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People and census in Sunderland

Metropolitan borough

The north east of the North East. 287,070 people in 137 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Sunderland, 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

Sunderland’s 973 output areas range from 107 to 620.

What is the population of Sunderland?

Sunderland had 274,172 usual residents at the census.

Sunderland is the 67th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
274,172
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sunderland had 274,172 usual residents at the census.

Sunderland is the 67th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Sunderland is 274,172.

Population estimate

Council
287,070
ONS population estimates · 2025

Sunderland’s population was an estimated 287,070 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

Sunderland is 66th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Sunderland is 287,070.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
63.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.0% of residents in Sunderland were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North East the figure is 63.0%.

Against North East
About the same63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Sunderland is 63.0%.

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 Sunderland were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North East the figure is 20.4%.

Against North East
About the same20.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Sunderland is 20.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
16.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.5% of residents in Sunderland were aged under 15 at the census.

In North East the figure is 16.6%.

Against North East
1% lower16.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Sunderland is 16.5%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.1% of residents in Sunderland were born outside the UK.

In North East the figure is 6.8%.

Against North East
25% lower6.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Sunderland is 5.1%.

Disability

Council
23.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.5% of residents in Sunderland had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In North East the figure is 21.4%.

Against North East
10% higher21.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Sunderland is 23.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
76.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

76.1% of residents in Sunderland said their health was good or very good.

In North East the figure is 78.0%.

Against North East
2% lower78.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Sunderland is 76.1%.

Households

Council
122,177
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Sunderland had 122,177 households at the census.

Sunderland is 52nd highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Sunderland is 122,177.

Households without a car or van

Council
30.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

30.9% of households in Sunderland had no car or van at the census.

In North East the figure is 27.6%.

Against North East
12% higher27.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Sunderland is 30.9%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
58.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

58.5% of households in Sunderland owned their home at the census.

In North East the figure is 60.7%.

Against North East
4% lower60.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Sunderland is 58.5%.

Population density

Council
1,996 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Sunderland had 1,996 people per square kilometre at the census.

In North East the figure is 308 per km².

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

Against North East
6.5 times308 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Sunderland is 1,996 per km².

Private rented homes

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

14.8% of households in Sunderland rented privately at the census.

In North East the figure is 17.2%.

Against North East
14% lower17.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Sunderland is 14.8%.

Social rented homes

Council
26.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.6% of households in Sunderland rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North East the figure is 22.0%.

Against North East
21% higher22.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Sunderland among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Sunderland is 26.6%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
24.6%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

24.6% of residents aged 16 and over in Sunderland had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North East the figure is 28.6%.

Against North East
14% lower28.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Sunderland among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Sunderland is 24.6%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.0% of residents in Sunderland identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North East the figure is 3.7%.

Against North East
19% lower3.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Sunderland is 3.0%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.0% of residents in Sunderland identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North East the figure is 1.0%.

Against North East
About the same1.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Sunderland is 1.0%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.9% of residents in Sunderland identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North East the figure is 1.3%.

Against North East
31% lower1.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Sunderland is 0.9%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.5% of residents in Sunderland identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North East the figure is 1.0%.

Against North East
50% lower1.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Sunderland is 0.5%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
94.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

94.6% of residents in Sunderland identified with a White ethnic group.

In North East the figure is 93.0%.

Against North East
2% higher93.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Sunderland is 94.6%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
53.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

53.2% of residents in Sunderland said they were Christian.

In North East the figure is 50.8%.

Against North East
5% higher50.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Sunderland is 53.2%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
39.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

39.5% of residents in Sunderland said they had no religion.

In North East the figure is 40.0%.

Against North East
1% lower40.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Sunderland is 39.5%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
23.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

23.4% of working residents in Sunderland worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North East the figure is 24.8%.

Against North East
6% lower24.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Sunderland among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Sunderland is 23.4%.

Annual population change

Council
0.1%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Sunderland’s estimated population changed by 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against North East
80% lower0.5%
Against the UK
67% lower0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Sunderland among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Sunderland is 0.1%.