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Home / Census 2011 Information / Learning disabilities / Topics / Family

Scotland: Family

Scotland's population size is 5,295,403

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  1. Learning disabilities
  2. Autism

Family is important for the development and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities and people with autism. Social support from loved ones provides a sense of security and belonging. Social relationships, including close family ties are important to people. Relationships are thought to protect wellbeing through companionship, emotional support, and love.

The Scottish Learning Disabilities Strategy, The Keys to life, has a focus of improving quality of life for all people with learning disabilities. To achieve this, it is essential that we build our understanding of family and social environments people with learning disabilities live in.

Family: All people in private households

  All people
Age Female Male Total
In a family without children 620,140 622,917 1,243,057
In a family with children 1,048,825 1,120,146 2,168,971
In a single parent family 449,689 274,008 723,697
Not in a family 598,105 535,224 1,113,329
Total 2,716,759 2,552,295 5,263,691
People Learning Disabilities
Female Male Total
472 4.2% 469 3.1% 941 3.6%
3,238 28.9% 4,658 30.7% 7,896 29.9%
2,212 19.8% 3,005 19.8% 5,217 19.8%
5,278 47.1% 7,017 46.3% 12,295 46.7%
11,200 100.0% 15,149 100.0% 26,349 100.0%
  People Learning Disabilities
Age Female Male Total
In a family without children 472 4.2% 469 3.1% 941 3.6%
In a family with children 3,238 28.9% 4,658 30.7% 7,896 29.9%
In a single parent family 2,212 19.8% 3,005 19.8% 5,217 19.8%
Not in a family 5,278 47.1% 7,017 46.3% 12,295 46.7%
Total 11,200 100.0% 15,149 100.0% 26,349 100.0%

Family type

People with learning disabilities who live in private households

941

in a family without children

7,896

in a family with children

5,217

in a single parent family

12,295

not in a family

98.6% (n=5,160) children and 84.6% (n=17,856) adults with learning disabilities live in private households

Married, civil partnership or cohabiting couples without children were classified as living in a family without children.

Married, civil partnership or cohabiting couples with children were classified as living in a family with children, including step families.

Families with one parent only were classified as single parent families.

People living alone or with people other than family members were classified as not living in a family.

Family composition

People with learning disabilities who live with family

7,478

child of a couple

1,359

member of a couple

4,759

child of a single parent

458

single parent

Marital status: people aged 16 and over

  All People People Learning Disabilities
Total % Total %
Single 1,530,847 35.1% 18,645 88.3%
Married or in a civil partnership 1,987,588 45.7% 1,078 5.1%
Divorced or formerly in a partnership 140,727 3.2% 665 3.1%
Separated 359,039 8.3% 227 1.1%
Widowed 339,756 9.2% 500 2.4%
Total 4,357,957 100.0% 21,115 100.0%

Marital status

People aged 16 and over with learning disabilities

18,645

single

1,078

married or in a civil partnership

665

divorced or formerly in a partnership

227

separated

500

widowed

Family carers without learning disabilities

  People without learning disabilities who are carers People without learning disabilities who aren't carers
  Total % Total %
Lives with at least 1 person with learning disabilities 19,205 3.9% 15,932 0.3%
Doesn't live with a person with learning disabilities 470,468 96.1% 4,667,765 99.7%
Total 489,673 100.0% 4,683,697 100.0%

Family carers without learning disabilities

Family carers

18,494

lives with at least one person with learning disabilities

470,468

doesnt live with a person with learning disabilities

Summary information

95% of children and 43% of adults with learning disabilities live with family

  • 33.9% of people with learning disabilities live with a single parent compared to 10.5% of people without learning disabilities

  • 88.3% of people aged 16 and over with learning disabilities are single compared to 35.1% of adults without learning disabilities

  • 3.8% of unpaid carers without learning disabilities live with at least 1 person with learning disabilities compared to 0.3% of people who aren't carers

  • 94.7% of unpaid carers without learning disabiliites dont live with a person with learning disabilities compared to 99.1% of people who aren't carers

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