# People and census in Sunderland The north east of the North East. 287,070 people (mid-2025 estimate) 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. In: [North East](https://openindex.co.uk/north-east) ## 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 Sunderland: **274,172** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Sunderland had 274,172 usual residents at the census. Sunderland is the 67th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-population ## Population estimate Sunderland: **287,070** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. 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. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Sunderland: **63.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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 same (63.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Sunderland: **20.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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 same (20.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Sunderland: **16.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (16.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Sunderland: **5.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 5.1% of residents in Sunderland were born outside the UK. In North East the figure is 6.8%. - Against North East: 25% lower (6.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Sunderland: **23.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (21.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Sunderland: **76.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% lower (78.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-good-health ## Households Sunderland: **122,177** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Sunderland had 122,177 households at the census. Sunderland is 52nd highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Sunderland: **30.9%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (27.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Sunderland: **58.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 58.5% of households in Sunderland owned their home at the census. In North East the figure is 60.7%. - Against North East: 4% lower (60.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Sunderland: **1,996 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Sunderland had 1,996 people per square kilometre at the census. In North East the figure is 308 per km². - Against North East: 6.5 times (308 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Sunderland: **14.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 14.8% of households in Sunderland rented privately at the census. In North East the figure is 17.2%. - Against North East: 14% lower (17.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Sunderland: **26.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 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% higher (22.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Sunderland: **24.6%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (28.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Sunderland: **3.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (3.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Sunderland: **1.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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 same (1.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Sunderland: **0.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (1.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Sunderland: **0.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (1.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Sunderland: **94.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 94.6% of residents in Sunderland identified with a White ethnic group. In North East the figure is 93.0%. - Against North East: 2% higher (93.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Sunderland: **53.2%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 53.2% of residents in Sunderland said they were Christian. In North East the figure is 50.8%. - Against North East: 5% higher (50.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Sunderland: **39.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 39.5% of residents in Sunderland said they had no religion. In North East the figure is 40.0%. - Against North East: 1% lower (40.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Sunderland: **23.4%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 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% lower (24.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Sunderland: **0.1%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Sunderland’s estimated population changed by 0.1% in the year to mid-2025. - Against North East: 80% lower (0.5%) - Against the UK: 67% lower (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E08000024) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/north-east) · https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E08000024/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/sunderland/people