Release: 2011 Census Analysis, Provision of Unpaid Care in England and Wales, 2011

There were approximately 5.8 million people providing unpaid care in England and Wales in 2011, representing just over one tenth of the population.

The absolute number of unpaid carers has grown by 600,000 since 2001; the largest growth was in the highest unpaid care category, fifty or more hours per week.

Unpaid care has increased at a faster pace than population growth between 2001 and 2011 in England and Wales; the same is true in Wales and across all English regions other than London, where it decreased.

The provision of unpaid care is more than twice as high in Neath Port Talbot (14.6 per cent) than in Wandsworth borough (6.5 per cent), in 2011.

Most authorities experienced increases in unpaid care between 2001 and 2011.

Authorities with higher percentages of their population who are ‘limited a lot’ in daily activities also have higher levels of unpaid care provided.