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 4: Disability and Ethnicity Data
| Ethnicity | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a little or a lot | People without a long-term disability or health condition |
|---|---|---|
| White | 24.9% | 75.1% |
| Mixed or multiple ethnic group | 15.4% | 84.6% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British | 12.9% | 87.1% |
| African: African, African Scottish or African British | 8.8% | 91.2% |
| Caribbean or Black | 18.3% | 81.7% |
| Other ethnic group | 15.5% | 84.5% |
Source: Scotland Census 2022
Notes: Scotland’s Census 2022 provides 21 ethnic categories for respondents to select. The category ‘White’ presented in the table aggregates responses for White Scottish, other White British, White Irish, White Gypsy/Travellers, White Polish, White Roma, White Showperson, and Other White. The category ‘Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British’ presented in the table aggregates responses for Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British, Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British, Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Scottish or Bangladeshi British, Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British, and Other Asian. The category ‘Other ethnic group’ presented in the table aggregates responses for Arab, Arab Scottish or Arab British and Other Ethnic Group.
| Ethnicity | People with a long-term disability or health condition that limits them a little or a lot | People without a long-term disability or health condition |
|---|---|---|
| White: White Scottish | 25.8% | 74.2% |
| White: Other White British | 24.4% | 75.6% |
| White: White Irish | 22.8% | 77.2% |
| White: Gypsy/ Traveller | 39.5% | 60.5% |
| White: White Polish | 11.87% | 88.2% |
| White: Other White | 13.1% | 86.9% |
| Mixed or multiple ethnic group | 15.4% | 84.6% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British | 18.1% | 81.9% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British | 9.9% | 90.1% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Scottish or Bangladeshi British | 14.7% | 85.3% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British | 8.9% | 91.1% |
| Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Other Asian | 11.4% | 88.6% |
| African: African, African Scottish or African British | 11.4% | 88.6% |
| African: Other African | 8.6% | 91.4% |
| Caribbean or Black: Caribbean, Caribbean Scottish or Caribbean British | 18.2% | 81.8% |
| Caribbean or Black: Black, Black Scottish or Black British | 23.3% | 76.7% |
| Caribbean or Black: Other Caribbean or Black | 17.6% | 82.4% |
| Other ethnic groups: Arab, Arab Scottish or Arab British | 14.7% | 85.3% |
| Other ethnic groups: Other Ethnic Group | 16.3% | 83.7% |
Source: Scotland Census 2022