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People and census in Somerset

Unitary authority

The middle of the South West. 590,972 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 3,452 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Somerset, 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

Somerset’s 1,892 output areas range from 100 to 998.

What is the population of Somerset?

Somerset had 571,526 usual residents at the census.

Somerset is the 5th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
571,526
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Somerset had 571,526 usual residents at the census.

Somerset is the 5th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Somerset among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Somerset is 571,526.

Population estimate

Council
590,972
ONS population estimates · 2025

Somerset’s population was an estimated 590,972 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Somerset is 5th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Somerset among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Somerset is 590,972.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
59.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

59.4% of residents in Somerset were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South West the figure is 61.8%.

Against South West
4% lower61.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Somerset among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Somerset is 59.4%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
24.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

24.8% of residents in Somerset were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South West the figure is 22.3%.

Against South West
11% higher22.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Somerset among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Somerset is 24.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
15.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.8% of residents in Somerset were aged under 15 at the census.

In South West the figure is 15.9%.

Against South West
1% lower15.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Somerset among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Somerset is 15.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
8.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

8.5% of residents in Somerset were born outside the UK.

In South West the figure is 10.2%.

Against South West
17% lower10.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Somerset among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Somerset is 8.5%.

Disability

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

18.6% of residents in Somerset had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South West the figure is 18.6%.

Against South West
About the same18.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Somerset among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Somerset is 18.6%.

Good or very good health

Council
81.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.2% of residents in Somerset said their health was good or very good.

In South West the figure is 81.8%.

Against South West
1% lower81.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Somerset among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Somerset is 81.2%.

Households

Council
250,127
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Somerset had 250,127 households at the census.

Somerset is 6th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Somerset among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Somerset is 250,127.

Households without a car or van

Council
14.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.0% of households in Somerset had no car or van at the census.

In South West the figure is 16.8%.

Against South West
17% lower16.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Somerset among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Somerset is 14.0%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
68.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

68.5% of households in Somerset owned their home at the census.

In South West the figure is 67.0%.

Against South West
2% higher67.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Somerset among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Somerset is 68.5%.

Population density

Council
166 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Somerset had 166 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South West the figure is 239 per km².

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

Against South West
31% lower239 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Somerset among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Somerset is 166 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
17.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.7% of households in Somerset rented privately at the census.

In South West the figure is 19.7%.

Against South West
10% lower19.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Somerset among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Somerset is 17.7%.

Social rented homes

Council
13.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.7% of households in Somerset rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South West the figure is 13.3%.

Against South West
3% higher13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Somerset among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Somerset is 13.7%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
30.5%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

30.5% of residents aged 16 and over in Somerset had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South West the figure is 33.1%.

Against South West
8% lower33.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Somerset among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Somerset is 30.5%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In South West the figure is 2.8%.

Against South West
46% lower2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Somerset among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Somerset is 1.5%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.4% of residents in Somerset identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 1.2%.

Against South West
67% lower1.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Somerset among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Somerset is 0.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.3% of residents in Somerset identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 2.0%.

Against South West
35% lower2.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Somerset among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Somerset is 1.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In South West the figure is 0.9%.

Against South West
56% lower0.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Somerset among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Somerset is 0.4%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
96.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

96.4% of residents in Somerset identified with a White ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 93.1%.

Against South West
4% higher93.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Somerset among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Somerset is 96.4%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
50.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

50.2% of residents in Somerset said they were Christian.

In South West the figure is 46.2%.

Against South West
9% higher46.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Somerset among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Somerset is 50.2%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
41.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

41.5% of residents in Somerset said they had no religion.

In South West the figure is 44.1%.

Against South West
6% lower44.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Somerset among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Somerset is 41.5%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.1% of working residents in Somerset worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South West the figure is 30.4%.

Against South West
14% lower30.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Somerset among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Somerset is 26.1%.

Annual population change

Council
0.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Somerset’s estimated population changed by 0.5% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against South West
25% higher0.4%
Against the UK
1.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Somerset among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Somerset is 0.5%.