Demographics of England

(Redirected from Demography of England)

The demography of England has since 1801 been measured by the decennial national census, and is marked by centuries of population growth and urbanization. Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources, estimates of the population of England for dates prior to the first census in 1801 vary considerably. The population of England at the 2021 census was about 56,489,800.[4]

Demographics of England
Population56,489,800 Increase (2021)
Density434/km2 (1,120/sq mi)[1]
Fertility rate1.61 (2021)
Age structure
0–14 years17.4% (2021)[2]
15–64 years64.1%
65 and over18.6%
Nationality
NationalityEnglish (2021)
Major ethnicDecrease White: 81.0%
Decrease White British: 73.5%[3] (2021)
Decrease White Irish: 0.9%
Increase Other White: 6.6%
Minor ethnic
Increase Asian British: (9.7%)
Increase Black British: (4.2%)
Increase British Mixed: (2.9%)
Increase Other: (2.2%)
Language
SpokenBritish English
Map of population density in England as at the 2011 census
The non-metropolitan counties and unitary authorities of England in 2020 by total population.

Population

The population of England in 2021 was estimated to be 56,489,800.[4][5] This is the most recent census.[4] In the previous census, in 2011, the population was 53,012,456.

Data for the 2021 census:

Historical population

Population of England over time
Population 5000–100BC
YearPop.±%
50000BCbelow 6000—    
30000BC100,000—    
18000BC300,000+200.0%
01000BC1,500,000+400.0%
Source: [8]
Population 1100–1700
YearPop.±%
10861,710,000—    
11903,100,000+81.3%
12203,970,000+28.1%
12504,230,000+6.5%
12794,430,000+4.7%
12904,750,000+7.2%
13154,690,000−1.3%
13254,120,000−12.2%
13484,810,000+16.7%
13512,600,000−45.9%
13772,500,000−3.8%
14002,080,000−16.8%
14302,020,000−2.9%
14501,900,000−5.9%
14902,140,000+12.6%
15222,350,000+9.8%
15412,830,000+20.4%
15603,200,000+13.1%
16004,110,000+28.4%
16505,310,000+29.2%
17005,200,000−2.1%
Source: [9][10]
Population 1801–2021
YearPop.±%
18018,287,907—    
18119,405,342+13.5%
182111,178,050+18.8%
183112,976,329+16.1%
184114,847,888+14.4%
185116,738,495+12.7%
186118,753,390+12.0%
187121,361,235+13.9%
188124,397,385+14.2%
189127,231,229+11.6%
190130,072,180+10.4%
191133,561,235+11.6%
192135,230,225+5.0%
193137,359,045+6.0%
193938,084,321+1.9%
195141,164,356+8.1%
196143,460,525+5.6%
197146,411,700+6.8%
198146,820,800+0.9%
199147,875,000+2.3%
200149,138,831+2.6%
201153,012,456+7.9%
202156,489,800+6.6%
Source: Year(s) 1801–2011[10][11][12][13]

Vital statistics

[15] This is UK wide information.

Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Fertility rates
1940567,710545,95221,75814.113.60.5
1941(c)539,205499,34339,86213.912.91.0
1942608,373448,777159,59615.611.54.1
1943641,064469,916171,14816.211.94.3
1944704,748461,189243,55917.711.66.1
1945638,422456,216182,20615.911.44.5
1946773,153460,543312,61019.211.47.8
1947829,863484,324345,53920.512.08.5
1948728,131439,803288,32817.910.87.1
1949686,181478,627207,55416.811.75.1
1950654,321477,006177,31515.511.34.2
1951(c)41,164,356636,259513,375122,88415.512.53.0
1952632,347466,479165,85815.311.34.0
1953642,844472,137170,70715.511.34.2
1954633,395469,074164,32115.211.33.9
1955628,935484,926144,00915.011.73.3
1956659,420488,893170,52715.711.74.0
1957681,736482,174199,56216.111.54.6
1958698,255494,201204,05416.411.74.7
1959706,239495,517210,72216.511.64.9
1960740,858493,553247,30517.111.55.6
1961(c)43,460,525766,358518,047248,31117.611.95.7
1962793,354523,855269,49918.012.06.0
1963807,017538,105268,91218.212.26.0
1964828,470501,991326,47918.511.37.2
1965816,433516,317300,11618.111.56.6
1966804,957528,981275,97617.711.85.9
1967788,458509,356279,10217.211.26.0
1968775,065541,862233,20316.911.95.0
1969754,456543,425211,03116.411.94.5
1970741,999540,196201,80316.011.64.4
1971(c)46,411,700740,099532,445207,65415.911.54.4
197246,572,000685,485554,251131,23414.711.92.8
197346,686,000638,356549,87688,48013.711.81.9
197446,682,000603,153547,98055,17312.911.71.2
197546,674,000568,900545,44423,45612.211.70.5
197646,659,000550,383560,317-9,93411.812.0-0.2
197746,639,000536,953538,652-1,69911.511.5-0.0
197846,638,000562,589547,68514,90412.111.70.4
197946,698,000601,316554,84046,47612.911.91.0
198046,787,000618,371544,34974,02213.211.61.6
1981(c)46,820,800598,163541,01857,14512.811.61.2
198246,777,000589,711544,98444,72712.611.70.91.76
198346,813,000593,255542,50950,74612.711.61.11.75
198446,912,000600,573531,31469,25912.811.31.51.75
198547,057,000619,301553,15366,14813.211.81.41.78
198647,187,000623,609544,54579,06413.211.51.71.76
198747,300,000643,330531,150112,18013.611.22.41.80
198847,412,000654,353535,553118,80013.811.32.51.82
198947,552,000649,357539,804109,55313.711.42.31.79
199047,699,000666,920528,920138,00014.011.13.91.83
1991(c)47,875,000660,806533,980126,82613.811.22.61.81
199247,998,000651,784522,660129,12413.610.92.71.79
199348,102,000636,473540,90495,56913.211.22.01.76
199448,228,000628,956516,297112,65913.010.72.31.75
199548,383,000613,257529,03884,21912.710.91.81.71
199648,519,000614,184526,65087,53412.710.91.81.73
199748,664,000608,202521,59886,60412.510.71.81.73
199848,820,000602,111518,08984,02212.310.61.71.72
199949,032,000589,468517,11972,34912.010.51.51.69
200049,233,000572,826503,02669,80011.610.21.41.65
2001(c)49,449,000563,744497,87865,86611.410.11.31.63
200249,679,000565,709500,79264,91711.410.11.31.64
200349,925,000589,851504,12785,72411.810.11.71.72
200450,194,000607,184480,717126,46712.19.62.51.77
200550,606,000613,028479,678133,35012.19.52.61.77
200650,965,000635,748470,326165,42212.59.23.31.83
200751,381,000655,357470,721184,63612.89.23.61.88
200851,815,000672,809475,763197,04613.09.23.81.92
200952,196,000671,058459,241211,81712.98.84.11.91
201052,642,000687,007461,017225,99013.18.84.31.94
2011(c)53,107,000688,120452,862235,25813.08.54.51.93
201253,493,000694,241466,779227,46213.08.74.31.94
201353,865,000664,517473,552190,96512.38.83.51.85
201454,316,000661,496468,875192,62112.28.63.61.83
201554,786,000664,399495,309169,09012.19.03.11.82
201655,268,000663,157490,454172,70312.08.93.11.81
201755,619,000646,794498,882147,91211.69.02.61.76
201855,977,000625,651505,859119,79211.29.02.21.70
201956,287,000610,505488,952121,55310.88.72.11.66
202056,550,000585,195569,70015,49510.310.10.31.59
2021(c)56,489,800595,948549,20746,74110.59.70.81.56
202257,106,398577,046540,33336,71310.29.50.71.49
2023544,032

(c) = Census results.

In 2022, the percentage of live births where either one or both parents were born outside of the UK was 36.7%. 31.1% of all live births in England were to mothers born outside of the UK (9.8% born in the EU, 21.3% born outside of the EU).[16]

Current vital statistics

[17]

PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January - March 2022160,486
January - March 2023145,046
Difference -15,440 (-9.62%)

Historical per cent distribution of the total population by age

[18]

Ages1901193119511961
0–14 years32242223
15–64 years63696765
65 years and over571112
Total (%)100100100100

Country of birth

Country of birth given by respondents in the corresponding UK censuses were as follows:

Map showing the percentage of the population born outside England according to the 2011 census.
Country of birth1971[19]1981[20]1991[21]2001[22]2011[23]2021[24]
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
 United Kingdom41,951,04291.3%42,620,88293.1%43,506,41192.5%44,588,00890.74%45,675,31786.16%46,687,01782.6%
 England40,374,71487.9%41,084,39989.8%42,003,21189.3%42,968,59687.44%44,246,59283.46%45,388,72480.3%
 Scotland716,499731,412743,856794,5771.62%708,8721.34%626,4431.1%
 Wales632,548573,014545,381609,7111.24%506,6190.96%478,697
 Northern Ireland227,281211,133215,1240.44%206,7350.39%190,541
 United Kingdom (not otherwise specified)232,0572,8306,4990.01%2,612
Europe (non-UK)1,217,2452.7%1,142,1822.4%1,221,7592.6%1,154,7072.3%2,375,4414.5%4,042,5387.1%
 Ireland647,429567,021555,805459,6620.94%395,1820.75%314,6740.6%
Channel Islands & Isle of Man26,804
Total born in all EU Member Countries (excluding Ireland)569,816[note 1]1.2%340,1130%452,0921%695,0451.41%1,980,2593.73%3,236,7995.7%
EU Member Countries (joined pre 2001) or EEC Members340,113452,0921%894,9081.69%1,263,7072.2%
 Germany193,346
 France49,947
 Italy83,724
Other125,075
Other EU Member Countries

(joined post-2001)

1,085,3512.04%1,973,0923.5%
 Poland68,0490.1%
 Romania3,762
Other non-EU Europe235,0480.5%115,2470.2%491,0650.9%
 Soviet Union25,235
Other90,012
Africa148,4730.3%278,6780.6%456,3961%1,558,1992.8%
Middle East and Asia522,2631.1%727,8381.6%1,108,5292.4%3,241,7015.7%
 India301,862378,721395,563
 Pakistan131,826179,712221,776
 Bangladesh46,873101,829
Sri Lanka (also known as Ceylon)15,366
Far East73,209122,532
 Turkey26,016
Other363,345
Americas and Caribbean292,9660.6%291,6790.6%481,2991%790,0021.4%
 Canada53,195
 United States128,337
 Jamaica141,352
Other158,415
Antarctica and Oceania104,1410.2%170,0230.3%
 Australia66,279
 New Zealand37,862
Other: Old Commonwealth[note 2]119,6830.3%133,2200.3%
Other: New Commonwealth[note 3]109,9710.2%155,3890.3%147,6020.3%
Other Countries (non Europe or UK for 2001 and 2011)482,3511%421,8950.9%3,0513,396,1166.91%4,961,6989.36%83
Total45,917,667100%45,771,763100%47,055,204100%49,138,831100.00%53,012,456100.00%56,490,051100%

Below are the estimates of the largest foreign-born groups in England according to ONS estimates.

Country of birth20132014[25]20152018[26]
 India698,000748,000751,000832,000
 Poland561,000677,000713,000832,000
 Pakistan479,000499,000478,000535,000
 Republic of Ireland315,000317,000318,000369,000
 Germany263,000267,000253,000309,000
Population pyramid from 2001 to 2020

Age

Population pyramid in 2020

The data below is based on the 2011 census.[27] In 2001, the mean age of England's population was 38.60, and the median age was 37.00. In 2022, the median age was 40.5.[28]

Ages attained
(years)
Population% of total
population
% per year
of age band
0–43,318,4496.261.25
5–92,972,6325.611.12
10–143,080,9295.811.16
15–193,340,2656.301.26
20–243,595,3216.781.36
25–293,650,8816.891.38
30–343,509,2216.621.32
35–393,549,1166.691.34
40–443,885,9347.331.47
45–493,879,8157.321.46
50–543,400,0956.411.28
55–592,996,9925.651.13
60–643,172,2775.981.20
65–692,508,1544.730.95
70–742,044,1293.860.77
75–791,669,3453.150.63
80–841,258,7732.370.47
85–89776,3111.460.29
90+403,8170.76

Ethnicity

Ethnic demographics of England from 1981 - 2021
Ethnic makeup of England in single year age groups in 2021
Estimations of white and non-white population in England and Wales, 1951-1968[29]
Ethnic group (reported as 'Area of origin')1951[note 4]1961[note 4]1966mid-1968
Estimates based solely off of immigrant population[note 4]Total estimated (including estimates of those born in the UK)[note 5]
Population%Population%Population%Population%Population%
White: Total43,683,50099.83%45,769,00099.28%46,540,50098.73%46,211,50098.04%
Non-White: Total74,5000.17%336,0000.72%595,0001.27%924,0001.96%1,123,000
India30,80081,400163,600223,000
Pakistan5,00024,90067,700199,700
Ceylon (Sri Lanka)5,8009,00012,90016,100
West Indies15,300171,800267,900
Jamaica278,000
Other Caribbean180,300
British West Africa (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone)5,60019,80036,00050,700
Far East (Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore)12,00029,60047,00060,000
Total population43,758,000100%46,105,000100%47,135,500100%47,135,500100%
Ethnicity in England, 1981-2021
Ethnic groupYear
1981 estimations[30]1991[31][note 6]2001[32]2011[33]2021[34]
Population%Population%Population%Population%Population%
White: Total95.4%44,144,33993.8%44,679,36191%45,281,142

85.4%

45,783,40181%
White: British42,747,13687.0%42,279,23679.8%41,540,79173.5%
White: Irish624,1151.3%517,0011.0%494,2510.9%
White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy54,8950.1%64,2180.1%
White: Roma99,1380.2%
White: Other1,308,1102.7%2,430,0104.6%3,585,0036.3%
Asian or Asian British: Total2.65%1,762,2623.7%2,468,9705%4,143,403

7.8%

5,426,3929.7%
Asian or Asian British: Indian1.32%823,8211.8%1,028,5462.1%1,395,7022.6%1,843,2483.3%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani0.7%449,6461.0%706,5391.4%1,112,2822.1%1,570,2852.8%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi0.18%157,8810.3%275,3940.6%436,5140.8%629,5671.1%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese[note 7]0.22%141,6610.3%220,6810.5%379,5020.7%431,1650.8%
Asian or Asian British: Asian Other0.23%189,2530.4%237,8100.5%819,4031.6%952,1271.7%
Black or Black British: Total1.5%874,8821.9%1,132,5082.3%1,846,614

3.5%

2,381,7244.2%
Black or Black British: Caribbean0.91%495,6821.1%561,2461.1%591,0161.1%619,4191.1%
Black or Black British: African0.3%206,9180.4%475,9381.0%977,7411.8%1,468,4742.6%
Black or Black British: Other0.3%172,2820.4%95,3240.2%277,8570.5%293,8310.5%
British Mixed: Total643,3731.3%1,192,879

2.3%

1,669,3782.9%
Mixed: White and Caribbean231,4240.5%415,6160.8%499,3100.9%
Mixed: White and African76,4980.2%161,5500.3%241,5280.4%
Mixed: White and Asian184,0140.4%332,7080.6%474,1900.8%
Mixed: Other Mixed151,4370.3%283,0050.3%454,3500.8%
Other: Total0.44%273,7210.6%214,6190.4%548,418

1.0%

1,229,1532.2%
Other: Arab220,9850.4%320,2030.6%
Other: Any other ethnic group0.44%273,7210.6%214,6190.4%327,4330.6%908,9501.6%
Non-White: Total4.6%2,910,8656.2%4,459,4709%7,731,31414.6%10,706,64719%
Total100%47,055,204100%49,138,831100%53,012,456

100%

56,490,048100%

Notes for table above

Population distribution

Ethnicity of school pupils

The ethnicity of school pupils in England has been changing since the figures started to be collected in 2002, White British students proportionally have been in decline compared to other groups who have risen.

Ethnic groupSchool year[35][36]
20042008201020142015/162017/182019/202021/2022
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
White: Total5,584,80082.9%5,389,34081.3%5,243,87079.9%5,222,07076.9%5,258,58275.6%6,027,78174%6,048,98072.8%6,011,04571.4%
White: British5,408,70080.3%5,136,61077.4%4,963,11075.6%4,859,73071.6%4,822,33269.3%5,454,10866.95,432,99165.45,379,74863.9%
White: Irish26,10023,6200.4%22,1900.3%21,6400.3%21,1270.323,1100.322,4430.321,4950.3
White: Roma6,5000.1%3,9400.1%4,0000.1%4,6250.1%22,0920.326,6530.328,0910.327,3590.3
White: Irish Traveller0.1%8,7700.1%10,9900.2%19,0300.3%4,9750.16,0080.16,5780.16,9030.1
White: Other139,6002.1%216,4103.3%243,5803.7%317,0554.7%388,0565.6517,9026.4558,8776.7575,5406.8
Asian / Asian British: Total476,9006.7%536,4208.1%575,6708.8%676,92010.0%755,81710.8%937,98311.4%985,79511.9%1,040,54112.3%
Asian / Asian British: Indian154,4002.3%161,1502.4%163,7802.5%180,9952.7%196,3512.8247,2803.0268,3183.2289,1793.4
Asian / Asian British: Pakistani180,6002.7%214,2103.2%231,3803.5%273,4654.0%293,0894.2360,5544.4372,6994.5380,7814.5
Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi72,0001.1%87,3201.3%95,4201.5%110,7351.6%117,0041.7143,3791.8148,2901.8151,6131.8
Asian / Asian British: Chinese23,7000.4%24,7800.4%24,6900.4%26,7250.4%28,9150.436,1960.437,7320.548,3960.6
Asian / Asian British: Other Asians46,2000.7%73,7701.1%85,0801.3%111,7201.6%120,4581.7150,5741.8158,7561.9170,5722.0
Black / Black British: Total244,9003.6%292,8604.4%312,2604.8%366,1305.4%389,5855.5%464,3675.7%474,5705.7%486,5175.8%
Black: Caribbean96,1001.4%92,0901.4%91,4001.4%89,3501.3%85,8301.291,4291.186,5431.082,4021.0
Black: African120,9001.8%167,9902.5%184,7902.8%232,0653.4%253,7813.6311,0123.8323,8743.9338,6144.0
Black: Other Blacks27,9000.4%32,7700.5%36,0700.5%44,7100.7%49,9740.761,9260.864,1530.865,5010.8
Mixed / British Mixed181,5002.7%229,6503.5%256,9803.9%325,1404.8%363,7305.3%473,3055.8%515,0616.1%558,1846.6%
Mixed: White and Caribbean64,6001.0%77,3501.2%82,4101.3%95,7851.4%101,2781.5123,8731.5128,7741.5133,5041.6
Mixed: White and African17,0000.3%24,1100.4%27,8600.4%40,2450.6%47,4720.763,5180.870,4030.876,2620.9
Mixed: White and Asian Other36,3000.5%47,5100.7%54,6100.8%73,5551.1%84,1331.2111,8111.4123,1531.5134,8211.6
Mixed: Other Mixed63,5000.9%80,6801.2%92,1101.4%115,5601.7%130,8471.9174,1032.1192,7312.3213,5972.5
Other: Total57,90078,5601.2%86,8801.3%106,1151.6%119,6471.7%154,5751.9%168,7582.0%185,3552.2%
Unclassified190,7002.8%81,3001.2%64,6101.0%67,9351.0%67,1261.0%94,3121.2%119,3881.4%136,3711.6%
Total:6,736,700100%6,632,900100%6,564,940100%6,791,030100%6,954,487100%8,152,323100%8,312,552100%8,418,013100%

Languages

The most common main languages spoken in England according to the 2011 census are shown below.[37]

RankLanguageUsual residents aged 3+Proportion
1English46,936,78092.02%
2Polish529,1731.04%
3Punjabi271,5800.53%
4Urdu266,3300.52%
5Bengali (with Sylheti and Chatgaya)216,1960.42%
6Gujarati212,2170.42%
7Arabic152,4900.30%
8French145,0260.28%
9Portuguese131,0020.26%
10Spanish118,5540.23%
11Tamil99,7730.20%
12Turkish98,0830.19%
13Italian90,5470.18%
14Somali84,3870.17%
15Lithuanian84,3270.17%
16German75,1900.15%
17Persian/Farsi75,1790.15%
18Tagalog/Filipino67,5930.13%
19Romanian66,4960.13%
20Russian66,2710.13%
Welsh8,2480.02%
Cornish5540.00%
Other1,209,6142.37%
Population51,005,610100.00%

Religion

Religious makeup of England in single year age groups in 2021

Religion in England (2021 census)

  Christianity (46.3%)
  Not religious (36.7%)
  Islam (6.7%)
  Not stated (6.0%)
  Other religions (2.5%)
  Hinduism (1.8%)

Respondents to the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses gave their religions as follows:

Religion2001[38]2011[39]2021[40]
Number%Number%Number%
Christian35,251,24471.74%31,479,87659.38%26,167,89946.3
Muslim1,524,8873.10%2,660,1165.02%3,801,1866.7
Hindu546,9821.11%806,1991.52%1,032,5331.8
Sikh327,3430.67%420,1960.79%520,0920.9
Jewish257,6710.52%261,2820.49%269,2830.5
Buddhist139,0460.28%238,6260.45%262,4330.5
Other religion143,8110.29%227,8250.43%332,4100.6
No religion7,171,33214.59%13,114,23224.74%20,715,66436.7
Religion not stated3,776,5157.69%3,804,1047.18%3,400,5486.0
Total population49,138,831100.00%53,012,456100.00%56,490,048100.0

See also

Notes

References

External links