There are many reasons why people need extra care and support in their home, from old age and physical disability to dementia and sensory impairment.
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At a glance
- There are more than 13,000 registered home care providers across the UK, with the vast majority located in England. These organisations deliver regulated care and support to people in their own homes.
- Nearly 639,000 people receive home care services in the UK, supporting individuals with a range of needs, including older age, physical disabilities, dementia, and sensory impairments.
- The UK home care workforce comprises more than 858,000 workers, but the sector continues to face recruitment and retention challenges.
How many home care providers are there in the UK?
There are over 13,000 home care providers in the UK which are registered and regulated by their country’s regulatory body, such as the CQC in England.
- England: 11,951
- Wales: 365
- Scotland: 742
- Northern Ireland: 87
- UK total: 13,145
Figures correct as of 4 June 2026. Data gathered from homecare.co.uk which lists all home care providers registered with their country’s regulatory body.
How many people receive home care | Facts and stats
The number of people receiving domiciliary care in the UK is more than 638,000*.
- England: 499,364 (May 2026) – source: Department of Health and Social Care
- Wales: 18,798 (March 2026) – source: StatsWales
- Scotland: 97,585 (2023/2024) – source: Public Health Scotland
- Northern Ireland: 23,248 (2023) – source: Department of Health
- UK total: 638,995
*There is no UK-wide dataset as each country is responsible for its own data collection. This means there are discrepancies in the ways data is collected and reported. The above figures should be viewed as estimates.
How many people work in home care?
The UK domiciliary care workforce totals over 858,000*.
- England: 740,000 (2025) – source: Skills for Care
- Wales: 20,682 (2024) – source: Social Care Wales
- Scotland: 74,620 (2022) – source: Scottish Social Services Council
- Northern Ireland: 23,249 (2023) – source: Department of Health
- UK total: 858,551
*There is no UK-wide dataset as each country is responsible for its own data collection. This means there are discrepancies in the ways data is collected and reported. Please view the above figures as estimates.
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UK home care forecast
In the years to come, the demand for adult social care is projected to increase significantly, largely due to the UK’s ageing population.
The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) predicts that 57 per cent more adults aged 65 and over in England will require care in 2038 compared to 2018.
Despite this, Homecare Association’s 2023 workforce survey found that over 50 per cent of homecare providers reported that they are delivering less care compared to the same time last year, despite there being an increase in demand for homecare.
This is largely due to a struggling workforce, including people leaving the sector to retire or reskill, or moving to a different role within the social care sector.
FAQs
How many home care providers are the in the UK?
There are more than 13,000 domiciliary care providers in the UK. The largest portion of providers operate in England, which is over 11,000.
How many people receive home care in the UK?
The number of people who receive domiciliary care in the UK is over 600,000, with nearly 500,000 of them living in England.
How large is the UK domiciliary care workforce?
According to combined figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the number of people working in home care is over 800,000 across the UK.
Will the demand for home care increase?
The demand for adult social care, including home care, is projected to increase significantly, largely due to the UK’s ageing population. For example, the DHSC projects that 57 per cent more adults aged 65 and over in England will require care in 2038 compared to 2018.
Why do some people prefer home care?
A major reason why people may prefer home care over residential care is because it allows them to remain where they feel the most comfortable and to avoid the upheaval of moving home.
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