This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.
| Indicator available |
Proportion of informal carers by characteristics and proportion of the population who are informal carers |
|---|---|
| Indicator description |
Proportion of the population who are informal carers, by proportion of time per day on informal care care, age and sex. Proportion of those who provide informal care, by employment status, weekly income and hours caring per week. |
| Geographical coverage |
United Kingdom |
| Unit of measurement |
Percentage (%) |
| Definitions |
Informal carers - the Family Resources Survey (FRS) defines all those giving help on an informal basis (that is, not as part of a paid job) as informal carers. This definition is consistent with the Government Statistical Service (GSS) harmonised “core” definition. Professional carers can also be informal carers if giving help outside of work. What should be counted as care is not prescriptively defined but includes activities such as going shopping for someone and helping with paperwork. Those in receipt of care may be receiving either formal or informal care or a mixture of both. |
| Available disaggregations |
Age; Sex; Employment status; Number of hours spent caring; Net weekly income For 'Net weekly income' disaggregation, please note that income from directors’ dividends has been included in this category from the period 2021 to 2022. In addition, self employed incomes do not include any reported grant amounts received as part of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Wages are treated as income from employment rather than state support, irrespective of any support payments from Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) that the respondent's employer was receiving in respect of their employment. |
| Calculations |
No calculations were performed in the data acquisition of this indicator as appropriate data was readily available in the final format specified by this indicator. |
| Other information |
Data collection for financial years 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While corrective measures were put in place to minimise disruption, a smaller and less representative sample was nevertheless collected. Please see the Family Resources Survey (FRS) Information and Methodology for the specific adjustments that have been made in light of the COVID impacts on the sample. The technical report gives more details on the main impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the affected FRS estimates. Please note, in cases where age is not specified, carers may be either adults or children and employment breakdowns cover all adult ages, not just working-age adults. This indicator is being used as an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator. Where possible, we will work to identify or develop UK data to meet the global indicator specification. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts. |
| Data last updated | 26 September 2023 |
| Metadata last updated | 26 September 2023 |