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People and census in Sandwell

Metropolitan borough

The middle of the West Midlands. 352,918 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 86 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Sandwell, 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

Sandwell’s 978 output areas range from 100 to 621.

What is the population of Sandwell?

Sandwell had 341,832 usual residents at the census.

Sandwell is the 34th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
341,832
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sandwell had 341,832 usual residents at the census.

Sandwell is the 34th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Sandwell is 341,832.

Population estimate

Council
352,918
ONS population estimates · 2025

Sandwell’s population was an estimated 352,918 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

Sandwell is 33rd most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Sandwell is 352,918.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
64.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.7% of residents in Sandwell were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.1%.

Against West Midlands
3% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Sandwell is 64.7%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
14.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.5% of residents in Sandwell were aged 65 or over at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.8%.

Against West Midlands
23% lower18.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Sandwell is 14.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
20.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.8% of residents in Sandwell were aged under 15 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.1%.

Against West Midlands
15% higher18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Sandwell is 20.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
23.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.6% of residents in Sandwell were born outside the UK.

In West Midlands the figure is 15.2%.

Against West Midlands
1.6 times15.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Sandwell is 23.6%.

Disability

Council
17.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.9% of residents in Sandwell had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.1%.

Against West Midlands
1% lower18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Sandwell is 17.9%.

Good or very good health

Council
79.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

79.0% of residents in Sandwell said their health was good or very good.

In West Midlands the figure is 80.8%.

Against West Midlands
2% lower80.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Sandwell is 79.0%.

Households

Council
130,246
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sandwell had 130,246 households at the census.

Sandwell is 44th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Sandwell is 130,246.

Households without a car or van

Council
29.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.2% of households in Sandwell had no car or van at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 21.5%.

Against West Midlands
36% higher21.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Sandwell is 29.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
54.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

54.2% of households in Sandwell owned their home at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.6%.

Against West Midlands
15% lower63.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Sandwell is 54.2%.

Population density

Council
3,995 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Sandwell had 3,995 people per square kilometre at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 458 per km².

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

Against West Midlands
8.7 times458 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Sandwell is 3,995 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
18.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.6% of households in Sandwell rented privately at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 17.9%.

Against West Midlands
4% higher17.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Sandwell is 18.6%.

Social rented homes

Council
26.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.6% of households in Sandwell rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.2%.

Against West Midlands
46% higher18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Sandwell among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Sandwell is 26.6%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
22.7%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.7% of residents aged 16 and over in Sandwell had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 29.4%.

Against West Midlands
23% lower29.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Sandwell among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Sandwell is 22.7%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
25.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

25.8% of residents in Sandwell identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 13.3%.

Against West Midlands
1.9 times13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Sandwell is 25.8%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
8.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

8.7% of residents in Sandwell identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 4.5%.

Against West Midlands
1.9 times4.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Sandwell is 8.7%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.3% of residents in Sandwell identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 3.0%.

Against West Midlands
43% higher3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Sandwell is 4.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.0% of residents in Sandwell identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In West Midlands the figure is 2.1%.

Against West Midlands
1.9 times2.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Sandwell is 4.0%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
57.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

57.2% of residents in Sandwell identified with a White ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 77.0%.

Against West Midlands
26% lower77.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Sandwell is 57.2%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
39.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

39.9% of residents in Sandwell said they were Christian.

In West Midlands the figure is 46.6%.

Against West Midlands
14% lower46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Sandwell is 39.9%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.1% of residents in Sandwell said they had no religion.

In West Midlands the figure is 32.9%.

Against West Midlands
21% lower32.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Sandwell is 26.1%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
18.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

18.7% of working residents in Sandwell worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In West Midlands the figure is 25.7%.

Against West Midlands
27% lower25.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Sandwell among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Sandwell is 18.7%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.1%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Sandwell’s estimated population changed by −0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Sandwell among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Sandwell is −0.1%.