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People and census in Rochdale

Metropolitan borough

The east of the North West. 237,641 people in 158 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Rochdale, 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

Rochdale’s 691 output areas range from 118 to 620.

What is the population of Rochdale?

Rochdale had 223,773 usual residents at the census.

Rochdale is the 95th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
223,773
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Rochdale had 223,773 usual residents at the census.

Rochdale is the 95th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Rochdale is 223,773.

Population estimate

Council
237,641
ONS population estimates · 2025

Rochdale’s population was an estimated 237,641 in mid-2025.

The population rose 1.2% in the year to mid-2025.

Rochdale is 92nd most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Rochdale is 237,641.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
63.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.0% of residents in Rochdale 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: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Rochdale is 63.0%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
16.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.5% of residents in Rochdale were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
12% lower18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Rochdale is 16.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
20.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.5% of residents in Rochdale were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
16% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Rochdale is 20.5%.

Born outside the UK

Council
15.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.5% of residents in Rochdale were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
32% higher11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Rochdale is 15.5%.

Disability

Council
19.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.0% of residents in Rochdale 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
2% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Rochdale is 19.0%.

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 Rochdale 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: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Rochdale is 79.8%.

Households

Council
90,223
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Rochdale had 90,223 households at the census.

Rochdale is 100th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Rochdale is 90,223.

Households without a car or van

Council
26.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.3% of households in Rochdale had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
6% higher24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Rochdale is 26.3%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
60.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

60.6% of households in Rochdale owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
4% lower63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Rochdale is 60.6%.

Population density

Council
1,415 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Rochdale had 1,415 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
2.7 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Rochdale is 1,415 per km².

Private rented homes

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

18.3% of households in Rochdale rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
5% lower19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Rochdale is 18.3%.

Social rented homes

Council
20.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.9% of households in Rochdale rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
19% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Rochdale among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Rochdale is 20.9%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
26.4%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.4% of residents aged 16 and over in Rochdale had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
15% lower31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Rochdale among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Rochdale is 26.4%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
18.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

18.5% of residents in Rochdale identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
2.2 times8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Rochdale is 18.5%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.5% of residents in Rochdale identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
1.5 times2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Rochdale is 3.5%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.4% of residents in Rochdale identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
9% higher2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Rochdale is 2.4%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.6% of residents in Rochdale identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
7% higher1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Rochdale is 1.6%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
74.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

74.0% of residents in Rochdale identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
14% lower85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Rochdale is 74.0%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
46.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

46.9% of residents in Rochdale said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
11% lower52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Rochdale is 46.9%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
28.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

28.8% of residents in Rochdale said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
12% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Rochdale is 28.8%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
21.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

21.3% of working residents in Rochdale 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: Rochdale among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Rochdale is 21.3%.

Annual population change

Council
1.2%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Rochdale’s estimated population changed by 1.2% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North West
1.7 times0.7%
Against the UK
4 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Rochdale among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Rochdale is 1.2%.