Summary
This briefing uses census data on limiting long-term illness to identify wide variations in health
between ethnic groups in England and Wales. Ethnic health inequalities can be reduced by
improvements in the social status and living conditions of disadvantaged groups.
● Persistent inequalities are seen in the health of Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. Their
illness rates have both been 10% higher than White women in 1991, 2001 and 2011.
● The White Gypsy or Irish Traveller group, identified for the first time in the 2011 Census,
has particularly poor health. Both men and women have twice the White British rates of
limiting long-term illness, and at each age they are the group most likely to be ill.
● Ethnic inequalities in health are most pronounced at older ages:
● – 56% of all women aged 65 or older reported a limiting long-term illness, but over 70%
of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller women at this age reported
a limiting long-term illness.
● Arab and Indian older women also reported high percentages of limiting long-term
illness (66% and 68% respectively).
● 50% of all men aged 65 or older reported a limiting long- term illness, but 69% of
Bangladeshi and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller older men reported being ill.
● The Chinese group reported persistently better health in 1991, 2001 and 2011, half or
under half the White illness rates for both men and women.
● Ethnic health inequalities in London in 2011 were more severe than elsewhere in
England and Wales.
Health Inequalities
● Poor health is caused by a wide range of factors, including biological determinants (age,
sex, hereditary factors), and wider social determinants such as education, social
position, income, local environment, and experiences of racism and racial
discrimination.
● The social determinants of health are unequally distributed across ethnic groups,
leading to unjust and preventable
This briefing uses census data on limiting long-term illness to identify wide variations in health
between ethnic groups in England and Wales. Ethnic health inequalities can be reduced by
improvements in the social status and living conditions of disadvantaged groups.
● Persistent inequalities are seen in the health of Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. Their
illness rates have both been 10% higher than White women in 1991, 2001 and 2011.
● The White Gypsy or Irish Traveller group, identified for the first time in the 2011 Census,
has particularly poor health. Both men and women have twice the White British rates of
limiting long-term illness, and at each age they are the group most likely to be ill.
● Ethnic inequalities in health are most pronounced at older ages:
● – 56% of all women aged 65 or older reported a limiting long-term illness, but over 70%
of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller women at this age reported
a limiting long-term illness.
● Arab and Indian older women also reported high percentages of limiting long-term
illness (66% and 68% respectively).
● 50% of all men aged 65 or older reported a limiting long- term illness, but 69% of
Bangladeshi and White Gypsy or Irish Traveller older men reported being ill.
● The Chinese group reported persistently better health in 1991, 2001 and 2011, half or
under half the White illness rates for both men and women.
● Ethnic health inequalities in London in 2011 were more severe than elsewhere in
England and Wales.
Health Inequalities
● Poor health is caused by a wide range of factors, including biological determinants (age,
sex, hereditary factors), and wider social determinants such as education, social
position, income, local environment, and experiences of racism and racial
discrimination.
● The social determinants of health are unequally distributed across ethnic groups,
leading to unjust and preventable
