# People and census in Dorset The south east of the South West. 391,036 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 2,491 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for Dorset, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [South West](https://openindex.co.uk/south-west) ## What is the population of Dorset? Dorset had 379,579 usual residents at the census. Dorset is the 22nd most populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Dorset: **379,579** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Dorset had 379,579 usual residents at the census. Dorset is the 22nd most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-population ## Population estimate Dorset: **391,036** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Dorset’s population was an estimated 391,036 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. Dorset is 22nd most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Dorset: **56.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 56.3% of residents in Dorset were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In South West the figure is 61.8%. - Against South West: 9% lower (61.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Dorset: **29.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 29.6% of residents in Dorset were aged 65 or over at the census. In South West the figure is 22.3%. - Against South West: 33% higher (22.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Dorset: **14.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 14.1% of residents in Dorset were aged under 15 at the census. In South West the figure is 15.9%. - Against South West: 11% lower (15.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Dorset: **6.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 6.5% of residents in Dorset were born outside the UK. In South West the figure is 10.2%. - Against South West: 36% lower (10.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Dorset: **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 residents in Dorset 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: 6% higher (18.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Dorset: **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 Dorset said their health was good or very good. In South West the figure is 81.8%. - Against South West: 1% lower (81.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-good-health ## Households Dorset: **169,261** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Dorset had 169,261 households at the census. Dorset is 21st highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Dorset: **13.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 13.7% of households in Dorset had no car or van at the census. In South West the figure is 16.8%. - Against South West: 18% lower (16.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Dorset: **71.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 71.4% of households in Dorset owned their home at the census. In South West the figure is 67.0%. - Against South West: 7% higher (67.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Dorset: **152 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. Dorset had 152 people per square kilometre at the census. In South West the figure is 239 per km². - Against South West: 36% lower (239 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Dorset: **16.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 16.3% of households in Dorset rented privately at the census. In South West the figure is 19.7%. - Against South West: 17% lower (19.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Dorset: **12.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 12.3% of households in Dorset rented from a council or housing association at the census. In South West the figure is 13.3%. - Against South West: 8% lower (13.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Dorset: **31.5%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 31.5% of residents aged 16 and over in Dorset had a degree-level qualification at the census. In South West the figure is 33.1%. - Against South West: 5% lower (33.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Dorset: **1.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.1% of residents in Dorset identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In South West the figure is 2.8%. - Against South West: 61% lower (2.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Dorset: **0.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.3% of residents in Dorset identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In South West the figure is 1.2%. - Against South West: 75% lower (1.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Dorset: **1.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.2% of residents in Dorset identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In South West the figure is 2.0%. - Against South West: 40% lower (2.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Dorset: **0.4%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.4% of residents in Dorset identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In South West the figure is 0.9%. - Against South West: 56% lower (0.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Dorset: **97.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 97.1% of residents in Dorset identified with a White ethnic group. In South West the figure is 93.1%. - Against South West: 4% higher (93.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Dorset: **51.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 51.6% of residents in Dorset said they were Christian. In South West the figure is 46.2%. - Against South West: 12% higher (46.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Dorset: **40.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 40.1% of residents in Dorset said they had no religion. In South West the figure is 44.1%. - Against South West: 9% lower (44.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Dorset: **28.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 28.2% of working residents in Dorset worked mainly from home in March 2021. In South West the figure is 30.4%. - Against South West: 7% lower (30.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Dorset: **0.4%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Dorset’s estimated population changed by 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. - Against South West: About the same (0.4%) - Against the UK: 33% higher (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E06000059) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/south-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E06000059/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/dorset/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/dorset/people