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People and census in Wolverhampton

Metropolitan borough

The middle of the West Midlands. 281,434 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 69 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Wolverhampton, 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

Wolverhampton’s 810 output areas range from 112 to 701.

What is the population of Wolverhampton?

Wolverhampton had 263,727 usual residents at the census.

Wolverhampton is the 74th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
263,727
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Wolverhampton had 263,727 usual residents at the census.

Wolverhampton is the 74th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Wolverhampton is 263,727.

Population estimate

Council
281,434
ONS population estimates · 2025

Wolverhampton’s population was an estimated 281,434 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.3% in the year to mid-2025.

Wolverhampton is 70th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Wolverhampton is 281,434.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
63.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.9% of residents in Wolverhampton were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.1%.

Against West Midlands
1% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Wolverhampton is 63.9%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
16.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.4% of residents in Wolverhampton were aged 65 or over at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.8%.

Against West Midlands
13% lower18.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Wolverhampton is 16.4%.

Aged under 15

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

19.7% of residents in Wolverhampton were aged under 15 at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.1%.

Against West Midlands
9% higher18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Wolverhampton is 19.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
22.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.9% of residents in Wolverhampton were born outside the UK.

In West Midlands the figure is 15.2%.

Against West Midlands
1.5 times15.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Wolverhampton is 22.9%.

Disability

Council
18.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.2% of residents in Wolverhampton had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.1%.

Against West Midlands
1% higher18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Wolverhampton is 18.2%.

Good or very good health

Council
79.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

79.2% of residents in Wolverhampton said their health was good or very good.

In West Midlands the figure is 80.8%.

Against West Midlands
2% lower80.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Wolverhampton is 79.2%.

Households

Council
105,141
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Wolverhampton had 105,141 households at the census.

Wolverhampton is 78th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Wolverhampton is 105,141.

Households without a car or van

Council
28.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

28.5% of households in Wolverhampton had no car or van at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 21.5%.

Against West Midlands
33% higher21.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Wolverhampton is 28.5%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
55.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

55.4% of households in Wolverhampton owned their home at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 63.6%.

Against West Midlands
13% lower63.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Wolverhampton is 55.4%.

Population density

Council
3,798 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Wolverhampton had 3,798 people per square kilometre at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 458 per km².

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

Against West Midlands
8.3 times458 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Wolverhampton is 3,798 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
19.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.0% of households in Wolverhampton rented privately at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 17.9%.

Against West Midlands
6% higher17.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Wolverhampton is 19.0%.

Social rented homes

Council
25.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.2% of households in Wolverhampton rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 18.2%.

Against West Midlands
38% higher18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Wolverhampton is 25.2%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
26.2%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.2% of residents aged 16 and over in Wolverhampton had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In West Midlands the figure is 29.4%.

Against West Midlands
11% lower29.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Wolverhampton among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Wolverhampton is 26.2%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
21.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

21.2% of residents in Wolverhampton identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 13.3%.

Against West Midlands
1.6 times13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Wolverhampton is 21.2%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
9.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

9.3% of residents in Wolverhampton identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 4.5%.

Against West Midlands
2.1 times4.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Wolverhampton is 9.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.3% of residents in Wolverhampton identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 3.0%.

Against West Midlands
1.8 times3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Wolverhampton is 5.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.6% of residents in Wolverhampton identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In West Midlands the figure is 2.1%.

Against West Midlands
1.7 times2.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Wolverhampton is 3.6%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
60.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

60.6% of residents in Wolverhampton identified with a White ethnic group.

In West Midlands the figure is 77.0%.

Against West Midlands
21% lower77.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Wolverhampton is 60.6%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
43.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

43.8% of residents in Wolverhampton said they were Christian.

In West Midlands the figure is 46.6%.

Against West Midlands
6% lower46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Wolverhampton is 43.8%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
27.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

27.8% of residents in Wolverhampton said they had no religion.

In West Midlands the figure is 32.9%.

Against West Midlands
16% lower32.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Wolverhampton is 27.8%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
18.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

18.9% of working residents in Wolverhampton worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In West Midlands the figure is 25.7%.

Against West Midlands
26% lower25.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Wolverhampton among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Wolverhampton is 18.9%.

Annual population change

Council
0.3%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Wolverhampton’s estimated population changed by 0.3% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against West Midlands
25% lower0.4%
Against the UK
About the same0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Wolverhampton among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Wolverhampton is 0.3%.