# People and census in Bolton The middle of the North West. 309,732 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 140 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for Bolton, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [North West](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west) ## What is the population of Bolton? Bolton had 295,963 usual residents at the census. Bolton is the 55th most populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Bolton: **295,963** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Bolton had 295,963 usual residents at the census. Bolton is the 55th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-population ## Population estimate Bolton: **309,732** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Bolton’s population was an estimated 309,732 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.3% in the year to mid-2025. Bolton is 55th most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Bolton: **62.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 62.7% of residents in Bolton were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In North West the figure is 63.7%. - Against North West: 2% lower (63.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Bolton: **17.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.1% of residents in Bolton were aged 65 or over at the census. In North West the figure is 18.7%. - Against North West: 9% lower (18.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Bolton: **20.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.2% of residents in Bolton were aged under 15 at the census. In North West the figure is 17.6%. - Against North West: 15% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Bolton: **16.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 16.9% of residents in Bolton were born outside the UK. In North West the figure is 11.7%. - Against North West: 44% higher (11.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Bolton: **18.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 18.1% of residents in Bolton had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In North West the figure is 19.4%. - Against North West: 7% lower (19.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Bolton: **80.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 80.7% of residents in Bolton said their health was good or very good. In North West the figure is 80.4%. - Against North West: About the same (80.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-good-health ## Households Bolton: **118,790** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Bolton had 118,790 households at the census. Bolton is 57th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Bolton: **24.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 24.8% of households in Bolton had no car or van at the census. In North West the figure is 24.7%. - Against North West: About the same (24.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Bolton: **61.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 61.9% of households in Bolton owned their home at the census. In North West the figure is 63.0%. - Against North West: 2% lower (63.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Bolton: **2,117 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Bolton had 2,117 people per square kilometre at the census. In North West the figure is 524 per km². - Against North West: 4 times (524 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Bolton: **18.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 18.0% of households in Bolton rented privately at the census. In North West the figure is 19.2%. - Against North West: 6% lower (19.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Bolton: **19.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.8% of households in Bolton rented from a council or housing association at the census. In North West the figure is 17.6%. - Against North West: 13% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Bolton: **27.4%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 27.4% of residents aged 16 and over in Bolton had a degree-level qualification at the census. In North West the figure is 31.2%. - Against North West: 12% lower (31.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Bolton: **20.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 20.1% of residents in Bolton identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In North West the figure is 8.4%. - Against North West: 2.4 times (8.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Bolton: **3.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 3.8% of residents in Bolton identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In North West the figure is 2.3%. - Against North West: 1.7 times (2.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Bolton: **2.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 2.2% of residents in Bolton identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In North West the figure is 2.2%. - Against North West: About the same (2.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Bolton: **1.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.9% of residents in Bolton identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In North West the figure is 1.5%. - Against North West: 27% higher (1.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Bolton: **71.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 71.9% of residents in Bolton identified with a White ethnic group. In North West the figure is 85.6%. - Against North West: 16% lower (85.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Bolton: **47.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 47.0% of residents in Bolton said they were Christian. In North West the figure is 52.5%. - Against North West: 10% lower (52.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Bolton: **25.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 25.8% of residents in Bolton said they had no religion. In North West the figure is 32.6%. - Against North West: 21% lower (32.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Bolton: **23.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 23.6% of working residents in Bolton worked mainly from home in March 2021. In North West the figure is 27.3%. - Against North West: 14% lower (27.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Bolton: **0.3%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Bolton’s estimated population changed by 0.3% in the year to mid-2025. - Against North West: 57% lower (0.7%) - Against the UK: About the same (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E08000001) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/crime) (1) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E08000001/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/bolton/people