This page gives statistical information about disability in Brighton & Hove including:

  • the proportion of residents who are classified as disabled under the Equality Act (2010)
  • the proportion of households with at least one person who identifies as disabled
  • disability in Brighton & Hove, by sex
  • disability in Brighton & Hove, by armed forces status

Proportion of residents who are classified as disabled under the Equality Act (2010)

Percentage of residents disabled under the Equality Act

Brighton & Hove population: 19% (51,797).

England average: 17%.

Percentage of residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot

Brighton & Hove population 7% (20,351).

England average: 7%.

Percentage of residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little

Brighton & Hove population: 11% (31,446).

England average: 10%.

Percentage of residents not disabled under the Equality Act

Brighton & Hove population: 81% (225,306). 

England average: 83%.

Percentage of residents who have long-term physical or mental health conditions but day-to-day activities are not limited

Brighton & Hove population: 8% (20,804).

England average: 7%.

Percentage of residents with no long-term physical or mental health conditions

Brighton & Hove population: 74% (204,502).

England average: 76%. 

The image below shows the proportion of all residents classified as disabled under the Equality Act, by area.

Map showing the proportion of all residents classified as disabled under the Equality Act by area

Residents with a disability under the Equality Act are concentrated in the central/eastern area of the city particularly in East Brighton, Queens Park and Hollingbury and Stanmore wards.

There are also higher proportions of disabled people in the east in Woodingdean and to the west in Hangleton and Portslade.

Households with at least one person who identifies as disabled

Percentage of households with no people disabled under the Equality Act

Brighton & Hove population: 67% (81,781).

England average: 68%. 

Percentage of households with 1 person disabled under the Equality Act

Brighton & Hove population: 26% (31,861).

England average: 25%.

Percentage of households with 2 or more people disabled under the Equality Act

Brighton & Hove population: 6% (7,760).

England average: 7%.

The image below shows the proportion of households where at least one person identified as disabled, by area.

Map showing the proportion of households where at least one person identified as disabled, by area

Proportionally more households with at least one person with a disability are in the city’s more deprived neighbourhoods

There are 3 times the proportion of disabled households in areas of Eastern Road (60%) and Whitehawk (58%), compared with Brunswick (20%) and the area near Preston Park Station (21%).

Brighton & Hove residents by disability and sex

Percentage of residents disabled under the Equality Act whose day-to-day activities are limited a little

Female: 12% (17,680).

Male: 10% (13,766).

Percentage of residents disabled under the Equality Act whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot

Female: 8% (11,168).

Male: 7% (9,183).

Percentage of residents not disabled under the Equality Act who have long-term physical or mental health condition, but their day-to-day activities are not limited

Female: 8% (10,813).

Male: 7% (9,992).

Percentage of residents not disabled under the Equality Act with no long-term physical or mental health conditions

Female: 72% (101,880).

Male: 76% (102,622).

Brighton & Hove residents by disability and armed forces service status

Percentage of residents disabled under the Equality Act whose day-to-day activities are limited a little 

Has not previously served in any UK armed forces: 13% (28,743).

Previously served in both regular and reserve UK armed forces: 22% (54).

Previously served in the UK regular armed forces: 18% (723).

Previously served in UK reserve armed forces: 16% (224).

Census 2021 map

Census 2021 map showing disability within wards of Brighton & Hove.