UK hearing loss statistics 2026: 18 million adults, by age and nation

About 18 million adults in the UK, 1 in 3, have some degree of hearing loss in one or both ears¹. That is the newest estimate, published in 2024 in the International Journal of Audiology by Professor Kevin Munro of the University of Manchester and Professor Michael Akeroyd of the University of Nottingham. It replaces an older figure of about 12 million. This page puts the UK numbers side by side, explains why they differ, and says what each one means for daily life.

The numbers at a glance

The main UK figures differ because each counts something slightly different. Read the "what it counts" column before you quote one.

Why do UK hearing loss figures say 12 million and 18 million?

The UK figure rose from about 12 million to 18 million because RNID and the researchers changed what they count, not because hearing got worse. RNID says the new calculation uses 2021 and 2022 census population data instead of the 2011 census, counts milder hearing loss, and includes people with hearing loss in one ear only, who were left out before³. The Manchester release also gives a middle figure: 12.3 million adults, about 1 in 4 aged 18 to 80, when milder loss in both ears is included but one-ear loss is not¹.

The authors warn that the survey data behind the hearing levels dates from the 1980s and may no longer match today, for example because of less heavy industry noise and a more ethnically diverse population¹. RNID adds that these estimates are proxies, likely underestimates, and should not be used to decide who is eligible for support². If you see "12 million" on an older page, it is the earlier method, not a different country.

How common is hearing loss by age in the UK?

Hearing loss in the UK becomes the majority experience after 60. RNID's figures show 45% of people over 40 have hearing loss, 55% over 50, 65% over 60 and almost 80% of those aged 70 and over². These shares come from RNID's calculation based on the 1995 National Study of Hearing, applied to current population projections².

For an older adult at a GP or hospital appointment, that means most people in the waiting room over 70 are likely to have some hearing loss. The NHS advises seeing a GP if hearing is gradually getting worse, and says some pharmacies and opticians offer free hearing tests⁹.

What does this mean at a UK doctor's appointment?

At a UK doctor's appointment, hearing loss is the norm for older patients: almost 80% of people aged 70 and over have it, and 65% of those over 60². The NHS says a GP can treat some causes and refer you to a hearing specialist if the cause is not treatable by a GP⁹. Once referred, four in ten patients wait longer than six weeks for an audiology assessment, according to RNID⁷.

How many people have hearing loss in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

RNID estimates over 14 million people in England, over 1.4 million in Scotland, nearly 850,000 in Wales and over 450,000 in Northern Ireland have hearing loss². These apply UK-level rates to each nation's population, so they show scale rather than exact counts².

Deaf children are counted differently, directly from education services, which makes the national split more reliable for young people [4]:

Scotland counts children under 19 and the other nations under 20. The Consortium for Research in Deaf Education says its figures need caution: half of the services in England only hold figures for children they support⁴.

How many people use British Sign Language in the UK?

Estimates of BSL users range from about 22,000 to over 150,000, depending on how the question is asked. The British Deaf Association estimates 151,000 UK people use BSL, 87,000 of them deaf². The 2021 census found about 22,000 people in England and Wales using BSL as their main language, and Scotland's 2022 census found 117,300 people who can use it². RNID says census data likely underestimate BSL use because of accessibility problems and question wording².

BSL is recognised as a language of England, Wales and Scotland by section 1 of the British Sign Language Act 2022⁸. The recognition does not by itself change other laws, and the Act places duties on the Secretary of State to promote and facilitate its use⁸. That is legal information, not legal advice.

How many UK adults use hearing aids?

Most UK adults who could benefit from hearing aids do not use them, and RNID's own estimates differ. Its prevalence page says over 10 million adults could benefit and only 3 million use them². Its January 2025 audiology response says about 2 million of an estimated 8 million adults who could benefit use them⁷. The two pages give different totals, so treat both as rough²⁷.

The same RNID response says audiology is among the worst-performing NHS specialities for diagnostic tests, with four in ten patients waiting longer than six weeks for an assessment⁷.

What do the numbers mean for work and study in the UK?

For a deaf employee or job candidate in the UK, the numbers describe a large group that is less likely to be in work. RNID estimates 9 million working-age people have some degree of hearing loss and says they are less likely to be employed than the general population⁵. Among working-age BSL users, only 37% are in employment, against 77% of non-disabled people⁶.

Employers must make reasonable adjustments so disabled workers are not substantially disadvantaged, and GOV.UK gives an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person as one example¹⁰. Access to Work can pay for communication support, and RNID says deaf people are among its largest user groups. In an RNID survey run with DeafATW, many people waited four months or more for a decision⁶. A job interview is often where the first adjustment is needed.

In education, UK services reported 53,225 deaf children and young people in 2024/25, and 64% of the 9,396 referrals to services in 2024 were for children identified as deaf after they had started statutory education⁴. For a student in a lecture, that points to hearing loss that is often found during school years, not at birth.

Which use cases do these UK numbers apply to?

Hearing loss touches every setting where people talk, and each has its own UK number to keep in mind.

Where does a captioning app fit in?

Captions are one tool among many, and a phone app does not replace a BSL interpreter, a hearing aid or an audiologist. In a UK doctor's appointment, Captio AI, a live captioning app for deaf and hard of hearing people, supports captions in English and shows what the person across the desk is saying as text while they speak, and you can add names and medical terms so they are recognised. The free plan gives 100 free credits a day. Captio AI works for in-person speech, needs an internet connection for live captions, and is not a phone-call service.

For worldwide and US figures, see how many people are deaf or hard of hearing and hearing loss statistics in the US.