# People and census in Reading The north west of the South East. 183,762 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 40 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for Reading, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [South East](https://openindex.co.uk/south-east) ## What is the population of Reading? Reading’s population was an estimated 183,762 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.5% in the year to mid-2025. Reading is 134th most populated of 361 for population. ## Population estimate Reading: **183,762** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Reading’s population was an estimated 183,762 in mid-2025. The population rose 0.5% in the year to mid-2025. Reading is 134th most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-population-estimate ## Population Reading: **174,224** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Reading had 174,224 usual residents at the census. Reading is the 138th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-population ## Aged 15 to 64 Reading: **70.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 70.2% of residents in Reading were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In South East the figure is 63.1%. - Against South East: 11% higher (63.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Reading: **12.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 12.0% of residents in Reading were aged 65 or over at the census. In South East the figure is 19.4%. - Against South East: 38% lower (19.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Reading: **17.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 17.8% of residents in Reading were aged under 15 at the census. In South East the figure is 17.4%. - Against South East: 2% higher (17.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Reading: **33.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 33.5% of residents in Reading were born outside the UK. In South East the figure is 15.8%. - Against South East: 2.1 times (15.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Reading: **13.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 13.8% of residents in Reading had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In South East the figure is 16.1%. - Against South East: 14% lower (16.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Reading: **85.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 85.6% of residents in Reading said their health was good or very good. In South East the figure is 84.0%. - Against South East: 2% higher (84.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-good-health ## Households Reading: **67,683** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Reading had 67,683 households at the census. Reading is 147th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Reading: **28.4%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 28.4% of households in Reading had no car or van at the census. In South East the figure is 16.9%. - Against South East: 1.7 times (16.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Reading: **51.7%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 51.7% of households in Reading owned their home at the census. In South East the figure is 67.1%. - Against South East: 23% lower (67.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Reading: **4,314 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. Reading had 4,314 people per square kilometre at the census. In South East the figure is 486 per km². - Against South East: 8.9 times (486 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Reading: **31.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 31.9% of households in Reading rented privately at the census. In South East the figure is 19.2%. - Against South East: 1.7 times (19.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Reading: **16.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 16.1% of households in Reading rented from a council or housing association at the census. In South East the figure is 13.6%. - Against South East: 18% higher (13.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Reading: **40.4%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 40.4% of residents aged 16 and over in Reading had a degree-level qualification at the census. In South East the figure is 35.8%. - Against South East: 13% higher (35.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Reading: **17.7%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 17.7% of residents in Reading identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In South East the figure is 7.0%. - Against South East: 2.5 times (7.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Reading: **7.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 7.2% of residents in Reading identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In South East the figure is 2.4%. - Against South East: 3 times (2.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Reading: **5.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 5.1% of residents in Reading identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In South East the figure is 2.8%. - Against South East: 1.8 times (2.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Reading: **2.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 2.9% of residents in Reading identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In South East the figure is 1.5%. - Against South East: 1.9 times (1.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Reading: **67.1%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 67.1% of residents in Reading identified with a White ethnic group. In South East the figure is 86.3%. - Against South East: 22% lower (86.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Reading: **39.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 39.6% of residents in Reading said they were Christian. In South East the figure is 46.5%. - Against South East: 15% lower (46.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Reading: **36.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 36.3% of residents in Reading said they had no religion. In South East the figure is 40.2%. - Against South East: 10% lower (40.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Reading: **39.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 39.3% of working residents in Reading worked mainly from home in March 2021. In South East the figure is 35.8%. - Against South East: 10% higher (35.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Reading: **0.5%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Reading’s estimated population changed by 0.5% in the year to mid-2025. - Against South East: 17% lower (0.6%) - Against the UK: 1.7 times (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change#place=E06000038) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/south-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/reading) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/reading/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E06000038/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people#l-population-estimate. 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 2026.10.11. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/reading/people