# People and census in County Durham The south west of the North East. 539,146 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 2,231 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for County Durham, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [North East](https://openindex.co.uk/north-east) ## What is the population of County Durham? County Durham had 522,068 usual residents at the census. County Durham is the 11th most populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population County Durham: **522,068** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. County Durham had 522,068 usual residents at the census. County Durham is the 11th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-population ## Population estimate County Durham: **539,146** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. County Durham’s population was an estimated 539,146 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. County Durham is 11th most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 County Durham: **62.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 62.9% of residents in County Durham were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In North East the figure is 63.0%. - Against North East: About the same (63.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over County Durham: **21.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 21.3% of residents in County Durham were aged 65 or over at the census. In North East the figure is 20.4%. - Against North East: 4% higher (20.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 County Durham: **15.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 15.8% of residents in County Durham were aged under 15 at the census. In North East the figure is 16.6%. - Against North East: 5% lower (16.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK County Durham: **4.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 4.4% of residents in County Durham were born outside the UK. In North East the figure is 6.8%. - Against North East: 35% lower (6.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability County Durham: **22.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 22.9% of residents in County Durham had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In North East the figure is 21.4%. - Against North East: 7% higher (21.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health County Durham: **76.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 76.9% of residents in County Durham said their health was good or very good. In North East the figure is 78.0%. - Against North East: 1% lower (78.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-good-health ## Households County Durham: **234,761** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. County Durham had 234,761 households at the census. County Durham is 8th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van County Durham: **24.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 24.1% of households in County Durham had no car or van at the census. In North East the figure is 27.6%. - Against North East: 13% lower (27.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes County Durham: **62.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 62.8% of households in County Durham owned their home at the census. In North East the figure is 60.7%. - Against North East: 3% higher (60.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density County Durham: **234 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. County Durham had 234 people per square kilometre at the census. In North East the figure is 308 per km². - Against North East: 24% lower (308 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes County Durham: **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 households in County Durham rented privately at the census. In North East the figure is 17.2%. - Against North East: 1% lower (17.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes County Durham: **20.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.0% of households in County Durham rented from a council or housing association at the census. In North East the figure is 22.0%. - Against North East: 9% lower (22.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications County Durham: **26.7%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 26.7% of residents aged 16 and over in County Durham had a degree-level qualification at the census. In North East the figure is 28.6%. - Against North East: 7% lower (28.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh County Durham: **1.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.5% of residents in County Durham identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In North East the figure is 3.7%. - Against North East: 59% lower (3.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African County Durham: **0.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.3% of residents in County Durham identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In North East the figure is 1.0%. - Against North East: 70% lower (1.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups County Durham: **0.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.9% of residents in County Durham identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In North East the figure is 1.3%. - Against North East: 31% lower (1.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group County Durham: **0.4%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.4% of residents in County Durham identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In North East the figure is 1.0%. - Against North East: 60% lower (1.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups County Durham: **96.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 96.8% of residents in County Durham identified with a White ethnic group. In North East the figure is 93.0%. - Against North East: 4% higher (93.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian County Durham: **54.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 54.6% of residents in County Durham said they were Christian. In North East the figure is 50.8%. - Against North East: 7% higher (50.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion County Durham: **38.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 38.6% of residents in County Durham said they had no religion. In North East the figure is 40.0%. - Against North East: 4% lower (40.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home County Durham: **23.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 23.9% of working residents in County Durham worked mainly from home in March 2021. In North East the figure is 24.8%. - Against North East: 4% lower (24.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change County Durham: **0.4%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. County Durham’s estimated population changed by 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. - Against North East: 20% lower (0.5%) - Against the UK: 33% higher (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E06000047) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E06000047/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/county-durham/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/county-durham/people