# People and census in Preston The north of the North West. 164,498 people (mid-2025 estimate) 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. In: [North West](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west) ## 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 Preston: **147,835** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Preston had 147,835 usual residents at the census. Preston is the 174th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-population ## Population estimate Preston: **164,498** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. 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. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Preston: **66.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (63.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Preston: **14.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (18.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Preston: **18.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Preston: **19.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.3% of residents in Preston were born outside the UK. In North West the figure is 11.7%. - Against North West: 1.6 times (11.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Preston: **18.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (19.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Preston: **81.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (80.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-good-health ## Households Preston: **59,607** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Preston had 59,607 households at the census. Preston is 171st lowest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Preston: **27.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (24.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Preston: **59.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 59.1% of households in Preston owned their home at the census. In North West the figure is 63.0%. - Against North West: 6% lower (63.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Preston: **1,039 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Preston had 1,039 people per square kilometre at the census. In North West the figure is 524 per km². - Against North West: twice (524 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Preston: **22.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 22.4% of households in Preston rented privately at the census. In North West the figure is 19.2%. - Against North West: 17% higher (19.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Preston: **18.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Preston: **31.7%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (31.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Preston: **20.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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 times (8.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Preston: **2.4%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (2.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Preston: **3.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (2.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Preston: **1.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (1.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Preston: **72.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 72.6% of residents in Preston identified with a White ethnic group. In North West the figure is 85.6%. - Against North West: 15% lower (85.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Preston: **47.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 47.6% of residents in Preston said they were Christian. In North West the figure is 52.5%. - Against North West: 9% lower (52.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Preston: **26.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 26.3% of residents in Preston said they had no religion. In North West the figure is 32.6%. - Against North West: 19% lower (32.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Preston: **24.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (27.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E07000123) · [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/preston/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Preston: **1.8%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Preston’s estimated population changed by 1.8% in the year to mid-2025. - Against North West: 2.6 times (0.7%) - Against the UK: 6 times (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E07000123) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/preston) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/preston/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E07000123/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/preston/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 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/preston/people