# People and census in North West 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. In: [England](https://openindex.co.uk/england) ## 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 North West: **7,417,397** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. North West had 7,417,397 usual residents at the census. North West is the 3rd most populated of 12 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-population ## Population estimate North West: **7,772,854** (2025, region level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. 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. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 North West: **63.7%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (64.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over North West: **18.7%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (18.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 North West: **17.6%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.6% of residents in North West were aged under 15 at the census. In England the figure is 17.4%. - Against England: 1% higher (17.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK North West: **11.7%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 11.7% of residents in North West were born outside the UK. In England the figure is 17.4%. - Against England: 33% lower (17.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability North West: **19.4%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health North West: **80.4%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (82.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-good-health ## Households North West: **3,153,404** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. North West had 3,153,404 households at the census. North West is 3rd highest of 12 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van North West: **24.7%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (23.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes North West: **63.0%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 63.0% of households in North West owned their home at the census. In England the figure is 62.3%. - Against England: 1% higher (62.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density North West: **524 per km²** (2021, region level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. North West had 524 people per square kilometre at the census. In England the figure is 433 per km². - Against England: 21% higher (433 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes North West: **19.2%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.2% of households in North West rented privately at the census. In England the figure is 20.5%. - Against England: 6% lower (20.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes North West: **17.6%** (2021, region level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications North West: **31.2%** (2021, region level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (33.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh North West: **8.4%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (9.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African North West: **2.3%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (4.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups North West: **2.2%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (3.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group North West: **1.5%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 1.5% of residents in North West identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In England the figure is 2.2%. - Against England: 32% lower (2.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups North West: **85.6%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 85.6% of residents in North West identified with a White ethnic group. In England the figure is 81.0%. - Against England: 6% higher (81.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian North West: **52.5%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 52.5% of residents in North West said they were Christian. In England the figure is 46.3%. - Against England: 13% higher (46.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion North West: **32.6%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 32.6% of residents in North West said they had no religion. In England the figure is 36.7%. - Against England: 11% lower (36.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home North West: **27.3%** (2021, region level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (31.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change North West: **0.7%** (2025, region level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. North West’s estimated population changed by 0.7% in the year to mid-2025. - Against England: 1.8 times (0.4%) - Against the UK: 2.3 times (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E12000002) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/council-tax) (9) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E12000002/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.8, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23508850. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/north-west/people