People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age was 19.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
19.4%
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
4th
of 45 countries
All-time high
19.4%
in 2018
All-time low
10.3%
in 2009
Years of data
11
2008–2018

People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom, 2008–2018

051015202008201320182008: 11.3 Percentage2009: 10.3 Percentage2010: 12.9 Percentage2011: 16.5 Percentage2012: 13.1 Percentage2013: 17 Percentage2014: 15.8 Percentage2015: 16.3 Percentage2016: 17.7 Percentage2017: 18.4 Percentage2018: 19.4 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2018, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom stood at 19.4%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 71.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom peaked at 19.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 2009.

That places United Kingdom 4th out of 45 countries with data for 2018, putting it 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, year by year

Annual values for People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and income quintile in United Kingdom, 2008 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2008 11.3%
2009 10.3% -8.8%
2010 12.9% +25.2%
2011 16.5% +27.9%
2012 13.1% -20.6%
2013 17.0% +29.8%
2014 15.8% -7.1%
2015 16.3% +3.2%
2016 17.7% +8.6%
2017 18.4% +4.0%
2018 19.4% +5.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.8% 10.3% 11.3% 2
2010s 16.3% 12.9% 19.4% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 1 Norway 29.7% compare
  2. 2 Finland 27.8% compare
  3. 3 Sweden 20.4% compare
  4. 4 Iceland 19.4% compare
  5. 4 United Kingdom 19.4% compare
  6. 7 Netherlands 19.2% compare
  7. 7 Netherlands 19.2% compare

See the full ranking of 51 places →

More economy & growth data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom?
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom was 19.4% 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?
The highest recorded value was 19.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 2009.
How does United Kingdom rank for people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age?
United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 45 countries with data for 2018.
Is people having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 71.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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 income quintile. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/people-having-a-long-standing-illness-or-health-problem-by-sex-age-and-income-quintile/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
People having a long-standing illness or health problem, by sex, age and income quintile
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
51 places, 762 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed