people provide unpaid care
Recorded by the most recent censuses across the four UK nations.
Supporting unpaid carers
Recognise care with a practical saving.
Caring for someone can shape every part of a day, from earning a living to finding a moment to rest. Healthcare Benefits welcomes businesses that want to recognise unpaid carers through useful, accessible savings.
If you have an offer for unpaid carers, tell us how it works and who can use it. We would like to hear from you.
Key facts sourced from
5.8million
unpaid carers recorded across the UK by the latest censuses.
Source: Carers UK key facts (opens in a new tab)
The true reach may be wider
A broader 2023–25 household study estimates 8.9 million UK adults provide unpaid care.
Care happens everywhere
Care that makes everyday life possible.
Unpaid care is the help someone gives a family member, friend, partner or neighbour who needs support because of disability, illness, mental health needs, addiction or age. For some carers it occupies a few hours; for others it is a constant responsibility.
A caring day might involve a journey to an appointment, help with a meal, personal care, medication or paperwork. It can also mean staying nearby to offer reassurance and keep someone safe. Family and friends provide this practical and emotional support without being paid for it.
A nationwide community
Understanding the scale of unpaid care
give 50+ hours each week
For many, caring fills as much time as a full-time job and continues beyond it.
also have paid jobs
Paid employment and household bills often sit alongside the demands of caring.
of support every year
The estimated yearly economic contribution of unpaid care across the UK.
The national census figures include 4.7 million carers in England, 627,700 in Scotland, 311,000 in Wales and 222,000 in Northern Ireland. These totals differ from broader surveys: research using wider definitions puts the number of UK adults providing unpaid care as high as 8.9 million.
Support can take the form of a smaller shopping bill, an affordable outing or a little time to rest.
Savings cannot compensate for everything carers give. They can offer a practical acknowledgement, particularly for households already managing tight budgets.
49%
of carers in the State of Caring 2025 survey said they had cut back on essentials such as food, heating, clothing or transport.
1.2m
unpaid carers are estimated to live in poverty, with 400,000 living in deep poverty.
For UK businesses
Bring an offer to people who give their time to others.
Help make everyday spending easier for unpaid carers. Contact Healthcare Benefits about an offer that introduces your business while recognising the contribution this community makes.
Define the saving
Make the benefit easy to identify: a reduced rate, a percentage discount or an extra that has practical value.
Tell us about your offer
Explain who qualifies, how to claim and when the offer is available, including any restrictions readers need to know.
Introduce your business to readers
Healthcare Benefits can introduce your offer through a publication focused on everyday savings.
Give a little back
What could your business do for carers?
Tell our team about your business and the saving you would like to offer carers.
Research and support
The main figures on this page come from Carers UK, an independent charity providing information, advice and support to unpaid carers.
Sources and further support
Statistics were checked against the following resources.
- Carers UK — key facts and figures
- Carers UK — Facts About Carers, March 2025
- Policy Partners Project — wider household-survey estimates
- Employers for Carers — work and care facts
Healthcare Benefits is an independent publication and is not affiliated with Carers UK, the NHS or any government body. The Carers UK logo identifies the source of research only. Stock photographs are illustrative and do not identify the models as unpaid carers.
