How many care homes are there in the UK? (2026)

There are around 17,400 registered care homes in the UK on the latest published counts. England has 14,902 (CQC, 4 November 2026), Scotland 1,003 (31 March 2025), Wales 1,018 (31 March 2025) and Northern Ireland 467 (31 March 2026). Dates and definitions differ between the four regulators, so treat the UK total as an approximation.

At a glance

• England: 14,902 locations with a residential or nursing home service type in CQC’s directory of 4 November 2026 (10,386 residential, 4,517 nursing, one with both).
• The number of care homes in England fell by 8% between April 2019 and April 2026, while beds stayed broadly stable.
• Scotland had 18% fewer care homes for adults on 31 March 2025 than on 31 March 2015.
• Our directory lists around 14,500 active care homes in England (November 2026).
• In England, 355,809 residents were reported in care homes in the week ending 14 August 2026.

How many care homes are there in each UK nation?

Each nation has its own regulator and its own way of counting. The table gives the latest figure we could read from each, with its date.

Adding the four figures gives 17,390, which we round to around 17,400. The numbers are from different dates, and Wales and Scotland include homes for younger adults, so the total is a guide rather than an exact count. See what is a care home for the main types.

How did we count England, and how does it compare with our directory?

CQC publishes a file of every location it regulates. We counted the locations in the file produced on 4 November 2026 whose service type is “Residential homes” or “Nursing homes”. That gave 14,902: 10,386 residential and 4,517 nursing, with one carrying both labels. The Care Panel’s own directory lists around 14,500 active care homes in England (November 2026). CQC warns that updates such as cancelled registrations are currently taking longer than usual to appear in its files, which may explain some of the gap.

How many care homes are in each region of England?

This table uses the same CQC file and the same counting rule. Four locations in the file had no region recorded.

Counts say nothing about how easy it is to find a bed or what it costs. For that, see hardest places to find a care home bed, care home fees by region and our State of Care England 2026 report.

What needs do care homes in England say they support?

Homes tell CQC which specialisms they provide. A home can list more than one, so the figures overlap.

Read more in memory care homes explained, care homes for learning disabilities and care homes for mental health needs.

Is the number of care homes falling?

Yes, in each nation we checked. CQC’s State of Care 2025/26 reports that the number of care homes in England fell by 8% between April 2019 and April 2026, while total beds fluctuated by 1% or less. There were nearly 450 fewer care home beds per 100,000 adults aged 65 and over in April 2026 than in April 2019. Large homes of 50 or more beds rose from 13% of homes in 2012 to 23% in 2026, and now hold 70% of beds.

• Scotland: 1,003 care homes and 39,919 registered places on 31 March 2025, which is 18% fewer homes and 5% fewer places than on 31 March 2015.
• Wales: CIW reported 59 (5.5%) fewer adult care homes in March 2024 than in March 2017. Nursing care homes for adults fell from 263 to 248 between March 2021 and March 2024.
• Northern Ireland: 467 care homes at 31 March 2026, two fewer than a year earlier.

See are all care homes private and when a care home closes for what this means for residents.

How many people live in care homes?

In England, Capacity Tracker returns showed 355,809 residents in the 91.9% of care home providers that responded in the week ending 14 August 2026, and 86.8% of beds were occupied. The true total is therefore somewhat higher. In Scotland, an estimated 34,289 adults lived in care homes on 31 March 2025, with 86% occupancy. We did not find a comparable resident count for Wales or Northern Ireland in the sources we read.

Frequently asked questions

How many care homes are there in England?

CQC’s care directory dated 4 November 2026 lists 14,902 locations with a residential or nursing home service type. Our own directory lists around 14,500 active care homes. The difference reflects timing and counting rules.

How many nursing homes are there in England?

In the same CQC file, 4,517 locations have a nursing home service type and 10,386 have a residential home type. One location carries both labels, so the two figures add up to one more than the total of 14,902.

How many care homes are there in Scotland?

Public Health Scotland counted 1,003 care homes for adults on 31 March 2025, with 39,919 registered places. That is 18% fewer homes than in 2015. Care homes for older people hold most residents, around 92%.

How many care homes are in Wales and Northern Ireland?

Care Inspectorate Wales reported 1,018 adult care home services on 31 March 2025. RQIA reported 467 care homes in Northern Ireland on 31 March 2026, made up of 242 nursing homes and 225 residential care homes.

Why do different websites give different totals?

Counts depend on the date, whether homes, beds or providers are counted, and whether services for younger adults or children are included. Regulators also update on different schedules, so always check the date and what each figure counts.

Where to get help next

Use Find care to see homes near you, how to choose a care home for the next step, and CQC ratings explained to understand the ratings.

Sources

• CQC: Using CQC data (care directory file produced 4 November 2026)
• CQC: State of Care 2025/26, consolidation of the care home market
• Public Health Scotland: Care home census for adults in Scotland (published 28 October 2025)
• Care Inspectorate Wales: Annual Report 2024-25
• RQIA: Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26
• DHSC: Adult social care provider statistics, England, quarterly update to August 2026

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.