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People and census in Southampton

Unitary authority

The south west of the South East. 259,230 people in 50 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Southampton, 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

Southampton’s 792 output areas range from 100 to 994.

What is the population of Southampton?

Southampton had 248,922 usual residents at the census.

Southampton is the 81st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
248,922
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Southampton had 248,922 usual residents at the census.

Southampton is the 81st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Southampton among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Southampton is 248,922.

Population estimate

Council
259,230
ONS population estimates · 2025

Southampton’s population was an estimated 259,230 in mid-2025.

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

Southampton is 81st most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Southampton among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Southampton is 259,230.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
69.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

69.3% of residents in Southampton were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South East the figure is 63.1%.

Against South East
10% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Southampton among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Southampton is 69.3%.

Aged 65 and over

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

13.8% of residents in Southampton were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.4%.

Against South East
29% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Southampton among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Southampton is 13.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
16.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.9% of residents in Southampton were aged under 15 at the census.

In South East the figure is 17.4%.

Against South East
3% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Southampton among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Southampton is 16.9%.

Born outside the UK

Council
24.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

24.1% of residents in Southampton were born outside the UK.

In South East the figure is 15.8%.

Against South East
1.5 times15.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Southampton among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Southampton is 24.1%.

Disability

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

17.7% of residents in Southampton had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South East the figure is 16.1%.

Against South East
10% higher16.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Southampton among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Southampton is 17.7%.

Good or very good health

Council
82.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

82.8% of residents in Southampton said their health was good or very good.

In South East the figure is 84.0%.

Against South East
1% lower84.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Southampton among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Southampton is 82.8%.

Households

Council
102,291
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Southampton had 102,291 households at the census.

Southampton is 86th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Southampton among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Southampton is 102,291.

Households without a car or van

Council
27.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

27.4% of households in Southampton had no car or van at the census.

In South East the figure is 16.9%.

Against South East
1.6 times16.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Southampton among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Southampton is 27.4%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
48.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

48.8% of households in Southampton owned their home at the census.

In South East the figure is 67.1%.

Against South East
27% lower67.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Southampton among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Southampton is 48.8%.

Population density

Council
4,990 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Southampton had 4,990 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South East the figure is 486 per km².

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

Against South East
10 times486 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Southampton among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Southampton is 4,990 per km².

Private rented homes

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

29.2% of households in Southampton rented privately at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.2%.

Against South East
1.5 times19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Southampton among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Southampton is 29.2%.

Social rented homes

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

21.9% of households in Southampton rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South East the figure is 13.6%.

Against South East
1.6 times13.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Southampton among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Southampton is 21.9%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
31.6%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.6% of residents aged 16 and over in Southampton had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
12% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Southampton among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Southampton is 31.6%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
10.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

10.6% of residents in Southampton identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 7.0%.

Against South East
1.5 times7.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Southampton among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Southampton is 10.6%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.0% of residents in Southampton identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.4%.

Against South East
25% higher2.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Southampton among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Southampton is 3.0%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.3% of residents in Southampton identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.8%.

Against South East
18% higher2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Southampton among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Southampton is 3.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.3% of residents in Southampton identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South East the figure is 1.5%.

Against South East
1.5 times1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Southampton among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Southampton is 2.3%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
80.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

80.7% of residents in Southampton identified with a White ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 86.3%.

Against South East
6% lower86.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Southampton among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Southampton is 80.7%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
40.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

40.1% of residents in Southampton said they were Christian.

In South East the figure is 46.5%.

Against South East
14% lower46.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Southampton among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Southampton is 40.1%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
43.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

43.4% of residents in Southampton said they had no religion.

In South East the figure is 40.2%.

Against South East
8% higher40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Southampton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Southampton is 43.4%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
25.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

25.6% of working residents in Southampton worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
28% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Southampton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Southampton is 25.6%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Southampton’s estimated population changed by −0.5% 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: Southampton among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Southampton is −0.5%.