Access to green and blue space
Proportion of adults who live within a 5 minute walk of their local green or blue space. Find out more about this indicator.
In 2022, 70% of adults reported living within a 5 minute walk of their nearest green or blue space, compared to 66% in 2019 and 68% in 2013, the beginning of the time series.
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and urban/rural location in the drop down menus below.
This indicator can also be broken down by Local Authority. This breakdown can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder.
Important Information
This data is taken from the Scottish Household Survey, where respondents were asked the walking distance in minutes to their nearest green or blue space.
The 2020 and 2021 data was collected by telephone and video during 2021 and 2022, respectively, when restrictions on people’s activities were in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic and so prevented face-to-face interviewing.
The 2020 and 2021 data are therefore not comparable with data for 2022, 2019 and earlier years and so are excluded from the time series. The National Indicator has therefore been updated using the figures for 2019 and 2022.
Performance Improving
In 2022 adults aged 75+ were less likely to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space (61%) compared to younger age groups (75% for aged 16-24).
In 2022 men were more likely to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space (71%) than women (68%).
In 2022 adults with a disability were less likely to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space (64%) than adults who did not have a disability (72%).
In 2022 people from minority ethnic groups were less likely to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space (59%) than people from White ethnic groups (70%).
In 2022 there was no statistically significant difference between the proportion of adults declaring no religion who lived within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space and those adults who were recorded as Christian or another religion.
In 2022 adults living in less deprived areas were more likely than those living in more deprived areas to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space: 73% for the 20% least deprived areas compared to 57% for the 20% most deprived areas.
In 2022 adults living in remote rural areas were more likely than those living in large urban areas to live within a five minute walk of their nearest green or blue space (82% compared to 61% respectively).
Community ownership
Latest update: 04 October 2023
The number of assets in community ownership. Find out more about this indicator.
The number of assets in community ownership was 754 in 2022. This is 2.2% higher than in 2021.
These figures show an increase in the number of assets in community ownership between 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the number of assets was 754 compared to 738 in 2021.
Some of the previously published figures have been revised in this indicator update. This is due to revisions which are included in the most recent publication and which take into account updates that have been made to the source data. More information can be found in the technical information for this indicator.
Data Breakdowns
Published disaggregations are available in supporting tables 8 to 14 of the most recent publication by:
- Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2020;
- Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2020
- Local authority;
- Scottish Parliamentary Constituency;
- Scottish Parliamentary Region;
- and UK Parliamentary Constituency.
This indicator can be broken down by local authority. This breakdown can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder.
Important Information
The data are held at an individual asset level. Geographical disaggregation is therefore possible from data zone to higher geographies, using the provided location information.
It should be noted that the largest assets may spread across multiple lower level geographies.
Performance Maintaining
Crime victimisation
Latest update: 06 February 2024
Proportion of adults who have been the victim of one or more crimes in the past year. Find out more about this indicator.
The proportion of adults experiencing crime has reduced. In 2021/22, one-in-ten adults (10.0%) were victims of crime, a decrease from 2019/20 (11.9%), and down from around one-in-five (20.4%) in 2008/09.
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, disability and urban/rural classification. These breakdowns can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder and in the drop down charts below.
Performance Improving
People aged 60 and over were least likely to have experienced crime in 2021/22 (4.7% compared to 15.4% of those aged 16-24, 13.0% of 25-44, and 10.4% of those aged 45-59).
There was no significant difference between males and females who were victims of SCJS crime in 2021/22.
People who had a disability were more likely to have experienced crime in 2021/22 than people who did not have a disability (12.9% compared to 9.1%).
Adults living in the 15% most deprived areas were more likely than those living elsewhere in Scotland to have experienced crime in 2021/22 (13.7% compared to 9.4%).
The likelihood of experiencing crime in 2019/20 was greater for adults living in urban areas than for those in rural locations (13.0% compared to 6.9%)
Loneliness
Latest update: 08 May 2024
The percentage of adults who felt lonely some, most, almost all, or all of the time in the last week was 23.1% in 2022.
The loneliness indicator is asked in the SHS every two years (even years). Given the changes to the 2020 SHS survey due to COVID, assessment of change in performance in the loneliness indicator is based on 2022 and 2018.
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, disability, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and urban/rural location. These can be found in the drop down menus below this chart.
Breakdowns are also available by Local Authority and Household Type. These breakdowns can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder.
- The percentage of people who felt lonely ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week was highest in North Ayrshire (40%) and lowest in East Dunbartonshire (10%).
- Single pensioners (42%), single adults and single parents (both 39%) were also more likely to experience loneliness ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week compared to adults from other household types.
Important Information
Data for this indicator is available for 2020. However, please note that the 2020 results are not directly comparable to results for previous years. Data for 2020 and 2021, and further information can be viewed here.
Performance Worsening
Those aged ‘75 or older’ and ‘16 to 24’ reported the highest levels of loneliness, with 29% and 25% (respectively) feeling lonely ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week.
Women were more likely than men to experience feelings of loneliness (24% compared to 22%).
Those with a limiting long term physical or mental health condition were over twice as likely (40%) to experience loneliness ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week as those without (17%).
25% of ‘Other minority ethnic’ adults felt lonely ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week. This compares with 23% of ‘White’ adults.
30% of adults recorded as ‘Another Religion’, 26% of ‘Other Christians’, 24% of ‘Church of Scotland’, 22% of ‘Roman Catholics’ and 22% of those who say ‘ None’ felt lonely ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week.
Those living in the 20% most deprived areas were almost twice as likely to experience feelings of loneliness (30%) as those living in the 20% least deprived areas (16%).
24% of those living in ‘rest of Scotland’ felt lonely ‘some, most, almost all, or all of the time’ in the last week compared to 21% of those living in ‘rural Scotland’.
In the two fold Urban Rural Classification, ‘Rest of Scotland' includes large urban areas, other urban areas, accessible small towns and remote small towns and 'Rural Scotland' includes accessible rural and remote rural areas.
Perceptions of local area
Latest update: 08 May 2024
Percentage of adults who rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live. Find out more about this indicator.
The percentage of people who rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live was 57.4% in 2022.
Please note that the results of the SHS 2022 survey are not directly comparable to SHS results for 2021 and 2020 telephone surveys. Results of the SHS 2022 survey have therefore been compared to the 2019 SHS survey.
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and urban/rural location. These can be found in the drop down menus below the charts.
Breakdowns are also available for Local Authority and Tenure. This breakdown can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder.
- The Local Authority with the highest percentage of people who rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live was Na-h Eileanan Siar (88%). The percentage of people who rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live was lowest in Glasgow City (38%) and West Dunbartonshire(39%).
- In 2022, those living ‘owner occupied’ properties were more likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live (65%) compared to those who ‘privately rent’ (48%) and ‘socially rent’ (37%).
Performance Maintaining
Neighbourhood perceptions increased with age – 50% of young adults (aged 16-24 and 25-34) rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live, increasing to 68% of older adults (75 and over) in 2022.
There was no significant difference in ratings reported by men or women in 2022. 58% of men and 57% of women rated their neighbourhood as very good place to live.
In 2022 adults who didn’t have a disability were more likely to rate their neighbourhood as a very good place to live (60% of adults), compared to those who did have a disability (51% of adults).
In 2022, 58% of adults from a ‘White’ ethnic background rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live . This compares with 50% of adults from a ‘Other Minority Ethnic’ background.
Among adults with different religions, those recorded as ‘Church of Scotland’ (65%), ‘Other Christian’ (64%), ‘None’ (56%), ‘Roman Catholic’ (53%) and ‘Another religion’ (50%) rate their neighbourhoods as very good places to live. Sample sizes are too small to report a meaningful analysis on ratings from adults from other religions, such as Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Hindu, Pagan, and Other.
Deprivation reveals area-based differences, as the proportion rating their neighbourhood as a very good place to live increased significantly as deprivation declined. Of those living in the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland in 2022, only 29% rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live, whereas 77% of those living in the 20% least deprived areas rated their neighbourhood as a very good place to live. This is a similar trend to previous years.
Among adults living in urban and rural areas, those living in ‘Remote Rural’ areas (79%), ‘Accessible Rural’ (73%), ‘Accessible small towns’ (63%), ‘Other urban’ areas (56%), ‘Remote Small towns’ (49%) and ‘Large urban’ areas (48%) rate their neighbourhoods as very good places to live in 2022.
Perceptions of local crime rate
Latest update: 06 February 2024
Percentage of respondents who think crime in their area has stayed the same or reduced in the past two years. Find out more about this indicator.
The public remain positive about the level of crime in their local area. The proportion of adults saying that the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years was 76% in 2021/22. This figure has risen from 69% in 2008/09 and risen again since 2019/20 (73%).
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, disability, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and urban/rural location in the drop down menus below.
This indicator can also be broken down by victim status. This breakdown can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder and is below:
- In 2021/22, victims of crime were less likely to think the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years than those who did not experience crime (60% compared to 77%).
Performance Improving
In 2021/22, no difference by age was detected in the proportion of adults who thought that the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years.
In 2021/22, a lower proportion of females than males (73% compared to 79%) thought that the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years.
In 2021/22, people in the 15% most deprived areas were less likely to think the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years than those living elsewhere in Scotland (72% compared to 76%).
In 2021/22, people in the 15% most deprived areas were less likely to think the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years than those living elsewhere in Scotland (72% compared to 76%).
Those in urban locations were less likely than those in rural locations to think the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the past two years (75% compared to 78%).
Places to interact
Latest update: 08 May 2024
The percentage of adults who tend to agree/strongly agree that there are places to meet up and socialise in their neighbourhood was 57.4% in 2022.
Please note that the results of the SHS 2022 survey are not directly comparable to SHS results for 2021 and 2020 telephone surveys. Results of the SHS 2022 survey have therefore been compared to the 2019 SHS survey.
Data Breakdowns
This indicator can be broken down by age, gender, disability, ethnicity, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, and urban/rural location. These can be viewed in the drop down menus under this chart.
This indicator can also be broken down by Local Authority and Tenure. This breakdown can be viewed on the Equality Evidence Finder and is below:
- The LA with the highest percentage of people who agreed that there are places to meet up and socialise in their neighbourhood was East Renfrewshire (79%). The percentage of people who agreed that there are places to meet up and socialise in their neighbourhood was lowest in South Ayrshire (35%).
- 60% of ‘owner occupied’ and ‘privately rented’ adults agree or strongly agree that there are places where people can meet up and socialise compared to 48% of those who ‘socially rented’.
Important Information
Data for this indicator is available for 2020. However, please note that the 2020 results are not directly comparable to results for previous year Data for 2020 and 2021, and further information can be viewed here.
Performance Maintaining
There is not very much variation between age categories. The highest level of agreement is for people who in the 16 to 24 age group (60%), and the lowest in the 25 to 34 age group (55%).
There are similar levels of agreement among men (57%) and women (58%).
Those without a disability (59%) were more likely to agree or strongly agree that there are places where people can meet up and socialise compared to those with a disability (52%).
58% of adults from a ‘White’ ethnic group agreed or strongly agreed that there are places where people can meet up and socialise in 2022. This compares to 52% of adults from an ‘Other Minority Ethnic’ background.
60% of adults recorded as ‘Other Christian’ agreed or strongly agreed that there are places where people can meet up and socialise in 2022. This compares with 59% of ‘Church of Scotland’, 57% ‘None’ and 55% of ‘Another Religion’ and ‘Roman Catholic’.
People in the 20% most deprived parts of Scotland are much less likely to agree with this statement (47%) than people in the 20% least deprived parts of Scotland (66%).
The percentage of respondents who agree or strongly agree that there are places where people can meet up and socialise was highest for those living in ‘rural Scotland’ areas (63%) and lowest for those living in ‘rest of Scotland’ areas (56%).
In the two fold Urban Rural Classification, ‘Rest of Scotland' includes large urban areas, other urban areas, accessible small towns and remote small towns and 'Rural Scotland' includes accessible rural and remote rural areas.
Social capital
Social capital is the resource of social networks, community cohesion, social participation, trust and empowerment. The social capital index monitors aggregate changes in levels of social capital since 2013. The index is set to 100 in 2013. Find out more about this indicator.
The index trend has been stable and maintaining between 2013 and 2017. The change between 2017 and 2019 has been driven by the decrease in the social capital themes of ‘empowerment’ (feeling able to influence decisions) ‘networks’ (neighbourhood help and support), ‘participation’ (volunteering).
The Social Capital index is at 93 index points which is 7 points lower than the 2013 baseline (100) and the index score for 2018 (95). This change between 2018 and 2019 was statistically significant.
Data Breakdowns
The social capital indicator is a composite index measure and therefore breakdowns are not available.
Important Information
The social capital indicator is a composite index measure that depends on consistency of data collection. Since 2020 SHS data are not comparable with previous years, we are not able to provide an performance rating for 2020. Data from other sources collected during COVID suggests that the pandemic has resulted in worsened levels of many of the social capital themes, and particularly for certain groups and places within the population. This impact is the focus of separate research and analysis, and there are discussions ongoing about the most suitable way for social capital trends to be presented within the National Performance Framework.
The Scotland’s Wellbeing: The Impact of COVID-19 report brings together much of this information.
Performance Worsening