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People and census in Wirral

Metropolitan borough

The south west of the North West. 329,896 people in 161 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Wirral, 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

Wirral’s 1,080 output areas range from 130 to 601.

What is the population of Wirral?

Wirral had 320,199 usual residents at the census.

Wirral is the 46th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
320,199
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Wirral had 320,199 usual residents at the census.

Wirral is the 46th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Wirral among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Wirral is 320,199.

Population estimate

Council
329,896
ONS population estimates · 2025

Wirral’s population was an estimated 329,896 in mid-2025.

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

Wirral is 45th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Wirral among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Wirral is 329,896.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
61.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

61.0% of residents in Wirral were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
4% lower63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Wirral among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Wirral is 61.0%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
22.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.0% of residents in Wirral were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
18% higher18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Wirral among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Wirral is 22.0%.

Aged under 15

Council
17.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.0% of residents in Wirral were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
3% lower17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Wirral among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Wirral is 17.0%.

Born outside the UK

Council
5.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.4% of residents in Wirral were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
54% lower11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Wirral among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Wirral is 5.4%.

Disability

Council
22.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.8% of residents in Wirral 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
18% higher19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Wirral among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Wirral is 22.8%.

Good or very good health

Council
78.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

78.6% of residents in Wirral said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
2% lower80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Wirral among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Wirral is 78.6%.

Households

Council
143,252
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Wirral had 143,252 households at the census.

Wirral is 33rd highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Wirral among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Wirral is 143,252.

Households without a car or van

Council
25.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.1% of households in Wirral had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
2% higher24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Wirral among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Wirral is 25.1%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
65.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

65.6% of households in Wirral owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
4% higher63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Wirral among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Wirral is 65.6%.

Population density

Council
1,990 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Wirral had 1,990 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
3.8 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Wirral among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Wirral is 1,990 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
18.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.9% of households in Wirral rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
2% lower19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Wirral among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Wirral is 18.9%.

Social rented homes

Council
15.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.4% of households in Wirral rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
13% lower17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Wirral among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Wirral is 15.4%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
31.5%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.5% of residents aged 16 and over in Wirral had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
1% higher31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Wirral among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Wirral is 31.5%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.3% of residents in Wirral identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
73% lower8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Wirral among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Wirral is 2.3%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.4% of residents in Wirral 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: Wirral among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Wirral is 0.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in Wirral identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
32% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Wirral among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Wirral is 1.5%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.6% of residents in Wirral 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: Wirral among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Wirral is 0.6%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
95.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

95.2% of residents in Wirral identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
11% higher85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Wirral among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Wirral is 95.2%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
55.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

55.0% of residents in Wirral said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
5% higher52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Wirral among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Wirral is 55.0%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
37.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

37.3% of residents in Wirral said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
14% higher32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Wirral among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Wirral is 37.3%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.7% of working residents in Wirral worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
2% lower27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Wirral among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Wirral is 26.7%.

Annual population change

Council
0.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Wirral’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 North West
29% lower0.7%
Against the UK
1.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Wirral among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Wirral is 0.5%.