Picture of health in Sheffield

What is the picture of health

The Picture of Health is Sheffield’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). It gives an overall picture of the health and wellbeing of people in Sheffield, both now and in the future.

It is the main source of evidence for Sheffield’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and helps guide other health studies in the city.

The Picture of Health brings together lots of information from different sources, both local and national. It uses numbers and statistics, as well as people’s stories, to show what is going well and where there are big challenges.

This information helps organisations and groups in Sheffield make the best decisions to improve health and wellbeing. It also shows whether the actions being taken are working and making a positive difference.

What it covers

The Picture of Health is not something that stays the same forever. We update the Picture of Health diagram every four months (in January, April, July and October). This makes sure the information is always as up to date as possible. It also means we can change the data we show, so it matches what is most important in Sheffield and keeps things interesting and useful. The aim of the chosen data is to show full picture of what health and wellbeing is like in Sheffield.

This webpage also contains:

  • other topic position statements
  • the latest annual Director of Public Health report
  • the latest Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment
  • links to other resources we use every day to give more information about the health and wellbeing of people in Sheffield

The picture of health diagram

Click the link below to view our picture of health diagram. You can also click on the circles to look at the data in more detail.

View the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (PDF download, 201kb)

Picture of health diagram text summary

1. Tackle Racism and Discrimination

Indicator: To be confirmed.

Gender pay gap: Men are paid 31% more than women. Not compared to the England average.

 

2. Give Every Child the Best Start in Life

Smoking at time of giving birth: 7.6%. Worse than England. Increasing and getting worse.

Breastfeeding at first feed: 71.3%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

Infant mortality: 5.2%. Not compared to England. Increasing and getting worse.

 

3. Enable Everyone to Fulfil Their Potential and Have Control Over Their Lives

Percentage of people with low life satisfaction: 6.9%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

16–17 year olds not in education, employment or training (or unknown status): 8.7%. Worse than England. Decreasing and getting better.

Children ready for school at end of Reception: 64.5%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

 

4. Create Good Work for All

Percentage of people in employment: 72.5%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

Median gross weekly pay: £700.70. Not compared to England. Increasing and getting worse.

Adults with a learning disability on long-term support in paid work: 3.3%. Not compared to England. No trend arrow shown.

 

5. Ensure a Healthy Standard of Living for All

Healthy life expectancy (male): 58.1 years. Not compared to England. No trend arrow shown.

Healthy life expectancy (female): 58.1 years. Not compared to England. No trend arrow shown.

Percentage of people who smoke: 10.3%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

 

6. Develop Healthy Places and Communities

Violent crime rate: 35.6 per 1,000 population. No significant change.

Percentage of adults who feel lonely: 7.2%. Worse than England. No trend arrow shown.

 

7. Ensure Fair Access to Quality NHS and Social Care Services

Adults in mental health care living in stable housing: 42.0%. Not compared to England. No trend arrow shown.

Percentage of people aged 40 to 74 offered an NHS Health Check: 22.1%. Not compared to England. No trend arrow shown.

 

8. Address the Climate and Environment Crisis

Estimated deaths linked to air pollution: 5.4%. No significant change. Not compared to England.

Census data

Every 10 years, a census is held in England and Wales to collect information about the population. This data helps decide how public money is spent. 

On 21 March 2021, Sheffield had 556,500 residents living in 232,000 households – small increase (0.7%) from 2011.

Key highlights

There were several highlights from the census.

Age Groups

There are lots of 20 to 24-year-olds due to the city’s universities, though fewer than in 2011. The number of 50 to 59-year-olds has grown, while 40 to 49-year-olds have decreased.

Population Density

There are about 10.8 people per football pitch-sized area, slightly up from 10.7 in 2011. Sheffield is the second most crowded area in Yorkshire and The Humber.

Gender

50.6% of people are female, up from 49.6% in 2011, mostly due to more older women.

Marriage and Civil Partnerships

40.1% of adults were married or in civil partnerships in 2021, down from 41.9% in 2011.

Social Housing

The share of households in social housing dropped from 24.8% to 22.6%, though Sheffield still ranks in the top 15% of areas in England for this.

Religion

"No religion" was the most common answer in 2021 (43.4%, up from 31.2%). Christianity fell to 38.5% (from 52.5%), while Islam rose to 10.3% (from 7.7%).

Family Households

17.9% of households included couples with dependent children (slightly down from 18.1%). Households with adult children only rose from 5.5% to 5.7%.

Health

44.5% said their health was “very good” (up from 43.0%), and 34.4% said “good” (up slightly). Only 1.5% said “very bad,” the same as in 2011. These are based on people’s own views.

Because the census happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, people’s views on their health may have been affected.
More Census information found at ONS’s How life has changed in Sheffield: Census 2021.

Resources and links

Contact using the email subject 'Picture of health'