People and census in Lewes

Lewes had 99,905 usual residents at the census.

Lewes is the 75th least populated of 361 in the UK.

Lewes’s population was an estimated 102,648 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.3% in the year to mid-2025.

Lewes is 70th least populated of 361 for population.

57.9% of residents in Lewes were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South East the figure is 63.1%.

26.5% of residents in Lewes were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.4%.

15.6% of residents in Lewes were aged under 15 at the census.

In South East the figure is 17.4%.

8.9% of residents in Lewes were born outside the UK.

In South East the figure is 15.8%.

20.4% of residents in Lewes had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South East the figure is 16.1%.

80.3% of residents in Lewes said their health was good or very good.

In South East the figure is 84.0%.

Lewes had 43,688 households at the census.

Lewes is 82nd lowest of 361 for the number of households.

18.8% of households in Lewes had no car or van at the census.

In South East the figure is 16.9%.

72.1% of households in Lewes owned their home at the census.

In South East the figure is 67.1%.

Lewes had 342 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South East the figure is 486 per km².

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

16.9% of households in Lewes rented privately at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.2%.

10.9% of households in Lewes rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South East the figure is 13.6%.

34.8% of residents aged 16 and over in Lewes had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

1.9% of residents in Lewes identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 7.0%.

0.7% of residents in Lewes identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.4%.

2.5% of residents in Lewes identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.8%.

0.7% of residents in Lewes identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South East the figure is 1.5%.

94.2% of residents in Lewes identified with a White ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 86.3%.

42.7% of residents in Lewes said they were Christian.

In South East the figure is 46.5%.

48.2% of residents in Lewes said they had no religion.

In South East the figure is 40.2%.

35.3% of working residents in Lewes worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Lewes’s estimated population changed by 0.3% in the year to mid-2025.

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