People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age was 24.1% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
24.1%
Change on year
up 5.2%
World rank
3rd
of 47 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2018
All-time low
12.9%
in 2012
Years of data
11
2008–2018

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2008–2018

05101520252008201320182008: 14.2 Percentage2009: 13.5 Percentage2010: 15.1 Percentage2011: 16 Percentage2012: 12.9 Percentage2013: 15.5 Percentage2014: 14.6 Percentage2015: 15.5 Percentage2016: 18.4 Percentage2017: 22.9 Percentage2018: 24.1 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2018, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 24.1%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 69.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 24.1% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2012.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 3rd of 47 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and educational attainment level in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2008 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2008 14.2%
2009 13.5% -4.9%
2010 15.1% +11.9%
2011 16.0% +6.0%
2012 12.9% -19.4%
2013 15.5% +20.2%
2014 14.6% -5.8%
2015 15.5% +6.2%
2016 18.4% +18.7%
2017 22.9% +24.5%
2018 24.1% +5.2%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 24.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.8%, 2.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 24.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.5%, 1.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.8% 13.5% 14.2% 2
2010s 17.2% 12.9% 24.1% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 1 Finland 36.1% compare
  2. 2 Norway 31.8% compare
  3. 3 United Kingdom 24.1% compare
  4. 5 Estonia 22.9% compare
  5. 5 Estonia 22.9% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 24.1% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2018.
What is the lowest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2012.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 3rd out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 69.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-having-a-long-standing-illness-or-health-problem-by-sex-age-and-educational/united-kingdom/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://health.statizoid.com/stat/people-having-a-long-standing-illness-or-health-problem-by-sex-age-and-educational/united-kingdom/">People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and educational attainment level
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 854 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed