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People and census in North West

Region

North west England. 7,772,854 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 14,167 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for North West, 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

There is no population figure for North West’s output areas yet.

What is the population of North West?

North West had 7,417,397 usual residents at the census.

North West is the 3rd most populated of 12 in the UK.

Population

Region
7,417,397
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

North West had 7,417,397 usual residents at the census.

North West is the 3rd most populated of 12 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: North West among every region12 areas from 1,903,175 to 9,278,065. The middle area is 5,590,980. North West is 7,417,397.

Population estimate

Region
7,772,854
ONS population estimates · 2025

North West’s population was an estimated 7,772,854 in mid-2025.

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

North West is 3rd most populated of 12 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: North West among every region12 areas from 1,928,446 to 9,691,844. The middle area is 5,789,582. North West is 7,772,854.

Aged 15 to 64

Region
63.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.7% of residents in North West were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In England the figure is 64.2%.

Against England
1% lower64.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: North West among every region12 areas from 61.8% to 70.0%. The middle area is 63.3%. North West is 63.7%.

Aged 65 and over

Region
18.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.7% of residents in North West were aged 65 or over at the census.

In England the figure is 18.4%.

Against England
2% higher18.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: North West among every region12 areas from 11.9% to 22.3%. The middle area is 19.5%. North West is 18.7%.

Aged under 15

Region
17.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.6% of residents in North West were aged under 15 at the census.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
1% higher17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: North West among every region12 areas from 15.3% to 19.2%. The middle area is 17.5%. North West is 17.6%.

Born outside the UK

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

11.7% of residents in North West were born outside the UK.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
33% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: North West among every region12 areas from 6.8% to 40.6%. The middle area is 11.6%. North West is 11.7%.

Disability

Region
19.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.4% of residents in North West had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In England the figure is 17.3%.

Against England
12% higher17.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: North West among every region12 areas from 13.2% to 24.3%. The middle area is 18.6%. North West is 19.4%.

Good or very good health

Region
80.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

80.4% of residents in North West said their health was good or very good.

In England the figure is 82.2%.

Against England
2% lower82.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: North West among every region12 areas from 78.0% to 85.4%. The middle area is 80.7%. North West is 80.4%.

Households

Region
3,153,404
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

North West had 3,153,404 households at the census.

North West is 3rd highest of 12 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: North West among every region12 areas from 768,811 to 3,807,966. The middle area is 2,439,187. North West is 3,153,404.

Households without a car or van

Region
24.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

24.7% of households in North West had no car or van at the census.

In England the figure is 23.5%.

Against England
5% higher23.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: North West among every region12 areas from 16.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 20.5%. North West is 24.7%.

Owner-occupied homes

Region
63.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.0% of households in North West owned their home at the census.

In England the figure is 62.3%.

Against England
1% higher62.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: North West among every region12 areas from 46.8% to 67.1%. The middle area is 64.4%. North West is 63.0%.

Population density

Region
524 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

North West had 524 people per square kilometre at the census.

In England the figure is 433 per km².

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

Against England
21% higher433 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: North West among every region12 areas from 69 per km² to 5,593 per km². The middle area is 322 per km². North West is 524 per km².

Private rented homes

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

19.2% of households in North West rented privately at the census.

In England the figure is 20.5%.

Against England
6% lower20.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: North West among every region12 areas from 12.9% to 30.0%. The middle area is 18.5%. North West is 19.2%.

Social rented homes

Region
17.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.6% of households in North West rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In England the figure is 17.1%.

Against England
3% higher17.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: North West among every region12 areas from 13.3% to 23.1%. The middle area is 16.9%. North West is 17.6%.

Degree-level qualifications

RegionEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
31.2%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.2% of residents aged 16 and over in North West had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In England the figure is 33.9%.

Against England
8% lower33.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: North West among every region11 areas from 28.6% to 46.7%. The middle area is 31.5%. North West is 31.2%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

RegionEngland and Wales only
8.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

8.4% of residents in North West identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In England the figure is 9.6%.

Against England
13% lower9.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: North West among every region10 areas from 2.8% to 20.7%. The middle area is 7.5%. North West is 8.4%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.3% of residents in North West identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In England the figure is 4.2%.

Against England
45% lower4.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: North West among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 13.5%. The middle area is 2.4%. North West is 2.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.2% of residents in North West identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In England the figure is 3.0%.

Against England
27% lower3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: North West among every region10 areas from 1.3% to 5.7%. The middle area is 2.3%. North West is 2.2%.

Other ethnic group

RegionEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in North West identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In England the figure is 2.2%.

Against England
32% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: North West among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 6.3%. The middle area is 1.4%. North West is 1.5%.

White ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
85.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

85.6% of residents in North West identified with a White ethnic group.

In England the figure is 81.0%.

Against England
6% higher81.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: North West among every region10 areas from 53.8% to 93.8%. The middle area is 86.0%. North West is 85.6%.

Christian

RegionEngland and Wales only
52.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

52.5% of residents in North West said they were Christian.

In England the figure is 46.3%.

Against England
13% higher46.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: North West among every region10 areas from 40.7% to 52.5%. The middle area is 46.4%. North West is 52.5%.

No religion

RegionEngland and Wales only
32.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

32.6% of residents in North West said they had no religion.

In England the figure is 36.7%.

Against England
11% lower36.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: North West among every region10 areas from 27.1% to 46.5%. The middle area is 40.0%. North West is 32.6%.

Working mainly from home

RegionEngland and Wales only
27.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

27.3% of working residents in North West worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In England the figure is 31.5%.

Against England
13% lower31.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: North West among every region10 areas from 24.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 26.6%. North West is 27.3%.

Annual population change

Region
0.7%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

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

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

Against England
1.8 times0.4%
Against the UK
2.3 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: North West among every region12 areas from −0.3% to 0.7%. The middle area is 0.4%. North West is 0.7%.