People and census in Derby
Unitary authorityThe west of the East Midlands. 275,344 people in 78 square kilometres.
24 layers about people and census for Derby, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.
Population by output area
Census 2021, England and Wales
Derby’s 799 output areas range from 104 to 624.
What is the population of Derby?
Derby had 261,364 usual residents at the census.
Derby is the 77th most populated of 361 in the UK.
Population
CouncilDerby had 261,364 usual residents at the census.
Derby is the 77th most populated of 361 in the UK.
Population estimate
CouncilDerby’s population was an estimated 275,344 in mid-2025.
The population rose 0.6% in the year to mid-2025.
Derby is 73rd most populated of 361 for population.
Aged 15 to 64
Council64.8% of residents in Derby were aged 15 to 64 at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 63.6%.
- Against East Midlands
- 2% higher63.6%
Aged 65 and over
Council16.4% of residents in Derby were aged 65 or over at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 19.5%.
- Against East Midlands
- 16% lower19.5%
Aged under 15
Council18.8% of residents in Derby were aged under 15 at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 16.9%.
- Against East Midlands
- 11% higher16.9%
Born outside the UK
Council19.6% of residents in Derby were born outside the UK.
In East Midlands the figure is 13.7%.
- Against East Midlands
- 43% higher13.7%
Disability
Council18.8% of residents in Derby had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.
In East Midlands the figure is 18.3%.
- Against East Midlands
- 3% higher18.3%
Good or very good health
Council80.5% of residents in Derby said their health was good or very good.
In East Midlands the figure is 81.1%.
- Against East Midlands
- 1% lower81.1%
Households
CouncilDerby had 105,652 households at the census.
Derby is 77th highest of 361 for the number of households.
Households without a car or van
Council26.0% of households in Derby had no car or van at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 19.1%.
- Against East Midlands
- 36% higher19.1%
Owner-occupied homes
Council59.8% of households in Derby owned their home at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 66.3%.
- Against East Midlands
- 10% lower66.3%
Population density
CouncilDerby had 3,350 people per square kilometre at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 312 per km².
Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.
- Against East Midlands
- 11 times312 per km²
Private rented homes
Council21.3% of households in Derby rented privately at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 18.7%.
- Against East Midlands
- 14% higher18.7%
Social rented homes
Council18.8% of households in Derby rented from a council or housing association at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 14.9%.
- Against East Midlands
- 26% higher14.9%
Degree-level qualifications
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only29.7% of residents aged 16 and over in Derby had a degree-level qualification at the census.
In East Midlands the figure is 29.1%.
- Against East Midlands
- 2% higher29.1%
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh
CouncilEngland and Wales only15.6% of residents in Derby identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.
In East Midlands the figure is 8.0%.
- Against East Midlands
- twice8.0%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African
CouncilEngland and Wales only4.0% of residents in Derby identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.
In East Midlands the figure is 2.7%.
- Against East Midlands
- 48% higher2.7%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups
CouncilEngland and Wales only3.7% of residents in Derby identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.
In East Midlands the figure is 2.4%.
- Against East Midlands
- 1.5 times2.4%
Other ethnic group
CouncilEngland and Wales only2.9% of residents in Derby identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.
In East Midlands the figure is 1.3%.
- Against East Midlands
- 2.2 times1.3%
White ethnic groups
CouncilEngland and Wales only73.8% of residents in Derby identified with a White ethnic group.
In East Midlands the figure is 85.7%.
- Against East Midlands
- 14% lower85.7%
Christian
CouncilEngland and Wales only40.2% of residents in Derby said they were Christian.
In East Midlands the figure is 45.4%.
- Against East Midlands
- 11% lower45.4%
No religion
CouncilEngland and Wales only36.6% of residents in Derby said they had no religion.
In East Midlands the figure is 40.0%.
- Against East Midlands
- 9% lower40.0%
Working mainly from home
CouncilEngland and Wales only23.5% of working residents in Derby worked mainly from home in March 2021.
In East Midlands the figure is 25.8%.
- Against East Midlands
- 9% lower25.8%
Annual population change
CouncilDerby’s estimated population changed by 0.6% in the year to mid-2025.
Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.
- Against East Midlands
- 20% higher0.5%
- Against the UK
- twice0.3%