March 2021): the England and Wales totals, the sex breakdown, young carers, and deprivation figures.
- DWP, benefit statistics (data to August 2025): the Carer's Allowance caseload of around 1.4 million and the share entitled but not paid.
- gov.uk, Carer's Allowance (as at July 2026, subject to change): the £86.45 weekly rate and the 35-hour qualifying condition.
Where figures are rounded, they are reported as the source rounds them. Age-standardised proportions are used for comparisons because ONS applies them to adjust for population age structure. Figures are current as at July 2026 and benefit rates are subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
How many unpaid carers are there in the UK?
At the 2021 Census, an estimated 5.0 million people aged 5 and over provided unpaid care in England and Wales, an age-standardised 9.0% of that population (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). Scotland and Northern Ireland ran separate censuses, so a single verified UK-wide total is best built by combining those outputs.
How many carers are there in England compared with Wales?
ONS records roughly 4.7 million unpaid carers in England (8.9% age-standardised) and about 310,000 in Wales (10.5%) at the 2021 Census (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). Wales shows a higher proportion of carers than England once figures are adjusted for age structure.
How many people claim Carer's Allowance?
Around 1.4 million people were claiming Carer's Allowance at August 2025, of whom about 27% were entitled but received no payment because of overlapping benefit rules (DWP benefit statistics, data to August 2025). This is far fewer than the number of people who provide unpaid care, as the two are measured differently.
How much is Carer's Allowance a week?
Carer's Allowance is £86.45 a week for people who care for someone at least 35 hours a week and who meet the other conditions, including that the person cared for receives a qualifying disability benefit (gov.uk, as at July 2026, subject to change). Carer support is being devolved in Scotland, where a separate payment applies.
How many unpaid carers provide long hours of care?
At the 2021 Census, an estimated 1.5 million people in England and Wales provided 50 or more hours of unpaid care a week, while 1.8 million provided 9 hours or less (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). The heaviest caring hours are concentrated among a substantial minority of carers.
Why did the number of carers appear to fall since 2011?
The age-standardised share providing unpaid care in England and Wales was 9.0% in 2021, down from 11.4% in 2011 (ONS, Census 2021, 21 March 2021). ONS notes the 2021 Census ran during the pandemic and the question changed, so the drop may partly reflect measurement rather than a real fall, and is generally best read with caution.