Census reveals population shifts

18 July, 2012

Increased numbers of young and old people, rising immigration and a swelling London population are among the key trends in the latest Census data, which provides important intelligence for pub and restaurant operators.

The population of England was put at 53 million on 27 March 2011—the date the last Census was taken—with Wales bringing the total to 56.1 million. The figure is up by 3.7 million over the last decade—the second largest Census-on-Census growth since 1801. It was thanks in large part to increasing migration to England and Wales.

The numbers of young people are growing particularly sharply, with 7.6 million in their 20s compared to 6.6 million in 2001. The median age of the population in England and Wales is 39. One in six people in England and Wales in 2011 was aged 65 or over—the highest proportion in any Census in history. Nearly half a million (430,000) people were aged 90 or over in 2011, compared with 340,000 in 2001.

The Census also uncovered some interesting regional trends in population, with Manchester’s total jumping by 19%. In total, London’s population has grown by 12% in the last ten years. At the other end of the scale, several authorities in north west and north east England saw their populations fall.

For more Census data, including useful analysis tools, click here.