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People and census in Medway

Unitary authority

The east of the South East. 292,697 people in 194 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Medway, 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

Medway’s 853 output areas range from 111 to 973.

What is the population of Medway?

Medway had 279,773 usual residents at the census.

Medway is the 63rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
279,773
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Medway had 279,773 usual residents at the census.

Medway is the 63rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Medway among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Medway is 279,773.

Population estimate

Council
292,697
ONS population estimates · 2025

Medway’s population was an estimated 292,697 in mid-2025.

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

Medway is 64th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Medway among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Medway is 292,697.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
64.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.4% of residents in Medway were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South East the figure is 63.1%.

Against South East
2% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Medway among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Medway is 64.4%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
16.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.5% of residents in Medway were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.4%.

Against South East
15% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Medway among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Medway is 16.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
19.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.2% of residents in Medway were aged under 15 at the census.

In South East the figure is 17.4%.

Against South East
10% higher17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Medway among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Medway is 19.2%.

Born outside the UK

Council
13.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.8% of residents in Medway were born outside the UK.

In South East the figure is 15.8%.

Against South East
13% lower15.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Medway among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Medway is 13.8%.

Disability

Council
17.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.4% of residents in Medway 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
8% higher16.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Medway among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Medway is 17.4%.

Good or very good health

Council
82.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

82.1% of residents in Medway said their health was good or very good.

In South East the figure is 84.0%.

Against South East
2% lower84.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Medway among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Medway is 82.1%.

Households

Council
111,458
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Medway had 111,458 households at the census.

Medway is 70th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Medway among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Medway is 111,458.

Households without a car or van

Council
19.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.2% of households in Medway had no car or van at the census.

In South East the figure is 16.9%.

Against South East
14% higher16.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Medway among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Medway is 19.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
66.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

66.2% of households in Medway owned their home at the census.

In South East the figure is 67.1%.

Against South East
1% lower67.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Medway among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Medway is 66.2%.

Population density

Council
1,444 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Medway had 1,444 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.

Against South East
3 times486 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Medway among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Medway is 1,444 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
20.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.2% of households in Medway rented privately at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.2%.

Against South East
5% higher19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Medway among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Medway is 20.2%.

Social rented homes

Council
13.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.6% of households in Medway rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South East the figure is 13.6%.

Against South East
About the same13.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Medway among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Medway is 13.6%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
25.6%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.6% of residents aged 16 and over in Medway had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
28% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Medway among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Medway is 25.6%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.9% of residents in Medway identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 7.0%.

Against South East
16% lower7.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Medway among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Medway is 5.9%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.6% of residents in Medway identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.4%.

Against South East
2.3 times2.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Medway among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Medway is 5.6%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.8% of residents in Medway identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.8%.

Against South East
About the same2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Medway among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Medway is 2.8%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.4% of residents in Medway identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South East the figure is 1.5%.

Against South East
7% lower1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Medway among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Medway is 1.4%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
84.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

84.3% of residents in Medway identified with a White ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 86.3%.

Against South East
2% lower86.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Medway among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Medway is 84.3%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
45.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

45.1% of residents in Medway said they were Christian.

In South East the figure is 46.5%.

Against South East
3% lower46.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Medway among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Medway is 45.1%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
43.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

43.0% of residents in Medway said they had no religion.

In South East the figure is 40.2%.

Against South East
7% higher40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Medway among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Medway is 43.0%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.0% of working residents in Medway worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
27% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Medway among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Medway is 26.0%.

Annual population change

Council
0.3%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

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

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

Against South East
50% lower0.6%
Against the UK
About the same0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Medway among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Medway is 0.3%.