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People and census in Cheltenham

District

The north east of the South West. 121,452 people in 47 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Cheltenham, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

Cheltenham’s 405 output areas range from 117 to 683.

What is the population of Cheltenham?

Cheltenham had 118,836 usual residents at the census.

Cheltenham is the 125th least populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
118,836
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Cheltenham had 118,836 usual residents at the census.

Cheltenham is the 125th least populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Cheltenham is 118,836.

Population estimate

Council
121,452
ONS population estimates · 2025

Cheltenham’s population was an estimated 121,452 in mid-2025.

The population held steady in the year to mid-2025.

Cheltenham is 119th least populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Cheltenham is 121,452.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
64.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.6% of residents in Cheltenham were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South West the figure is 61.8%.

Against South West
5% higher61.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Cheltenham is 64.6%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
19.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.3% of residents in Cheltenham were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South West the figure is 22.3%.

Against South West
13% lower22.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Cheltenham is 19.3%.

Aged under 15

Council
16.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.1% of residents in Cheltenham were aged under 15 at the census.

In South West the figure is 15.9%.

Against South West
1% higher15.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Cheltenham is 16.1%.

Born outside the UK

Council
14.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.6% of residents in Cheltenham were born outside the UK.

In South West the figure is 10.2%.

Against South West
43% higher10.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Cheltenham is 14.6%.

Disability

Council
15.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.9% of residents in Cheltenham had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South West the figure is 18.6%.

Against South West
15% lower18.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Cheltenham is 15.9%.

Good or very good health

Council
84.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

84.3% of residents in Cheltenham said their health was good or very good.

In South West the figure is 81.8%.

Against South West
3% higher81.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Cheltenham is 84.3%.

Households

Council
52,899
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Cheltenham had 52,899 households at the census.

Cheltenham is 135th lowest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Cheltenham is 52,899.

Households without a car or van

Council
20.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.1% of households in Cheltenham had no car or van at the census.

In South West the figure is 16.8%.

Against South West
20% higher16.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Cheltenham is 20.1%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
64.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.3% of households in Cheltenham owned their home at the census.

In South West the figure is 67.0%.

Against South West
4% lower67.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Cheltenham is 64.3%.

Population density

Council
2,550 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Cheltenham had 2,550 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South West the figure is 239 per km².

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

Against South West
11 times239 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Cheltenham is 2,550 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
23.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.4% of households in Cheltenham rented privately at the census.

In South West the figure is 19.7%.

Against South West
19% higher19.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Cheltenham is 23.4%.

Social rented homes

Council
12.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

12.2% of households in Cheltenham rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South West the figure is 13.3%.

Against South West
8% lower13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Cheltenham is 12.2%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
43.1%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

43.1% of residents aged 16 and over in Cheltenham had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South West the figure is 33.1%.

Against South West
30% higher33.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Cheltenham among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Cheltenham is 43.1%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.1% of residents in Cheltenham identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 2.8%.

Against South West
46% higher2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Cheltenham is 4.1%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.0% of residents in Cheltenham identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 1.2%.

Against South West
17% lower1.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Cheltenham is 1.0%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.5% of residents in Cheltenham identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 2.0%.

Against South West
25% higher2.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Cheltenham is 2.5%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.0% of residents in Cheltenham identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South West the figure is 0.9%.

Against South West
11% higher0.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Cheltenham is 1.0%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
91.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

91.4% of residents in Cheltenham identified with a White ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 93.1%.

Against South West
2% lower93.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Cheltenham is 91.4%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
45.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

45.5% of residents in Cheltenham said they were Christian.

In South West the figure is 46.2%.

Against South West
2% lower46.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Cheltenham is 45.5%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
44.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.4% of residents in Cheltenham said they had no religion.

In South West the figure is 44.1%.

Against South West
1% higher44.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Cheltenham is 44.4%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
36.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

36.7% of working residents in Cheltenham worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South West the figure is 30.4%.

Against South West
21% higher30.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Cheltenham among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Cheltenham is 36.7%.

Annual population change

Council
0.0%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Cheltenham’s estimated population changed by 0.0% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.

Against South West
100% lower0.4%
Against the UK
100% lower0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Cheltenham among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Cheltenham is 0.0%.