1. Home
  2. Your community
  3. Statistics and census information for Dorset
  4. Dorset Insights
  5. Topics
  6. Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing Topic Data

Back to all topics

Dorset residents are generally healthy, have a high life satisfaction rating and feel that the things they do in their lives are worthwhile. The growing number of older people will increase demand for health and social care services, so it is important to use local evidence to anticipate need and target service provision as effectively as possible.

Health and wellbeing can be influenced by where we live, our behaviours, our work and our leisure activities. Health behaviours impact on both physical and mental health - and many people may be affected by more than one. Healthy populations live longer, and are more productive making a contribution to the economy as well as maintaining personal wellbeing.

Download this report (PDF)

Health

  • Healthy life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live in good health. In Dorset, there is a difference of 18 years between healthy life expectancy and overall life expectancy for males and females1.
  • 65% of adults in Dorset are classified as overweight or obese; worse than the national average and a great concern due to the life-threatening conditions it can lead to2.
  • Residents in Dorset are more likely to be unpaid carers: 10% of residents compared to 9% in England13. There are now around 35,500 unpaid carers in Dorset13.
  • Smoking prevalence continues to fall both nationally and locally. 9% of adults in Dorset currently smoke compared to 12% in England2.
  • 199 people were killed or seriously injured on Dorset's roads in 2022, possibly due to Dorset’s high proportion of rural roads4. Nationally more than half of all fatal collisions occur on rural roads3.
% year six children who are overweight or obese
% year six children who are overweight

Mental health

  • By 2035, we expect to see almost 12,000 people aged 65 or over living with dementia in Dorset5. It is estimated 700,000 unpaid carers nationally provide care to people with dementia6.
  • Nationally, 18% of children aged 7 to 16 years old had a probable mental health disorder7.
  • Research suggests that the rate of those armed forces personnel seen in a military healthcare setting for mental health had risen to one in eight persons over the past year14.
  • During the course of a year, almost one in four of us will suffer from some form of mental health condition.8.
People aged 65+ with dementia
People aged 65+ with dementia

Substance abuse

  • In Dorset, admission rates for alcohol-related harm for under 18s were high - 42 per 100,0009.
  • Nationally every £1 invested in adult drug treatment services generates a social return of £4.10.
  • Domestic abuse, mental ill-health and substance misuse are seen as cumulative risks of harm commonly found in families where harm to children has occurred.
  • 3,900 domestic abuse incidents were reported in Dorset last year11.
Toxic Traingle infographic

Improving outcomes

  • Health is mostly determined by social, economic and environmental factors. Promoting natural greenspaces, outdoor activities and social prescribing can therefore, be more effective than traditional services for reducing local health inequalities15.
  • Empowering people to have more say in their health and wellbeing is key to addressing inequalities, where those most needing services are least likely to access them.
  • Since 2015, LiveWell Dorset has been supporting residents to improve their health and wellbeing through targeted activity, weight, alcohol and smoking support12. For every £1 spent through the service, a public return of £12 was generated in prevented ill health.
  • The campaign RUOK inspired by research from Dorset Youth to provide mental health signposting generated 1.5 million views and 13,500 click-throughs16.
  • 40% of LiveWell clients are from the most deprived areas of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 40% of clients achieved 5% weight loss in three months, while 3,500 clients have benefited from 13,000 coaching sessions16.

Headline Figures

11,800

People aged 65+ living with dementia by 2035

3,900

Domestic abuse incidents in Dorset last year

18 years

Difference between male healthy and overall life expectancy

17%

Dorset year 6 children overweight or obese

65%

Dorset adults overweight or obese

9%

Smoking prevalence in Dorset

Headline Figures

11,800

People aged 65+ living with dementia by 2035

3,900

Domestic abuse incidents in Dorset last year

18 years

Difference between male healthy and overall life expectancy

17%

Dorset year 6 children overweight or obese

65%

Dorset adults overweight or obese

9%

Smoking prevalence in Dorset

Sources

  • 1 Health state life expectancy at birth by local areas, Public Health Fingertips 2020
  • 2 Year 6 prevalence of obesity (including severe obesity), Public Health Fingertips 2023
  • 3 https://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/road-users/rural/
  • 4 Road casualty statistics, Dorset Council 2023
  • 5 POPPI 2023
  • 6 State of Caring 2021, Alzheimer's Society
  • 7 Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 - wave 3 follow-up to the 2017 survey, NHS Digital Mind
  • 8 Mind
  • 9 Hospital admissions episodes for alcohol-specific conditions, under 18s, Public Health Fingertips 2018-21
  • 10 Alcohol and drugs prevention, treatment and recovery: why invest?, Public Health England, 12/02/18
  • 11 Office of National Statistics 2023
  • 12 https://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/
  • 13 2021 Census, TS039
  • 14 UK armed forces mental health annual statistics: financial year 2022/23, Gov.UK
  • 15 Social prescribing: applying All Our Health, Gov.UK, 2022
  • 16 Annual Director of Public Health Report, Public Health Dorset 2022/23

32 Reports

Order by: Newest first

14 Related Datasets

Order by: Newest first

  • Births Deaths and Natural Change by Country and Local Authority

    Published: 08 December 2020

    Local Authority births, deaths and natural change from Mid-Years 2002 to 2019

    Downloads: 845

    Download (Excel)

  • Data for EqIAs (diversity data)

    Published: 14 November 2020

    Various diversity data for Dorset with national comparators. For assistance in completing Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs).

    Downloads: 861

    Download (Excel)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019- National and Dorset Council Ranks

    Published: 03 January 2020

    The English Indices of Deprivation helps identify and prioritise areas to assist the government and other agencies both national and local in narrowing the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

    Downloads: 1867

    Download (Excel)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset East Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset East SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1526

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset West Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset West SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2041

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Mid Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Mid Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1699

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - South East Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across South East Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 2124

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset North Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset North SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1806

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset South Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset South SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1392

    Download (PDF)

  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset Council Maps

    Published: 25 November 2019

    The combined map base pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation (IMD) map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture for Dorset. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1121

    Download (PDF)

  • Local Area Interactive Tool

    Published: 28 February 2016

    An interactive spreadsheet for comparing data about children and young people across all local authorities in England. (external website)

    Downloads: 3109

    Download (Website)

  • Public Health Outcomes

    Published: 28 February 2016

    Find out about differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between communities. (external website)

    Downloads: 1998

    Download (Website)

  • POPPI: Projecting Older People Information

    Published: 28 July 2014

    A population based database providing information on older people (external website)

    Downloads: 6508

    Download (Website)

  • PANSI: Projecting Adult Needs and Service Information

    Published: 28 July 2014

    A population based database providing information on adults with special needs (external website)

    Downloads: 2441

    Download (Website)

1 Related Dashboards

Explore other topics