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People and census in Shropshire

Unitary authority

The west of the West Midlands. 333,162 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 3,197 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Shropshire, 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

Shropshire’s 1,021 output areas range from 100 to 1,768.

What is the population of Shropshire?

Shropshire had 323,606 usual residents at the census.

Shropshire is the 43rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
323,606
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Shropshire had 323,606 usual residents at the census.

Shropshire is the 43rd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Shropshire is 323,606.

Population estimate

Council
333,162
ONS population estimates · 2025

Shropshire’s population was an estimated 333,162 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.

Shropshire is 44th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Shropshire is 333,162.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
59.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

59.8% of residents in Shropshire were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.1%.

Against West Midlands
5% lower63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Shropshire is 59.8%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
25.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.4% of residents in Shropshire were aged 65 or over at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.8%.

Against West Midlands
35% higher18.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Shropshire is 25.4%.

Aged under 15

Council
14.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.8% of residents in Shropshire were aged under 15 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.1%.

Against West Midlands
18% lower18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Shropshire is 14.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.9% of residents in Shropshire were born outside the UK.

In West Midlands the figure is 15.2%.

Against West Midlands
61% lower15.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Shropshire is 5.9%.

Disability

Council
18.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.5% of residents in Shropshire 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
2% higher18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Shropshire is 18.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
81.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.3% of residents in Shropshire said their health was good or very good.

In West Midlands the figure is 80.8%.

Against West Midlands
1% higher80.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Shropshire is 81.3%.

Households

Council
139,579
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Shropshire had 139,579 households at the census.

Shropshire is 35th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Shropshire is 139,579.

Households without a car or van

Council
13.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.8% of households in Shropshire had no car or van at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 21.5%.

Against West Midlands
36% lower21.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Shropshire is 13.8%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
69.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

69.5% of households in Shropshire owned their home at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.6%.

Against West Midlands
9% higher63.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Shropshire is 69.5%.

Population density

Council
101 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Shropshire had 101 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
78% lower458 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Shropshire is 101 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
17.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.5% of households in Shropshire rented privately at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 17.9%.

Against West Midlands
2% lower17.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Shropshire is 17.5%.

Social rented homes

Council
13.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.0% of households in Shropshire rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.2%.

Against West Midlands
29% lower18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Shropshire among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Shropshire is 13.0%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
32.5%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

32.5% of residents aged 16 and over in Shropshire had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 29.4%.

Against West Midlands
11% higher29.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Shropshire among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Shropshire is 32.5%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.3% of residents in Shropshire identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 13.3%.

Against West Midlands
90% lower13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Shropshire is 1.3%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.3% of residents in Shropshire identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 4.5%.

Against West Midlands
93% lower4.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Shropshire is 0.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.2% of residents in Shropshire identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 3.0%.

Against West Midlands
60% lower3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Shropshire is 1.2%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.4% of residents in Shropshire identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In West Midlands the figure is 2.1%.

Against West Midlands
81% lower2.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Shropshire is 0.4%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
96.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

96.7% of residents in Shropshire identified with a White ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 77.0%.

Against West Midlands
26% higher77.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Shropshire is 96.7%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
55.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

55.5% of residents in Shropshire said they were Christian.

In West Midlands the figure is 46.6%.

Against West Midlands
19% higher46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Shropshire is 55.5%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
37.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

37.0% of residents in Shropshire said they had no religion.

In West Midlands the figure is 32.9%.

Against West Midlands
12% higher32.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Shropshire is 37.0%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
27.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

27.2% of working residents in Shropshire worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In West Midlands the figure is 25.7%.

Against West Midlands
6% higher25.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Shropshire among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Shropshire is 27.2%.

Annual population change

Council
0.4%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Shropshire’s estimated population changed by 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against West Midlands
About the same0.4%
Against the UK
33% higher0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Shropshire among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Shropshire is 0.4%.