Compare

People and census in St. Helens

Metropolitan borough

The south west of the North West. 189,890 people in 136 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for St. Helens, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

St. Helens’s 615 output areas range from 107 to 612.

What is the population of St. Helens?

St. Helens had 183,248 usual residents at the census.

St. Helens is the 125th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
183,248
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

St. Helens had 183,248 usual residents at the census.

St. Helens is the 125th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. St. Helens is 183,248.

Population estimate

Council
189,890
ONS population estimates · 2025

St. Helens’s population was an estimated 189,890 in mid-2025.

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

St. Helens is 127th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. St. Helens is 189,890.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
62.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

62.7% of residents in St. Helens were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
2% lower63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. St. Helens is 62.7%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
20.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.5% of residents in St. Helens were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
10% higher18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. St. Helens is 20.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
16.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.7% of residents in St. Helens were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
5% lower17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. St. Helens is 16.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.0% of residents in St. Helens were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
57% lower11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. St. Helens is 5.0%.

Disability

Council
22.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.3% of residents in St. Helens 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
15% higher19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. St. Helens is 22.3%.

Good or very good health

Council
77.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

77.9% of residents in St. Helens said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
3% lower80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. St. Helens is 77.9%.

Households

Council
81,011
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

St. Helens had 81,011 households at the census.

St. Helens is 115th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. St. Helens is 81,011.

Households without a car or van

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

23.2% of households in St. Helens had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
6% lower24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. St. Helens is 23.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
65.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

65.0% of households in St. Helens owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
3% higher63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. St. Helens is 65.0%.

Population density

Council
1,344 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

St. Helens had 1,344 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
2.6 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². St. Helens is 1,344 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
15.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.1% of households in St. Helens rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
21% lower19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. St. Helens is 15.1%.

Social rented homes

Council
19.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.7% of households in St. Helens rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
12% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: St. Helens among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. St. Helens is 19.7%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
27.2%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

27.2% of residents aged 16 and over in St. Helens had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
13% lower31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: St. Helens among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. St. Helens is 27.2%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.4% of residents in St. Helens identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
83% lower8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. St. Helens is 1.4%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
83% lower2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. St. Helens is 0.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.1% of residents in St. Helens identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
50% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. St. Helens is 1.1%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.6% of residents in St. Helens identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
60% lower1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. St. Helens is 0.6%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
96.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

96.5% of residents in St. Helens identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
13% higher85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. St. Helens is 96.5%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
62.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

62.3% of residents in St. Helens said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
19% higher52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. St. Helens is 62.3%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
31.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

31.2% of residents in St. Helens said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
4% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. St. Helens is 31.2%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
23.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

23.0% of working residents in St. Helens worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
16% lower27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: St. Helens among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. St. Helens is 23.0%.

Annual population change

Council
0.8%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

St. Helens’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: St. Helens among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. St. Helens is 0.8%.