# People and census in Isle of Wight The south west of the South East. 140,777 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 380 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for Isle of Wight, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [South East](https://openindex.co.uk/south-east) ## What is the population of Isle of Wight? Isle of Wight’s population was an estimated 140,777 in mid-2025. The population fell 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. Isle of Wight is 161st least populated of 361 for population. ## Population estimate Isle of Wight: **140,777** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Isle of Wight’s population was an estimated 140,777 in mid-2025. The population fell 0.4% in the year to mid-2025. Isle of Wight is 161st least populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-population-estimate ## Population Isle of Wight: **140,459** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Isle of Wight had 140,459 usual residents at the census. Isle of Wight is the 168th least populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-population ## Aged 15 to 64 Isle of Wight: **56.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 56.9% of residents in Isle of Wight were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In South East the figure is 63.1%. - Against South East: 10% lower (63.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Isle of Wight: **29.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 29.2% of residents in Isle of Wight were aged 65 or over at the census. In South East the figure is 19.4%. - Against South East: 1.5 times (19.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Isle of Wight: **13.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 13.9% of residents in Isle of Wight were aged under 15 at the census. In South East the figure is 17.4%. - Against South East: 20% lower (17.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Isle of Wight: **6.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 6.1% of residents in Isle of Wight were born outside the UK. In South East the figure is 15.8%. - Against South East: 61% lower (15.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Isle of Wight: **23.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 23.3% of residents in Isle of Wight had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In South East the figure is 16.1%. - Against South East: 45% higher (16.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Isle of Wight: **76.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 76.8% of residents in Isle of Wight said their health was good or very good. In South East the figure is 84.0%. - Against South East: 9% lower (84.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-good-health ## Households Isle of Wight: **64,775** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Isle of Wight had 64,775 households at the census. Isle of Wight is 162nd highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Isle of Wight: **20.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.8% of households in Isle of Wight had no car or van at the census. In South East the figure is 16.9%. - Against South East: 23% higher (16.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Isle of Wight: **68.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 68.4% of households in Isle of Wight owned their home at the census. In South East the figure is 67.1%. - Against South East: 2% higher (67.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Isle of Wight: **370 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. Isle of Wight had 370 people per square kilometre at the census. In South East the figure is 486 per km². - Against South East: 24% lower (486 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Isle of Wight: **20.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 20.7% of households in Isle of Wight rented privately at the census. In South East the figure is 19.2%. - Against South East: 8% higher (19.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Isle of Wight: **10.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 10.9% of households in Isle of Wight rented from a council or housing association at the census. In South East the figure is 13.6%. - Against South East: 20% lower (13.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Isle of Wight: **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 Isle of Wight had a degree-level qualification at the census. In South East the figure is 35.8%. - Against South East: 23% lower (35.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Isle of Wight: **1.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.2% of residents in Isle of Wight identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In South East the figure is 7.0%. - Against South East: 83% lower (7.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Isle of Wight: **0.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.3% of residents in Isle of Wight identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In South East the figure is 2.4%. - Against South East: 88% lower (2.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Isle of Wight: **1.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.2% of residents in Isle of Wight identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In South East the figure is 2.8%. - Against South East: 57% lower (2.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Isle of Wight: **0.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 0.3% of residents in Isle of Wight identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In South East the figure is 1.5%. - Against South East: 80% lower (1.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Isle of Wight: **97.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 97.0% of residents in Isle of Wight identified with a White ethnic group. In South East the figure is 86.3%. - Against South East: 12% higher (86.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Isle of Wight: **47.7%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 47.7% of residents in Isle of Wight said they were Christian. In South East the figure is 46.5%. - Against South East: 3% higher (46.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Isle of Wight: **43.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 43.9% of residents in Isle of Wight said they had no religion. In South East the figure is 40.2%. - Against South East: 9% higher (40.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Isle of Wight: **22.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 22.3% of working residents in Isle of Wight worked mainly from home in March 2021. In South East the figure is 35.8%. - Against South East: 38% lower (35.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Isle of Wight: **−0.4%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Isle of Wight’s estimated population changed by −0.4% in the year to mid-2025. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change#place=E06000046) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E06000046/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people#l-population-estimate. 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 2026.10.11. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/isle-of-wight/people