Daily Mail
January 23, 2014
![Only 24 per cent of people who described themselves as gipsy or Irish traveller ive in a caravan, while most live in a house, the ONS found Only 24 per cent of people who described themselves as gipsy or Irish traveller ive in a caravan, while most live in a house, the ONS found](/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Only-24-per-cent-of-people-who-described-themselves-as-gipsy-or-Irish-traveller-ive-in-a-caravan1.jpg)
Gipsies are more likely to be unhealthy, jobless and poorly educated than the rest of the population, the first census of the community has found.
It also revealed that just one in four gipsies and Irish travellers lives in a caravan.
The Office for National Statistics said the figures should be used by the government to support ‘a vulnerable marginalised group’ which accounts for 58,000 people in England and Wales.
It is the first time that data has been collected on the population of gipsies in the country.
![article-2543372-1ADAE61B00000578-516_634x286 article-2543372-1ADAE61B00000578-516_634x286](/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/article-2543372-1ADAE61B00000578-516_634x286_thumb.jpg)
The ONS found that more than half of adults in the community are unemployed and not actively seeking work. Three in five have no qualifications at all.
When compared with the rest of the population in England and Wales, gipsies and Irish travellers are twice as likely to consider themselves in ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ health.
For the first time ever, people taking part in the 2011 census could identify themselves as a gipsy or Irish traveller.
The group, which does not include people who describe themselves as ‘Roma’, are widely considered to be a ‘vulnerable marginalised group’, the ONS said.