UK armed forces veteran population from Census 2021 data includes communal establishment and household characteristics, household composition and family status
Main points
- Out of the 1.85 million UK armed forces veterans in England and Wales, 36,200 were residents (not owners, employees or their relatives) in communal establishments.
- After adjusting the data to account for differences in age, sex and region between the veteran and non-veteran populations, a smaller proportion of veterans were residents of a communal establishments than non-veterans (1.95% compared with 3.13%).
- Of the 340,355 care home residents in England and Wales, 7.79% were veterans. Among all usual residents, a smaller proportion of veterans lived in care homes than non-veterans (1.43% compared with 2.65%) after adjustments that assumed the same age, sex and region profile for both groups.
- Of the 66,645 residents in prisons, detention centres and approved bail and probation premises, 4.86% were veterans. Among all usual residents a larger proportion of veterans were recorded in this type of establishment than non-veterans (0.17% compared with 0.13%) after adjustments.
- Of the 13,595 residents counted at hostels or temporary shelters for the homeless, 255 or 1.88% were veterans.
- A higher proportion of the household veteran population (74.68%) than household non-veteran population (64.54%) owned their accommodation outright or with a mortgage, though after adjustment, the percentage of veterans in this category was slightly lower than for non-veterans (74.68% compared with 75.53%).
- Overall, a smaller proportion of veterans lived in a household that was either not self-contained, overcrowded or had no central heating than non-veterans after adjustments, but the opposite was true for those identifying within the “Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh” and ‘Other” ethnic groups.
- Among spouses and partners living with veterans, 9.01% were veterans themselves; among children and stepchildren (aged 16 years and over) living with veterans, 2.90% were veterans themselves.
