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People and census in Knowsley

Metropolitan borough

The south west of the North West. 163,723 people in 87 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Knowsley, 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

Knowsley’s 507 output areas range from 105 to 613.

What is the population of Knowsley?

Knowsley had 154,519 usual residents at the census.

Knowsley is the 157th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
154,519
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Knowsley had 154,519 usual residents at the census.

Knowsley is the 157th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Knowsley is 154,519.

Population estimate

Council
163,723
ONS population estimates · 2025

Knowsley’s population was an estimated 163,723 in mid-2025.

The population rose 1.2% in the year to mid-2025.

Knowsley is 153rd most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Knowsley is 163,723.

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 Knowsley were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
1% higher63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Knowsley is 64.6%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
17.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.0% of residents in Knowsley were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
9% lower18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Knowsley is 17.0%.

Aged under 15

Council
18.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.4% of residents in Knowsley were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
5% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Knowsley is 18.4%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.2% of residents in Knowsley were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
56% lower11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Knowsley is 5.2%.

Disability

Council
22.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.6% of residents in Knowsley had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In North West the figure is 19.4%.

Against North West
16% higher19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Knowsley is 22.6%.

Good or very good health

Council
77.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

77.4% of residents in Knowsley said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
4% lower80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Knowsley is 77.4%.

Households

Council
66,073
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Knowsley had 66,073 households at the census.

Knowsley is 156th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Knowsley is 66,073.

Households without a car or van

Council
31.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.2% of households in Knowsley had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
26% higher24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Knowsley is 31.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
60.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

60.3% of households in Knowsley owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
4% lower63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Knowsley is 60.3%.

Population density

Council
1,786 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Knowsley had 1,786 people per square kilometre at the census.

In North West the figure is 524 per km².

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

Against North West
3.4 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Knowsley is 1,786 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
14.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.3% of households in Knowsley rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
26% lower19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Knowsley is 14.3%.

Social rented homes

Council
25.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.3% of households in Knowsley rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
44% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Knowsley among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Knowsley is 25.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
23.8%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.8% of residents aged 16 and over in Knowsley had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
24% lower31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Knowsley among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Knowsley is 23.8%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.6% of residents in Knowsley identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
81% lower8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Knowsley is 1.6%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.8% of residents in Knowsley identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
65% lower2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Knowsley is 0.8%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.7% of residents in Knowsley identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
23% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Knowsley is 1.7%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.6% of residents in Knowsley identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
60% lower1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Knowsley is 0.6%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
95.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

95.3% of residents in Knowsley identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
11% higher85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Knowsley is 95.3%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
66.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

66.6% of residents in Knowsley said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
27% higher52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Knowsley is 66.6%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
27.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

27.2% of residents in Knowsley said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
17% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Knowsley is 27.2%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
21.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

21.4% of working residents in Knowsley worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
22% lower27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Knowsley among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Knowsley is 21.4%.

Annual population change

Council
1.2%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Knowsley’s estimated population changed by 1.2% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North West
1.7 times0.7%
Against the UK
4 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Knowsley among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Knowsley is 1.2%.