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People and census in Sefton

Metropolitan borough

The west of the North West. 287,583 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 157 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Sefton, 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

Sefton’s 942 output areas range from 121 to 615.

What is the population of Sefton?

Sefton had 279,233 usual residents at the census.

Sefton is the 64th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
279,233
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sefton had 279,233 usual residents at the census.

Sefton is the 64th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Sefton among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Sefton is 279,233.

Population estimate

Council
287,583
ONS population estimates · 2025

Sefton’s population was an estimated 287,583 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.8% in the year to mid-2025.

Sefton is 65th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Sefton among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Sefton is 287,583.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
61.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

61.1% of residents in Sefton were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
4% lower63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Sefton among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Sefton is 61.1%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
23.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.2% of residents in Sefton were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
24% higher18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Sefton among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Sefton is 23.2%.

Aged under 15

Council
15.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.7% of residents in Sefton were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
11% lower17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Sefton among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Sefton is 15.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
6.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

6.4% of residents in Sefton were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
45% lower11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Sefton among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Sefton is 6.4%.

Disability

Council
21.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.9% of residents in Sefton 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
13% higher19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Sefton among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Sefton is 21.9%.

Good or very good health

Council
78.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

78.6% of residents in Sefton said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
2% lower80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Sefton among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Sefton is 78.6%.

Households

Council
123,073
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sefton had 123,073 households at the census.

Sefton is 49th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Sefton among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Sefton is 123,073.

Households without a car or van

Council
26.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.4% of households in Sefton had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
7% higher24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Sefton among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Sefton is 26.4%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
67.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

67.3% of households in Sefton owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
7% higher63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Sefton among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Sefton is 67.3%.

Population density

Council
1,783 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Sefton had 1,783 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
3.4 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Sefton among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Sefton is 1,783 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
18.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.2% of households in Sefton 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: Sefton among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Sefton is 18.2%.

Social rented homes

Council
14.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.4% of households in Sefton rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
18% lower17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Sefton among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Sefton is 14.4%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
29.9%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.9% of residents aged 16 and over in Sefton had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
4% lower31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Sefton among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Sefton is 29.9%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in Sefton identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
82% lower8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Sefton among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Sefton is 1.5%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.5% of residents in Sefton identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
78% lower2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Sefton among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Sefton is 0.5%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in Sefton identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
32% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Sefton among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Sefton is 1.5%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.7% of residents in Sefton identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
53% lower1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Sefton among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Sefton is 0.7%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
95.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

95.8% of residents in Sefton identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
12% higher85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Sefton among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Sefton is 95.8%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
64.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

64.4% of residents in Sefton said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
23% higher52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Sefton among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Sefton is 64.4%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
28.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

28.6% of residents in Sefton 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: Sefton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Sefton is 28.6%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
27.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

27.9% of working residents in Sefton worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
2% higher27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Sefton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Sefton is 27.9%.

Annual population change

Council
0.8%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Sefton’s estimated population changed by 0.8% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North West
14% higher0.7%
Against the UK
2.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Sefton among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Sefton is 0.8%.