Facts & figures

1. There are 759,000 adults carers in Scotland - 17% of the adult population.
2. There are an estimated 29,000 young carers in Scotland - 4% of the under 16 population.
3. Every year over 160,000 take on a caring role
4. 171,000 people care for 35 hours a week or more
5. 132,000 people care for 50 hours a week or more.
6. 59% of carers are female, 41% male.
7. 3 in 5 of us will become carers at some point in our lives.
8. Over 250,000 people juggle caring with holding down a job.
9. The main carers' benefit is worth just £62.10 for a minimum of 35 hours.
10. A third of carers are struggling to pay utility bills, 47% have been in debt and half are struggling to make ends meet, cutting back on food and heating as a result.
11. 8 in 10 carers say their health is worse because of caring.
12. 56% of carers are employed or self employed.
13. By 2037 the number of carers in Scotland will have increased to around 1 million.
14. Carers save the Scottish economy £10.3 billion - close to the cost of providing NHS services in Scotland.