Disability

The way in which 'disability' is defined varies but generally involves the presence of a long-term health condition that limits daily activities. In the Scottish Census of 2022, approximately 24% of all Scots reported having a long-term health problem or disability that limits their day-to-day activities either 'a little' or 'a lot'.

Glasgow

Percentage of people with day-to-day activities limited by long-term health problem or disability, Glasgow and Scotland, 2022

In Glasgow, 13.0% reported having a long-term health problem or disability that limits their day-to-day activities 'a little' as well as 13.0% who reported that their condition limited them 'a lot'. The prevalence of disability is similar in Scotland as a whole, with slightly more people in Scotland reporting being limited ‘a little’, and slightly more people reporting being ‘not limited’. 

Percentage of people with day-to-day activities limited by long-term health problem or disability, Glasgow by age group, 2022

In Glasgow, as well as in Scotland as a whole, there is a clear correlation between age and the prevalence of disability. Glasgow has the highest level of disability across age groups when comparing to other Scottish cities.

Scottish cities

People with day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability, selected Scottish cities, 2022

According to the Scottish census in 2022, 26.0% of Glaswegians (of all ages) report being limited by a long-term health problem or disability in their day-to-day activities, either 'a little' or 'a lot'. There is a higher percentage of people with a disability in Glasgow than in any of the other selected Scottish cities and than the Scottish average (24.8%).

Trends in working-age disability for Scottish cities and Scotland, 2011 and 2022

Glasgow had the highest level of working age disability among the selected Scottish cities in both 2011 and 2022, with Aberdeen having the lowest in 2011 and Edinburgh having the lowest in 2022. Working age disability increased in all of the selected Scottish cities between 2011 and 2022.

Neighbourhoods

People who are limited "a little" or "a lot" by disability, by Glasgow neighbourhood, 2022

The chart above compares census results for those reporting to be limited "a lot" or "a little" by disability across Glasgow neighbourhoods.

Of all 56 neighbourhoods, City Centre & Merchant City has the lowest proportion of people limited by disability (16.5%) while Riddrie & Cranhill has the highest (35.0%).

Further information on neighbourhoods in Glasgow are available in our profile section.

Notes

This page was last updated in April 2025.