Census results reveal population increase in England and Wales
New ONS data from the 2021 census showed a change in the makeup of the UK over the past ten years
The population in England and Wales has increased by 6% over the past 10 years, according to new ONS data from the 2021 census. (Credit: Adobe)
The results of the 2021 census have been revealed, showing a change in the makeup of the UK.
Citizens of England, Wales and Northern Ireland from the UK took part in the census last year, while Scottish citizens took part in the census in 2022.
New data from the ONS has shown a change in the population over the past decade when the last survey took place.
Here’s what the results show about the UK.
How has the population changed in England and Wales?
From 2011 to 2021, the population of England and Wales grew by over 3.5 million people, marking a 6% increase.
This is one of the largest increases in census history.
Population growth has been notable in one demographic – people aged 65 and over – which means the UK now has more older people than ever before.
A sixth of the UK population is aged 65 and over, with around 11.1 million people in this demographic, up 2.2% from 2011.
The area with the biggest increase in the number of older people was Richmond in North Yorkshire.
On the other hand, the population of children aged 15 and under has increased since 2011, but the proportion has slightly decreased since the last census.
Data shows that every region of England and Wales has increased.
The east of England had the highest rates of population increase, with areas such as Bedford, Dartfort and Tower Hamlets having an increase of over 15% in population.
Tower Hamlets is also the most densely populated area in the UK, with 15,695 people per square kilometer.
However, some major cities saw declines, including the London Boroughs of Chelsea, Kensington, Canden and Westminster, as well as cities such as Sunderland and Swansea.
When combined with the figure of Northern Ireland and the projected 2022 Scottish census figures, the current UK population is estimated at 66,966,400.
The results also revealed that England is the second most populous country in Europe, behind the Netherlands.
More data will be released in a staggered schedule, with topics including ethnicity, religion, housing and education.
How has the population evolved in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland census results were released last month and showed that 1,903,100 people currently reside in the country.
This is a 5% increase from 2011 and marks the highest population ever recorded in the country.
Further details, including data on the country’s religious makeup, are expected to be released in the fall.
When will the Scottish census results be out?
The census of Scottish residents has been delayed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The National Records of Scotland launched the census survey in early 2022, with the original deadline of May 1.
However, this was pushed back until May 31 due to low turnout.
The first census results will be released in 2023.