Inequalities and challenges experienced by disabled people in Scotland: evidence review
This evidence review synthesises available evidence on the inequalities (where comparable data is available) and challenges experienced by disabled people in Scotland drawing on research from the period 2019 to 2025.
Appendix 2: Disability and Sex Age Standardised Census Data
| Sex | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a lot | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a little | People without a long-term disability or health condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 11.1% | 13.8% | 75.1% |
| Male | 9.9% | 12.4% | 77.7% |
Source: Scotland’s Census 2022 Report on Health, disability and unpaid care
Notes: Age-Standardised Percentages (ASPs) allow for comparisons to be made in health outcomes between populations living in different geographical areas and over time that may contain different age structures. ASPs adjust observed rates for a health outcome (e.g. disability) to a standard population with a known age structure. This means that the populations being compared are adjusted to have the same age structure as the standard population. See Scotland’s Census methodology for more information.
| Sex | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a lot | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a little | People without a long-term disability or health condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 10.3% | 10.8% | 78.9% |
| Male | 10.1% | 10.4% | 79.5% |
Source: Scotland’s Census 2022 Report on Health, disability and unpaid care
Notes: Age-Standardised Percentages (ASPs) allow for comparisons to be made in health outcomes between populations living in different geographical areas and over time that may contain different age structures. ASPs adjust observed rates for a health outcome (e.g. disability) to a standard population with a known age structure. This means that the populations being compared are adjusted to have the same age structure as the standard population. See Scotland’s Census methodology for more information.