Key points

• On Census Day in 2022, an estimated 975 children in Scotland were looked after in residential care.
• Age and sex: 56% of children in residential care were male, compared to 51% of children living in households. Most children in residential care were aged 15 to 17 (60%).
• Ethnic group: Most children in residential care (90%) and households (89%) were White. The proportion of children in residential care of Asian, Asian Scottish, or Asian British ethnicity (2%) was lower than among children living in households (5%). Children of African, African Scottish or African British ethnicity represented 1% of children in residential care, and 2% of children in households. Children of Caribbean or Black ethnicity accounted for 1% of children in residential care, and less than 1% of children in households. The proportion of children of mixed or multiple ethnic groups was similar for both groups (3%). Other ethnic groups, aside from those listed above, made up a bigger proportion of children in residential care (3%) compared to households (1%).
• Main language: Where a main language was recorded (for children aged three or over), English was the main language for 96% of children in both residential care and households.
• Religion: The most common response was that children had no religion (78% in residential care compared to 62% in households). A lower proportion of children in residential care were Christian (9%) compared to households (26%).
• Disability: The proportion of children in residential care with an activity limiting health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months was 18%, compared with 9% for children in households. Children in residential care tend to be older on average than children in households, which is likely to account for some differences between these populations.
• Health conditions: A third (33%) of children in residential care had a learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder, and 16% had a mental health condition. This compared with 9% of children in households reported as having one or more of learning disability, learning difficulty or developmental disorder, and 3% had a mental health condition. Children in residential care tend to be older on average than children in households, which is likely to account for some differences between these populations.
• General health: Most children’s health was reported as good or very good, although this was lower for residential care (92%) than households (97%).