The protected characteristics of disabled and non-disabled people in England and Wales, using Census 2021 data. Data estimates provided are as on Census Day, 21 March 2021.
To ensure that individuals cannot be identified in the data, counts and populations have been rounded to the nearest 5, and counts under 10 have not been included. All figures are individually rounded. Totals may not sum exactly because of this rounding.
Age groups are based on an individual's age on their last birthday, as of Census Day, 21 March 2021. The age groups used reflect the European Standard Population (2013).
Age-standardised percentage
The age-standardised percentage of disabled people is that which would have occurred if the observed age-specific percentage of disability had applied in the European Standard Population (ESP).
Age-specific percentage
Age-specific percentage is calculated for each age group:
Mk = (dk / pk) x 100%
where:
Mk = percentage of disabled people in age group k
dk = the number of disabled people in age group k
pk = Census 2021 population in age group k
k = age group
Category
The measures of disability, ethnic group, legal partnership status, religion or sexual orientation in Census 2021 enable different categorisations of responses to the question. These provide different levels of detail from the responses provided.
Count
The count is the number of usual residents in each category (Disabled, Non-disabled, Disabled; limited a lot, Disabled; limited a little, Non-disabled; with non-limiting condition, Non-disabled; no condition), sex, age group and geographic breakdown. To ensure that individuals cannot be identified in the data, counts and populations have been rounded to the nearest 5, and counts under 10 have not been included..
Disability
The definition of disability used in the 2021 Census is aligned with the definition of disability under the Equality Act (2010). A person is considered disabled if they self-report having a physical or mental health condition or illness that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or more, and that this reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. The detailed response categories are:
- Non-disabled; no condition.
- Non-disabled; with non-limiting condition.
- Disabled; limited a little.
- Disabled; limited a lot.
Ethnic group
The ethnic group that the person completing the census feels they belong to. This could be based on their culture, family background, identity, or physical appearance. There were two stages to the ethnic group question. The respondent identifies first through one of the following high-level options before selecting a tick-box:
- Asian, Asian British, or Asian Welsh
- Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African
- Mixed or Multiple
- White
- Other ethnic group
Following this, respondents could choose 1 out of 19 tick-box response categories, including write-in response options.
Legal partnership status
Classifies a person according to their legal marital or registered civil partnership status on Census Day, 21 March 2021.
The six categories are:
- Civil partnership.
- Divorced or formerly in a civil partnership.
- Married.
- Never married and never registered a civil partnership.
- Separated, but still legally married or still legally in a civil partnership.
- Widowed or surviving partner from a civil partnership.
Population
The population is the number of usual residents of each sex, age group and geographic breakdown. These have been rounded.
Religion
The religion people connect or identify with (their religious affiliation), whether or not they practise or have belief in it. The nine categories are:
- No religion.
- Christian (including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations).
- Buddhist.
- Hindu.
- Jewish.
- Muslim.
- Sikh.
- Other religion.
- Not answered.
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. The five categories are:
- Straight or heterosexual.
- Gay or lesbian.
- Bisexual.
- All other sexual orientations.
- Not answered.
Usual resident
For Census 2021, a usual resident of the UK is anyone who, on census day, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be outside the UK for less than 12 months.
