Key findings of this national survey of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis epidemiology were that its prevalence, incidence and mortality have all increased over recent years; we estimate that around 212,000 people are currently living with bronchiectasis in the UK, very much higher than commonly quoted figures. Bronchiectasis is more common in females than males; 60% of diagnoses are made in the over-70 age group. Regional differences in prevalence, incidence, mortality, and hospital admission were identified. An intriguing finding was that bronchiectasis is more commonly diagnosed in the least deprived sections of the population, in contrast to other respiratory disorders.