# People and census in Rochdale The east of the North West. 237,641 people (mid-2025 estimate) 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. In: [North West](https://openindex.co.uk/north-west) ## 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 Rochdale: **223,773** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Rochdale had 223,773 usual residents at the census. Rochdale is the 95th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-population ## Population estimate Rochdale: **237,641** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. 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. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Rochdale: **63.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (63.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Rochdale: **16.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (18.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Rochdale: **20.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Rochdale: **15.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 15.5% of residents in Rochdale were born outside the UK. In North West the figure is 11.7%. - Against North West: 32% higher (11.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Rochdale: **19.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (19.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Rochdale: **79.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (80.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-good-health ## Households Rochdale: **90,223** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Rochdale had 90,223 households at the census. Rochdale is 100th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Rochdale: **26.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (24.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Rochdale: **60.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 60.6% of households in Rochdale owned their home at the census. In North West the figure is 63.0%. - Against North West: 4% lower (63.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Rochdale: **1,415 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. Rochdale had 1,415 people per square kilometre at the census. In North West the figure is 524 per km². - Against North West: 2.7 times (524 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Rochdale: **18.3%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 18.3% of households in Rochdale rented privately at the census. In North West the figure is 19.2%. - Against North West: 5% lower (19.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Rochdale: **20.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (17.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Rochdale: **26.4%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (31.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Rochdale: **18.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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 times (8.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Rochdale: **3.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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 times (2.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Rochdale: **2.4%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (2.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Rochdale: **1.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% higher (1.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Rochdale: **74.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 74.0% of residents in Rochdale identified with a White ethnic group. In North West the figure is 85.6%. - Against North West: 14% lower (85.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Rochdale: **46.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 46.9% of residents in Rochdale said they were Christian. In North West the figure is 52.5%. - Against North West: 11% lower (52.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Rochdale: **28.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 28.8% of residents in Rochdale said they had no religion. In North West the figure is 32.6%. - Against North West: 12% lower (32.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Rochdale: **21.3%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (27.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E08000005) · [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/rochdale/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Rochdale: **1.2%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Rochdale’s estimated population changed by 1.2% in the year to mid-2025. - Against North West: 1.7 times (0.7%) - Against the UK: 4 times (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E08000005) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-west) · https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/crime) (1) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E08000005/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/rochdale/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/rochdale/people