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People and census in Oldham

Metropolitan borough

The east of the North West. 251,915 people in 142 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Oldham, 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

Oldham’s 737 output areas range from 106 to 620.

What is the population of Oldham?

Oldham had 242,088 usual residents at the census.

Oldham is the 85th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
242,088
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Oldham had 242,088 usual residents at the census.

Oldham is the 85th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Oldham among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Oldham is 242,088.

Population estimate

Council
251,915
ONS population estimates · 2025

Oldham’s population was an estimated 251,915 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Oldham is 84th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Oldham among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Oldham is 251,915.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
62.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

62.8% of residents in Oldham were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
1% lower63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Oldham among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Oldham is 62.8%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
16.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.0% of residents in Oldham were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
14% lower18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Oldham among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Oldham is 16.0%.

Aged under 15

Council
21.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.3% of residents in Oldham were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
21% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Oldham among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Oldham is 21.3%.

Born outside the UK

Council
16.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.6% of residents in Oldham were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
42% higher11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Oldham among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Oldham is 16.6%.

Disability

Council
18.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.3% of residents in Oldham had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In North West the figure is 19.4%.

Against North West
6% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Oldham among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Oldham is 18.3%.

Good or very good health

Council
79.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

79.8% of residents in Oldham said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
1% lower80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Oldham among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Oldham is 79.8%.

Households

Council
93,140
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Oldham had 93,140 households at the census.

Oldham is 96th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Oldham among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Oldham is 93,140.

Households without a car or van

Council
27.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

27.6% of households in Oldham had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
12% higher24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Oldham among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Oldham is 27.6%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
60.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

60.8% of households in Oldham owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
3% lower63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Oldham among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Oldham is 60.8%.

Population density

Council
1,701 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Oldham had 1,701 people per square kilometre at the census.

In North West the figure is 524 per km².

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

Against North West
3.2 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Oldham among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Oldham is 1,701 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
17.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.7% of households in Oldham rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
8% lower19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Oldham among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Oldham is 17.7%.

Social rented homes

Council
21.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.2% of households in Oldham rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
20% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Oldham among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Oldham is 21.2%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
24.6%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

24.6% of residents aged 16 and over in Oldham had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
21% lower31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Oldham among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Oldham is 24.6%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
24.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

24.6% of residents in Oldham identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
2.9 times8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Oldham among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Oldham is 24.6%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.4% of residents in Oldham identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
48% higher2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Oldham among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Oldham is 3.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
14% higher2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Oldham among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Oldham is 2.5%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

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

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
68.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

68.1% of residents in Oldham identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
20% lower85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Oldham among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Oldham is 68.1%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
44.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.9% of residents in Oldham said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
14% lower52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Oldham among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Oldham is 44.9%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
25.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

25.0% of residents in Oldham said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
23% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Oldham among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Oldham is 25.0%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
21.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

21.3% of working residents in Oldham worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
22% lower27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Oldham among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Oldham is 21.3%.

Annual population change

Council
0.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Oldham’s estimated population changed by 0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North West
29% lower0.7%
Against the UK
1.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Oldham among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Oldham is 0.5%.