Comparative analysis

This chapter provides comparative analysis between the Roma population (excluding those born in Scotland), and Gypsy/Travellers, Showpeople, and all of Scotland.

The ‘Roma’ and ‘Showman/Showwoman’ ethnicity categories were introduced to Scotland’s Census for the first time in 2022. During quality assurance, NRS determined that due to this, it may be that in the Census 2011 that some Roma and Showpeople ticked the Gypsy/Traveller category. Due to the new introduction of the Roma and Showpeople ethnic categories, and the overlap there may have been in the counting of these groups, this chapter will compare results across all of these groups.

While Roma, Gypsy/Traveller, and Showpeople may sometimes be grouped under the umbrella term “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller,” policymakers and analysts in Scotland are keen to recognise and understand the distinct experiences and outcomes of these different communities.

Population size

The Roma population made up 0.04% of the total Scottish population. This is comparable to the Gypsy/Traveller population (0.06%) and the Showpeople population (0.03%).

Table 4: Population size of Roma people , Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number and Proportion

Disability

The Roma population had the lowest reporting of a limiting long-term health problem or disability (13.5%), when compared to all of Scotland (24.1%), Gypsy/Travellers (39.5%), and Showpeople (27.6%).

It is uncertain why there is a lower proportion of Roma people reporting a disability than comparison groups, and more research is needed to understand this. However, this finding is similar to that of the Census 2021 for England and Wales which also found a lower proportion of Roma who self-reported as disabled in comparison to the overall England and Wales population. A UK Government guidance on improving Roma health has also highlighted that disability is a taboo topic among this ethnic group, along with distrust of health professionals, and misinformation influencing barriers to talking about and accessing healthcare.

Table 5: Disability reported by Roma people, Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number and Proportion

Type of Accommodation and Household Tenure

The majority of Roma people, reported living in flats, maisonettes or apartments (74.0%), while about a quarter (26.0%) lived in a whole house or bungalow. This is a contrasting trend to the type of accommodation lived in across all of Scotland. The majority of people in all of Scotland reported living in a whole house or bungalow (72.3%), while about a quarter lived in flats, maisonettes or apartments (27.7%).

Roma people, also reported living in flats, maisonettes or apartments more than Gypsy/Travellers (41.3%) and Showpeople (35.6%).

Table 6: Type of Accommodation of Roma people, Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number and Proportion

Note: The analysis in this table excluded the responses for caravan or other mobile or temporary structure due to small sample sizes not enabling enough certainty in comparative analysis.

Table 7: Type of Accommodation of Roma people, Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Proportion

Note: The analysis in this table excluded the responses for caravan or other mobile or temporary structure due to small sample sizes not enabling enough certainty in comparative analysis. Any small changes in the sample size, may lead to a large apparent effect in the percentage.

A similar proportion of Roma people and Gypsy/Travellers reported owning their own home (23.3% compared to 28.3%). These proportions were lower than of all of Scotland and Showpeople that reported owning their own home (68.3% and 66.9%). Roma people reported living in private rented accommodation more than other groups (47.8% compared to 20.9% Gypsy/Travellers, 20.6% Showpeople, and 12.6% all of Scotland).

Roma people reported living in social rented households more often than all of Scotland and Showpeople (28.8% compared to 20.5% and 11.1%). However, they reported this less often than Gypsy/Travellers (28.8% compared to 50.8%).

Table 8: Household Tenure of Roma people , Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number

Note: Those who owned their home either reported doing so outright, or with a mortgage or loan or shared ownership. Responses for ‘living rent free’ were removed from this analysis due to small sample sizes not enabling enough certainty in comparative analysis.

Table 9: Household Tenure of Roma people , Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Proportion

Note: Those who owned their home either reported doing so outright, or with a mortgage or loan or shared ownership. Responses for ‘living rent free’ were removed from this analysis due to small sample sizes not enabling enough certainty in comparative analysis. Any small changes in the sample size, may lead to a large apparent effect in the percentage.

Highest Qualification

The most commonly reported highest level of qualification for Roma people was a degree level qualifications or above (including foreign qualifications) (34.2%). This is comparable to all of Scotland (32.5%), and higher than Showpeople (23.2%) and Gypsy/Travellers (14.9%).

Table 10: Highest Qualification held by Roma people , Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number

Note: Degree level qualifications or above includes foreign degrees. Further Education and sub-degree Higher Education qualifications includes HNCs and HNDs. Highest level of qualification held is measured for respondents aged 16 and above.

Table 11: Highest Qualification held by Roma people , Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Proportion

Note: Degree level qualifications or above includes foreign degrees. Further Education and sub-degree Higher Education qualifications includes HNCs and HNDs. Highest level of qualification held is measured for respondents aged 16 and above.

Economic activity

About half of Roma people aged 16 and above reported working as employees either full-time or part-time (52.9%), which is similar to all of Scotland aged 16 and above (50.6%).

Table 12: Economic Activity of Roma people, Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Number

Note: The categories ‘Employee’ and ‘Self-employed’ include full-time and part-time economic activity.

Table 13: Economic Activity of Roma people, Gypsy/Traveller, Showpeople and all of Scotland, by Proportion

Note: The categories ‘Employee’ and ‘Self-employed’ include full-time and part-time economic activity.