Special & communal populations
1m live in communal establishments
Residents of communal establishments: by type of establishment, UK, 2001
Although the majority of the UK population live in private households, a small proportion lives in communal establishments. According to the 2001 Census 1.0 million people, 1.8 per cent of the UK population, were living in a communal establishment.
Nearly half (49 per cent) of these people were living in 'medical and care' establishments. These include residential and nursing homes for older people, psychiatric hospitals and children's homes. Over one quarter (27 per cent) were resident in education establishments, such as student halls of residence and boarding schools. Far smaller proportions were living in defence and prison service establishments (around 5 per cent each) or 'other' types, such as hostels and religious communities.
People living in medical and care establishments: by sex and age, 2001, UK
The populations of communal establishments tend to have a different age and sex profile from the general population. Among both the armed forces and people in prison, men considerably outnumber women, unlike in the UK population as a whole, where there are slightly more women than men. In 2001, 95 per cent of those living in prison service establishments and 88 per cent of those living in defence establishments were men.
Members of the armed forces living in barracks and prisoners are also mainly in the young adult age groups. In 2001, 68 per cent of people living in defence establishments and 56 per cent of those resident in prisons were aged between 20 and 34.
Pupils and students living in educational establishments are predominantly young. Four fifths were aged between 15 and 24 in 2001. In contrast, people living in medical and care establishments in the UK tend to be older than average. In 2001, 78 per cent were aged 65 and above and 76 per cent of this age group were women. This partly reflects the higher life expectancy of women than men in the UK.
Sources: 2001 Census – Office for National Statistics; General Register Office for Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
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