Census 2021 - population

Last updated 25 May 2023

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Total population numbers

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the first data sets from Census 2021.

The latest Census shows that there are 379,584 residents in Dorset.

This is a 4% increase from the 2011 Census where the total population was 365,153.

This is lower than both the regional and national increases.

Total population

Total population table
Area  2011 population 2021 population % change 
Dorset  365,153 379,584 4.0
South West  5,288,935 570,195 7.8
England and Wales  5,6075,912 5,959,7539 6.3

Of the total resident population, the 2021 Census recorded 195,172 (51.4%) females and 184,412 (48.6%) males living in the area.

All data that refers to Dorset relates to the Dorset Council area.

Population - sex

The data from the Census in 2021 illustrates a slightly higher proportion of females than males in Dorset when compared to the regional figure and nationally.

In Dorset there are 51.4 % females and 48.6% males.

In the South West there are 51.1% females and 48.6% males.

In England and Wales there are 51.0 females and 49% males.

Table - population figures by sex
Area % female % male
Dorset  51.4 48.6
South West  51.1 48.9
England and Wales  51.0 49.0

All data that refers to Dorset relates to the Dorset Council area.

Population - age

Dorset has a much higher proportion of residents who are aged over 65 years (29.6%) compared with the regional and national averages. The working age population is lower than the figures for both the South West and National figures.

Table – Population figures for Dorset, England and Wales
Age in years  Dorset South West  England and Wales 
% 0 to 4  4.0 4.8 5.4
% 5 to 15  11.2 12.1 13.1
% 16 to 64  55.2 60.7 62.9
% 65+  29.6 22.3 18.6
% 80 +  8.4 6.2 5.0

The population figures highlight the profound difference between Dorset’s age profile and that of England and Wales in 2021.

Dorset’s population figures have a squeezed middle with a greater proportion of young people under 20 and older people 60 and over than the population in England and Wales.

Population - age and sex

Dorset has a higher proportion of males than females in every five year age group from 0 to 29. From 30 years onwards the proportion of females is higher in every five year age category increasing in the oldest of age groups. With 61% of the over 85 population female compared to 39% male. Overall there are more females in Dorset than males.

Table - age and sex
Age bracket  All  Male  Female 
0 to 4 15,024 7729 7295
5 to 9  18,162 9293 8869
10 to 14  20,341 10,349 9992
15 to 19  19,141 10,141 9000
20 to 24  15,295 8174 7121
25 to 29 16,754 8456 8298
30 to 34 18,330 9065 9265
35 to 39 18,325 8825 9500
40 to 44 18,791 9139 9652
45 to 49 21,659 10,344 11,315
50 to 54  26,915 12,862 14,053
55 to 59 29,764 14,338 15,426
60 to 64 28,803 13,857 14,946
65 to 69 27,017 12,935 14,082
70 to 74 30,418 14,492 15,926
75 to 79 22,892 10,872 12,020
80 to 84 15,737 7176 8561
85 plus 16,216 6365 9851

 

Population - change by age

Since 2011, Dorset has seen a decrease in 0–15-year-olds and 16–64-year-olds. The population aged over 65 years old have increased by 25%. Over 80-year-olds have increased by 17.5% since 2011.

Table - 2011 population and 2021 population by age bracket
Age bracket  2021 population  2011 population 
0 to 4 15,024 17,190
5 to 9  18,162 17,629
10 to 14  20,341 20,461
15 to 19  19,141 21,610
20 to 24  15,295 17,387
25 to 29 16,754 15,209
30 to 34 18,330 15,818
35 to 39 18,325 19,257
40 to 44 18,791 24,375
45 to 49 21,659 26,978
50 to 54  26,915 25,394
55 to 59 29,764 24,404
60 to 64 28,803 29,483
65 to 69 27,017 25,153
70 to 74 30,418 20,294
75 to 79 22,892 17,312
80 to 84 15,737 13,630
85 plus 16,216 13,569
Table - population change, 2011 to 2021 by age bracket 
Age bracket  Change in numbers   Change in % 
0 to 4 -2166 -12.6
5 to 9  +533 +3
10 to 14  -120  -0.6
15 to 19  -2649 -11.4
20 to 24  -2092 -12
25 to 29 +1545 +10.2
30 to 34 +2 ,512 +15.9
35 to 39 -932 -4.8
40 to 44 -5584 -22.9
45 to 49 -5319 -19.7
50 to 54  +1521 +6
55 to 59 +5360 +22
60 to 64 -680 -2.3
65 to 69 +1864 +7.4
70 to 74 +10124 +49.9
75 to 79 +5580 +32.2
80 to 84 +2107 +15.5
85 plus +2647 +19.5

 

 

Population - density

Dorset has a slightly increased population density since the last Census in 2021.

Dorset’s population density in 2021 was 152.4 persons per square kilometre, compared to 146.6 persons per square kilometre in 2011.

Households

Within Dorset, there were 169,261 households recorded in the Census in 2021. An increase of 6.6% since 2011 (HH in 2011 total 158,738).