Compare

People and census in Luton

Unitary authority

The west of the East of England. 236,380 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 43 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Luton, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

Luton’s 621 output areas range from 126 to 872.

What is the population of Luton?

Luton had 225,262 usual residents at the census.

Luton is the 93rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
225,262
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Luton had 225,262 usual residents at the census.

Luton is the 93rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Luton among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Luton is 225,262.

Population estimate

Council
236,380
ONS population estimates · 2025

Luton’s population was an estimated 236,380 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.7% in the year to mid-2025.

Luton is 94th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Luton among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Luton is 236,380.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
66.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

66.3% of residents in Luton were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In East of England the figure is 62.8%.

Against East of England
6% higher62.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Luton among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Luton is 66.3%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
11.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

11.7% of residents in Luton were aged 65 or over at the census.

In East of England the figure is 19.6%.

Against East of England
40% lower19.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Luton among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Luton is 11.7%.

Aged under 15

Council
21.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.9% of residents in Luton were aged under 15 at the census.

In East of England the figure is 17.6%.

Against East of England
24% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Luton among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Luton is 21.9%.

Born outside the UK

Council
38.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

38.4% of residents in Luton were born outside the UK.

In East of England the figure is 14.9%.

Against East of England
2.6 times14.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Luton among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Luton is 38.4%.

Disability

Council
13.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.7% of residents in Luton had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In East of England the figure is 16.6%.

Against East of England
17% lower16.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Luton among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Luton is 13.7%.

Good or very good health

Council
83.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

83.2% of residents in Luton said their health was good or very good.

In East of England the figure is 82.9%.

Against East of England
About the same82.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Luton among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Luton is 83.2%.

Households

Council
78,940
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Luton had 78,940 households at the census.

Luton is 121st highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Luton among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Luton is 78,940.

Households without a car or van

Council
25.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.0% of households in Luton had no car or van at the census.

In East of England the figure is 16.8%.

Against East of England
49% higher16.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Luton among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Luton is 25.0%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
54.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

54.5% of households in Luton owned their home at the census.

In East of England the figure is 66.2%.

Against East of England
18% lower66.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Luton among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Luton is 54.5%.

Population density

Council
5,196 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Luton had 5,196 people per square kilometre at the census.

In East of England the figure is 331 per km².

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

Against East of England
16 times331 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Luton among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Luton is 5,196 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
29.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.0% of households in Luton rented privately at the census.

In East of England the figure is 18.2%.

Against East of England
1.6 times18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Luton among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Luton is 29.0%.

Social rented homes

Council
16.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.4% of households in Luton rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In East of England the figure is 15.5%.

Against East of England
6% higher15.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Luton among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Luton is 16.4%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
29.8%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.8% of residents aged 16 and over in Luton had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In East of England the figure is 31.6%.

Against East of England
6% lower31.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Luton among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Luton is 29.8%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
37.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

37.0% of residents in Luton identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 6.4%.

Against East of England
5.8 times6.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Luton among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Luton is 37.0%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
10.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

10.1% of residents in Luton identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 2.9%.

Against East of England
3.5 times2.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Luton among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Luton is 10.1%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.3% of residents in Luton identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 2.8%.

Against East of England
1.5 times2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Luton among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Luton is 4.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.5% of residents in Luton identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In East of England the figure is 1.4%.

Against East of England
2.5 times1.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Luton among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Luton is 3.5%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
45.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

45.2% of residents in Luton identified with a White ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 86.5%.

Against East of England
48% lower86.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Luton among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Luton is 45.2%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
37.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

37.9% of residents in Luton said they were Christian.

In East of England the figure is 46.6%.

Against East of England
19% lower46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Luton among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Luton is 37.9%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
17.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

17.6% of residents in Luton said they had no religion.

In East of England the figure is 40.2%.

Against East of England
56% lower40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Luton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Luton is 17.6%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
21.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

21.5% of working residents in Luton worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In East of England the figure is 31.9%.

Against East of England
33% lower31.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Luton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Luton is 21.5%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.7%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Luton’s estimated population changed by −0.7% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Luton among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Luton is −0.7%.