The report recognizes the irreplaceable value of the 53 million informal carers.

Omissions

• The original primary statistical source for the 53 million figure (e.g., a specific European Commission study, Eurofound survey, or Eurostat dataset) could not be independently identified and verified. The EP committee report A10-0083/2026 is a parliamentary document that cites external sources for this figure, but those underlying sources were not directly consulted.
• The 53 million figure likely represents a broad estimate. Earlier European Commission research (2018) placed informal carers at 10–25% of the total European population, a range within which 53 million — approximately 12% of the EU-27 population — plausibly falls.
• The same '53 million' figure also appears in US statistics for informal/unpaid caregivers, which could create confusion; however, the EP report and accompanying debate clearly refer to the EU context.

Sources

• SecondaryEuropean Parliament — Committee Report A10-0083/2026Highlights that around 6.2 million people in the EU are employed as formal care workers, while more than 53 million people provide informal long-term care in their family or social environment.
• SecondaryBrussels TimesThere are 6.2 million formal carers and 53 million informal carers in the EU, said Eleonora Meleti, the Parliament's rapporteur for the report.
• SecondaryIl Sole 24 OreThere are 6.2 million formal caregivers and 53 million informal caregivers in the European Union.