Care home census for adults in Scotland
Statistics for 2015 to 2025

About this release

This annual release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides information on the number of care homes, registered places, residents, admissions and discharges at Scotland and Local Authority level, covering the period from 2014/15 to 2024/25. This publication reports on all care home residents from the annual Care Home Census for Adults, regardless of the source of the funding. It differs to the care home information in PHS's Care Home Statistics for Scotland; Support and services funded by Health and Social Care Partnerships in Scotland, 2023/24 publication, which reports on residents in care homes anywhere in the UK, who are funded in part, or in full, by a Scottish Local Authority.

Main points

All care homes for adults in Scotland: 31 March 2025 compared with 31 March 2015                                                                   

• On 31 March 2025, there were 1,003 care homes for adults and 39,919 registered places – 18% and 5% less, respectively, compared with 31 March 2015.
• On 31 March 2025, there were an estimated 34,289 residents aged 18 years and over in care homes – 5% less than on 31 March 2015 (36,193).
• The estimated percentage occupancy on 31 March 2025 was 86% - the same as on 31 March 2015.
• On 31 March 2025, residents in care homes for older people accounted for 92% of residents in all care homes for adults (31,433 out of 34,289).
• Residents in care homes for Learning Disabilities, Mental Health Problems, Physical and Sensory Impairment and Other (Problematic Alcohol and Drug use and Blood Borne Virus) accounted for 8% (2,856) of residents in all care homes on 31 March 2025.

Figure 1 shows that from 31 March 2015 to 31 March 2025, the number of care homes decreased by 18%, the number of registered places decreased by 5%, the estimated number of residents decreased by 5%, and the estimated percentage occupancy did not change (it remained at 86%).

Close

Care homes for older people (65 years and over) in Scotland

• Most care home provision is delivered by the private sector. On 31 March 2025 there were 84% of all residents in care homes for older people run by the private sector, compared to 10% in the Local Authority/Health Board sector, and 7% in the Voluntary or not for profit sector.
• The estimated number of residents in private sector care homes for older people was 26,293 on 31 March 2025. This is 2% more than on 31 March 2015 (25,700). Over the same period, the estimated number of residents decreased by 37% in the voluntary or not for profit sector to 2,096, and by 19% in the Local Authority/Health Board sector to 3,044.
• On 31 March 2025, there were an estimated 30,484 long stay residents in care homes for older people (in all sectors). Of these, an estimated 19,288 (63%) had dementia (either medically diagnosed or suspected).
• The estimated number of admissions for long stay residents to care homes for older people (in all sectors) was 9% higher in 2024/25, compared to 2014/15. Over the same period, the estimated number of admissions for respite residents was 68% lower. This decrease is particularly noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 14% reduction from 2014/15 to 2018/19 and a 70% reduction from 2018/19 to 2021/22. Since then, there has been an increase of 26%.

Background

All care homes for adults aged 18 years and over in Scotland are invited to participate in the annual Care Home Census. Data are provided by care homes via the Care Inspectorate’s eForms system. Of the 1,003 care homes for adults open on 31 March 2025, there were 742 (74%) care homes that submitted data for at least part of the Census and 261 (26%) care homes that did not submit any data. Census data not submitted by care homes are estimated, where possible, by PHS using the methodology described in the Data Quality section of the dashboard. No data is presented for 2019/20, when the Care Home Census was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further information

As a part of the wider social care data modernisation programme, the Care Home Census for 2025/26 has been paused. This is the last planned publication for now. Please see the full report for more information.