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People and census in Preston

District

The north of the North West. 164,498 people in 142 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Preston, 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

Preston’s 458 output areas range from 108 to 929.

What is the population of Preston?

Preston had 147,835 usual residents at the census.

Preston is the 174th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
147,835
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Preston had 147,835 usual residents at the census.

Preston is the 174th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Preston among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Preston is 147,835.

Population estimate

Council
164,498
ONS population estimates · 2025

Preston’s population was an estimated 164,498 in mid-2025.

The population rose 1.8% in the year to mid-2025.

Preston is 151st most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Preston among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Preston is 164,498.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
66.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

66.7% of residents in Preston were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
5% higher63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Preston among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Preston is 66.7%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
14.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.7% of residents in Preston were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
21% lower18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Preston among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Preston is 14.7%.

Aged under 15

Council
18.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.5% of residents in Preston were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
5% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Preston among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Preston is 18.5%.

Born outside the UK

Council
19.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.3% of residents in Preston were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
1.6 times11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Preston among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Preston is 19.3%.

Disability

Council
18.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.2% of residents in Preston 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: Preston among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Preston is 18.2%.

Good or very good health

Council
81.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.5% of residents in Preston said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
1% higher80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Preston among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Preston is 81.5%.

Households

Council
59,607
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Preston had 59,607 households at the census.

Preston is 171st lowest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Preston among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Preston is 59,607.

Households without a car or van

Council
27.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

27.7% of households in Preston 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: Preston among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Preston is 27.7%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
59.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

59.1% of households in Preston owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
6% lower63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Preston among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Preston is 59.1%.

Population density

Council
1,039 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Preston had 1,039 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
twice524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Preston among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Preston is 1,039 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
22.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.4% of households in Preston rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
17% higher19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Preston among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Preston is 22.4%.

Social rented homes

Council
18.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.4% of households in Preston rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
5% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Preston among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Preston is 18.4%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
31.7%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.7% of residents aged 16 and over in Preston had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
2% higher31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Preston among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Preston is 31.7%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
20.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

20.2% of residents in Preston identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
2.4 times8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Preston among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Preston is 20.2%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.4% of residents in Preston identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
4% higher2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Preston among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Preston is 2.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.0% of residents in Preston identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
36% higher2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Preston among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Preston is 3.0%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.9% of residents in Preston identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
27% higher1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Preston among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Preston is 1.9%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
72.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

72.6% of residents in Preston identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
15% lower85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Preston among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Preston is 72.6%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
47.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

47.6% of residents in Preston said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
9% lower52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Preston among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Preston is 47.6%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.3% of residents in Preston said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
19% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Preston among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Preston is 26.3%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
24.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

24.9% of working residents in Preston worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
9% lower27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Preston among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Preston is 24.9%.

Annual population change

Council
1.8%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Preston’s estimated population changed by 1.8% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North West
2.6 times0.7%
Against the UK
6 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Preston among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Preston is 1.8%.