Questions on the self-perception of health have been asked since 1977. In 2001, the GHS found that 59% of adults said they had good health, 27% reported they had fairly good health and 14% said their health was not good. This remains broadly unchanged since 1998 and there has been no obvious trend in the data since 1977. In 2000 this question was introduced for children aged less than 16 and, as was the case for adults, there is no evidence of change between 2000 and 2001.

• 81% of children were reported by their parent or guardian as having good health, 15% were reported as having fairly good health and for 3% it was reported that their health was not good (table not shown).