Kent demographics.
Kent · Census 2023 · latest available data
A data-driven statistical profile of Kent — town populations, census figures, and key demographic indicators drawn from the latest available official data.
Population
67,736,802
World share: 0.84 %
Median age
40.1
Global rank: #21
Urban population
85.5 %
57,900,076 people
Density
280 / km²
People per km²
Fertility rate
1.57
Births per woman
- 01 / Population
Who lives here, and how that is changing.
Headline population counts, density and household structure, with the six-year growth trend.
- Population basics
- Total population
- 67,736,8022023
- Population density
- 280 / km²UK average
- Yearly change
- 0.34 %227,866
- Urban population
- 85.5 %57,900,076
- Net migration
- 165,790Annual net
- World population
- 0.84 %8,045,311,447
- Population trend
Total resident population in thousands. A rising line means net growth from births and inward migration.
- 02 / Age & gender
The shape of the population pyramid.
Age band distribution split by gender, with dependency and vital statistics.
- Age pyramid
Share of the total population in each age band, split by gender - wide middle bands indicate a strong working-age base.
- Vital statistics
- Median age
- 39.4 yrs40.2 yrs
- Dependency ratio
- 58.456.9
- Male
- 49.3%49.0%
- Female
- 50.7%51.0%
- Aged 65+
- 16.4%18.4%
- 03 / Housing & households
Tenure, dwelling type and household composition.
Census 2021 housing indicators for the area, benchmarked against England.
- Tenure & conditions
- Home ownership
- 61.0%62.5%
- Social rented
- 17.0%17.1%
- Private rented
- 22.0%20.4%
- Overcrowded households
- 6.1%8.4%
- No central heating
- 1.3%1.5%
- Property type mix
Composition of the housing stock by build type, as a share of all dwellings.
- Tenure split
How households occupy their homes - the owned versus rented balance drives local market liquidity.
- 04 / Employment & economy
Where the jobs and the output are.
Labour market headlines and the sector composition of local employment.
- Labour market
- Economically active
- 76.2%75.7%
- Unemployed
- 3.4%3.5%
- Full-time employees
- 42.1%41.6%
- Self-employed
- 11.8%12.4%
- Students (economically active)
- 5.6%5.2%
- Retired
- 20.9%21.6%
- Top employment sectors
Share of total employment by industry - a concentrated profile signals exposure to one sector's cycle.
- 05 / Education & qualifications
Attainment and the local skills base.
School performance and the qualification profile of working-age residents.
- Attainment & schools
- Level 4+ qualification
- 40.2%33.9%
- No qualifications
- 16.0%18.1%
- Apprenticeship
- 5.1%5.3%
- Full-time students 16+
- 8.4%7.9%
- Schoolchildren aged 5–15
- 12.6%12.4%
- Qualification levels
Highest qualification held by residents aged 16+. Level 4+ covers degree-level and above.
- 06 / Health & wellbeing
Life expectancy, access and deprivation.
Population health outcomes alongside primary care capacity and deprivation ranking.
- Health indicators
- Very good health
- 48.6%48.5%
- Good health
- 33.1%33.7%
- Bad or very bad health
- 5.8%5.2%
- Disabled (day-to-day limited)
- 18.2%17.3%
- Provides unpaid care
- 9.1%8.9%
- Life expectancy (male)
- 79.1 yrs79.4 yrs
- Life expectancy (female)
- 82.9 yrs83.1 yrs
- Healthy life expectancy
- 62.4 yrs63.1 yrs
- IMD decile
- 5 of 10-
- Deprivation
5
IMD decile out of 10 (1 = most deprived). The United Kingdom shows variation across regions, with pockets of both high affluence and concentrated deprivation.
- 07 / Ethnicity, language & religion
The cultural make-up of the area.
Census-based breakdowns of ethnic group, country of birth, language and religion.
- Ethnic group
Share of residents by broad census ethnic group.
- Religion
Stated religion at the last census, as a share of residents.
- Origin & language
- Born in the UK
- 83.6%83.2%
- Born outside the UK
- 16.4%16.8%
- English as main language
- 94.2%91.1%
- Cannot speak English well
- 1.4%1.9%
- 08 / Transport & commuting
How people move around.
Commuting modes, journey times, car ownership and network connectivity.
- Mode of travel to work
Primary commute mode for working residents, including those who mainly work from home.
- Network & journey times
- Average commute
- 29 min28 min
- No car or van
- 24.0%23.5%
- 2+ cars or vans
- 34.0%33.1%
- Work mainly from home
- 17.0%21.0%
- Car ownership
Households by number of cars or vans available.
— 09 / Political & administrative
Who governs, and how engaged residents are.
Administrative structure, council tax levels, political control and turnout.
— Governance
- Parliamentary constituencies
- 12
- Council type
- Metropolitan / two-tier
- Council tax (Band D)
- £2,148
- Political control
- Labour majority
- General election turnout
- 62.4%
- Local election turnout
- 31.8%
— 10 / Crime & safety
Recorded crime and its composition.
Police.uk recorded offences, normalised per 1,000 residents and split by offence type.
— Headline rates
- Crime rate per 1,000
- 94.689.7
- Police force
- West Yorkshire Police—
- Year-on-year change
- -2.8%-1.4%
— Crime type breakdown
Share of all recorded offences by category over the last 12 months.
— 11 / Environment & climate
Green space, air quality and climate risk.
Environmental quality indicators and exposure to flooding across the area.
— Environmental indicators
- Green space coverage
- 38.4%40.1%
- NO₂ (annual mean)
- 21 µg/m³18 µg/m³
- PM2.5 (annual mean)
- 9.4 µg/m³9.1 µg/m³
- Area at flood risk
- 6.2%8.0%
- Annual rainfall
- 812 mm838 mm
- Sunshine hours
- 1,4101,493
— 12 / UK Cities
Population of major UK cities.
Top 10 UK cities by population, sourced from the latest available census and administrative data.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 7,556,900 |
| 2 | Birmingham | 984,333 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 864,122 |
| 4 | Nottingham | 729,977 |
| 5 | Sheffield | 685,368 |
| 6 | Bristol | 617,280 |
| 7 | Glasgow | 591,620 |
| 8 | Leicester | 508,916 |
| 9 | Edinburgh | 464,990 |
| 10 | Leeds | 455,123 |
— 12b / County Towns
Town populations within the county.
Built-up area populations across the 2001, 2011 and 2021 census years.
| # | Town | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maidstone | 82,342 | 95,876 | 109,490 |
| 2 | Ashford | 58,641 | 72,669 | 82,164 |
| 3 | Dartford | 50,823 | 56,736 | 69,134 |
| 4 | Margate | 56,594 | 59,966 | 63,322 |
| 5 | Gravesend | 51,217 | 55,131 | 58,102 |
| 6 | Canterbury | 44,117 | 52,430 | 55,087 |
| 7 | Sittingbourne | 43,368 | 49,622 | 54,392 |
| 8 | Folkestone | 44,795 | 51,020 | 51,991 |
| 9 | Royal Tunbridge Wells | 42,278 | 49,892 | 51,232 |
| 10 | Ramsgate | 38,104 | 40,515 | 42,027 |
| 11 | Dover | 32,458 | 35,381 | 36,363 |
| 12 | Tonbridge | 31,147 | 33,650 | 36,115 |
| 13 | Whitstable | 30,196 | 32,100 | 32,196 |
| 14 | Northfleet | 25,165 | 27,617 | 29,890 |
| 15 | Deal | 27,994 | 29,192 | 28,992 |
| 16 | Sevenoaks | 23,202 | 25,654 | 26,479 |
| 17 | Larkfield (incl. Ditton) | 22,668 | 24,736 | 26,159 |
| 18 | Broadstairs | 24,385 | 25,091 | 25,765 |
| 19 | Herne Bay | 22,701 | 24,171 | 24,875 |
| 20 | Faversham | 18,221 | 19,829 | 20,936 |
| 21 | Swanley | 15,991 | 15,670 | 17,213 |
| 22 | Minster | 13,167 | 14,390 | 16,738 |
| 23 | Longfield (/ New Ash Green / Hartley) | 16,147 | 15,763 | 16,083 |
| 24 | Swanscombe | 10,229 | 13,477 | 15,457 |
| 25 | Herne | 12,250 | 14,061 | 14,872 |
| 26 | Hythe | 14,042 | 14,379 | 14,604 |
| 27 | Sheerness | 11,654 | 11,938 | 13,249 |
| 28 | Snodland | 9,328 | 10,211 | 11,825 |
| 29 | King's Hill | 3,346 | 8,123 | 9,966 |
| 30 | Southborough | 9,114 | 9,824 | 9,631 |
| 31 | Hawkinge | 4,441 | 8,002 | 8,497 |
| 32 | Coxheath | 6,920 | 7,320 | 8,456 |
| 33 | Bearsted | 8,010 | 8,209 | 8,353 |
| 34 | Edenbridge | 5,995 | 6,898 | 7,902 |
| 35 | Rusthall (/ Langton Green) | 7,585 | 7,880 | 7,783 |
| 36 | Tenterden | 7,226 | 7,312 | 7,764 |
| 37 | Paddock Wood | 7,841 | 7,840 | 7,611 |
| 38 | Otford (/ Kemsing) | 6,739 | 7,155 | 7,336 |
| 39 | Whitfield | 4,989 | 5,707 | 6,508 |
| 40 | Stone | 4,429 | 5,818 | 6,435 |
| 41 | Staplehurst | 5,556 | 5,559 | 6,178 |
| 42 | Aylesham | 3,270 | 3,425 | 5,787 |
| 43 | Pembury | 6,005 | 6,128 | 5,784 |
| 44 | Littlestone-on-Sea | 5,335 | 5,520 | 5,267 |
| 45 | Hildenborough | 4,600 | 4,943 | 4,944 |
| 46 | Joyden's Wood | 4,739 | 4,924 | 4,913 |
| 47 | Sturry | 4,737 | 4,709 | 4,861 |
| 48 | Lenham (/ Harrietsham) | 3,375 | 3,671 | 4,760 |
| 49 | Minster | 3,873 | 4,381 | 4,743 |
| 50 | Borough Green | 4,082 | 4,395 | 4,710 |
| 51 | Iwade | 1,140 | 3,087 | 4,533 |
| 52 | Halfway Houses | 3,987 | 3,940 | 4,388 |
| 53 | Meopham | 4,266 | 4,357 | 4,349 |
| 54 | West Kingsdown | 4,222 | 4,375 | 4,310 |
| 55 | Sandwich | 4,315 | 4,400 | 4,260 |
| 56 | West Malling | 2,663 | 2,967 | 4,256 |
| 57 | Hextable | 4,398 | 4,092 | 4,094 |
| 58 | South Darenth (/ Sutton at Hone) | 3,700 | 4,146 | 4,091 |
| 59 | Cranbrook | 4,064 | 4,126 | 3,963 |
| 60 | Queenborough | 3,471 | 3,407 | 3,918 |
| 61 | Lydd | 3,329 | 3,889 | 3,912 |
| 62 | New Romney | 3,512 | 3,552 | 3,870 |
| 63 | Hawkhurst | 3,127 | 3,576 | 3,683 |
| 64 | Chartham (Shalmsford Street) | 2,238 | 3,122 | 3,572 |
| 65 | Marden | 2,412 | 2,265 | 3,488 |
| 66 | Istead Rise | 3,505 | 3,437 | 3,401 |
| 67 | Westerham | 2,982 | 3,303 | 3,389 |
| 68 | Eastchurch | 1,590 | 2,000 | 3,379 |
| 69 | Headcorn | 2,425 | 2,505 | 3,299 |
| 70 | Dunton Green | 1,855 | 2,166 | 3,239 |
| 71 | Hadlow | 3,160 | 3,214 | 3,166 |
| 72 | Teynham | 2,802 | 2,748 | 3,126 |
| 73 | Dymchurch | 3,134 | 3,263 | 3,097 |
| 74 | Ebbsfleet Valley | 191 | 195 | 2,989 |
| 75 | St Mary's Bay | 3,053 | 3,028 | 2,966 |
| 76 | Newington | 2,102 | 2,164 | 2,684 |
| 77 | Higham | 2,752 | 2,632 | 2,644 |
| 78 | Darenth | 2,558 | 2,481 | 2,584 |
| 79 | Ash | 2,062 | 2,543 | 2,533 |
| 80 | St Margaret's at Cliffe | 2,151 | 2,279 | 2,401 |
| 81 | Eastry | 2,168 | 2,492 | 2,384 |
| 82 | Boughton Under Blean | 2,112 | 2,197 | 2,273 |
| 83 | Wateringbury | 2,320 | 2,396 | 2,249 |
| 84 | Charing | 1,765 | 1,841 | 2,169 |
| 85 | East Peckham | 2,153 | 2,159 | 2,147 |
| 86 | Hersden | 1,102 | 1,694 | 2,119 |
| 87 | Wye | 2,066 | 1,915 | 2,063 |
| 88 | Culverstone Green | 1,804 | 1,936 | 2,040 |
| 89 | Ightham | 1,940 | 2,084 | 2,036 |
| 90 | Vigo Village | 2,201 | 2,065 | 2,005 |
| 91 | Wrotham | 1,815 | 1,921 | 1,960 |
| 92 | Capel-le-Ferne | 1,659 | 1,884 | 1,959 |
| 93 | Lyminge | 1,922 | 1,948 | 1,916 |
| 94 | Warden | 1,806 | 1,763 | 1,818 |
| 95 | Hamstreet | 1,409 | 1,555 | 1,739 |
| 96 | Upchurch | 1,700 | 1,756 | 1,726 |
| 97 | Eccles | 1,551 | 1,670 | 1,706 |
| 98 | Kingsdown | 1,690 | 1,729 | 1,692 |
| 99 | Guston | 1,881 | 1,740 | 1,683 |
| 100 | Eynsford | 1,588 | 1,633 | 1,675 |
| 101 | Bean | 1,709 | 1,643 | 1,633 |
| 102 | Seal | 1,511 | 1,544 | 1,623 |
| 103 | Sibertswold | 1,542 | 1,630 | 1,622 |
| 104 | Littlebourne | 1,454 | 1,529 | 1,603 |
| 105 | Horsmonden | 1,403 | 1,620 | 1,581 |
| 106 | Crockenhill | 1,485 | 1,521 | 1,570 |
| 107 | Finberry | 457 | 517 | 1,570 |
| 108 | Yalding | 1,332 | 1,365 | 1,549 |
| 109 | Bridge | 1,467 | 1,576 | 1,538 |
| 110 | Eythorne | 1,460 | 1,520 | 1,487 |
| 111 | Brabourne Lees | 1,517 | 1,463 | 1,480 |
| 112 | Sutton Valence | 1,291 | 1,349 | 1,461 |
| 113 | Five Oak Green | 1,395 | 1,540 | 1,434 |
| 114 | Benenden | 1,183 | 1,403 | 1,406 |
| 115 | Hawley | 1,277 | 1,369 | 1,386 |
| 116 | Kingswood | 1,382 | 1,389 | 1,370 |
| 117 | Biddenden | 1,208 | 1,303 | 1,345 |
| 118 | Blean | 1,205 | 1,274 | 1,326 |
| 119 | Wingham | 1,140 | 1,303 | 1,311 |
| 120 | Rough Common | 1,207 | 1,224 | 1,295 |
| 121 | Burham | 1,251 | 1,195 | 1,292 |
| 122 | Cliffs End | 1,137 | 1,261 | 1,282 |
| 123 | Aldington | 797 | 988 | 1,280 |
| 124 | Farningham | 1,139 | 1,158 | 1,277 |
| 125 | Marlpit Hill | 1,129 | 1,274 | 1,271 |
| 126 | Horton Kirby | 1,140 | 1,241 | 1,245 |
| 127 | Lower Halstow | 1,215 | 1,180 | 1,211 |
| 128 | Woodchurch | 1,064 | 1,074 | 1,197 |
| 129 | Sundridge | 1,150 | 1,158 | 1,194 |
| 130 | Plaxtol | 969 | 1,117 | 1,133 |
| 131 | Leigh | 956 | 1,013 | 1,106 |
| 132 | Goudhurst | 1,060 | 1,142 | 1,105 |
| 133 | Challock | 843 | 920 | 1,089 |
| 134 | Lympne | 1,091 | 1,130 | 1,071 |
| 135 | Shorne | 1,039 | 1,024 | 1,036 |
| 136 | Shadoxhurst | 859 | 901 | 1,009 |
| 137 | Bethersden | 859 | 876 | 1,004 |
| 138 | Langley Heath | 939 | 960 | 993 |
| 139 | Sole Street | 912 | 977 | 987 |
| 140 | Peters Village | 107 | 146 | 975 |
| 141 | High Halden | 698 | 727 | 974 |
| 142 | Speldhurst | 882 | 963 | 944 |
| 143 | Sholden | 495 | 527 | 932 |
| 144 | Leysdown-on-Sea | 703 | 677 | 931 |
| 145 | Nonington | 847 | 906 | 920 |
| 146 | Brasted | 728 | 844 | 915 |
| 147 | Bidborough | 815 | 972 | 914 |
| 148 | Densole | 887 | 937 | 887 |
| 149 | Saltwood | 852 | 850 | 859 |
| 150 | Blue Bell Hill | 902 | 843 | 857 |
| 151 | Elham | 891 | 911 | 855 |
| 152 | Shoreham | 758 | 800 | 840 |
| 153 | Broad Oak | 770 | 798 | 836 |
| 154 | Chilham | 731 | 673 | 823 |
| 155 | Rolvenden | 710 | 691 | 814 |
| 156 | Sevenoaks Weald | 789 | 805 | 802 |
| 157 | Barham | 759 | 803 | 787 |
| 158 | Halstead | 645 | 702 | 772 |
| 159 | Knockholt Pound | 718 | 753 | 771 |
| 160 | Mersham | 465 | 524 | 770 |
| 161 | Sellindge | 685 | 759 | 766 |
| 162 | Monkton | 669 | 661 | 752 |
| 163 | Sissinghurst | 723 | 742 | 748 |
| 164 | Detling | 658 | 658 | 741 |
| 165 | Lamberhurst | 594 | 760 | 739 |
| 166 | Aylesford | 573 | 774 | 734 |
| 167 | St Nicholas-at-Wade | 663 | 705 | 731 |
| 168 | Worth | 659 | 703 | 701 |
| 169 | Lydden | 684 | 673 | 687 |
| 170 | Lower Higham | 600 | 712 | 684 |
| 171 | Badgers Mount | 599 | 656 | 682 |
| 172 | Sandhurst | 629 | 683 | 669 |
| 173 | Smarden | 589 | 614 | 663 |
| 174 | Adisham | 620 | 645 | 657 |
| 175 | Old Wives Lees | 591 | 662 | 637 |
| 176 | Teston | 579 | 637 | 636 |
| 177 | Upstreet | 593 | 607 | 634 |
| 178 | Etchinghill | 597 | 598 | 622 |
| 179 | Ulcombe | 563 | 575 | 620 |
| 180 | Great Chart | 596 | 579 | 617 |
| 181 | Southfleet | 540 | 573 | 598 |
| 182 | Tyler Hill | 522 | 587 | 590 |
| 183 | Preston | 356 | 352 | 587 |
| 184 | Appledore Heath | 512 | 524 | 583 |
| 185 | Woolpack Corner | 375 | 398 | 580 |
| 186 | Fordcombe | 521 | 559 | 570 |
| 187 | Golden Green | 539 | 565 | 552 |
| 188 | Addington | 487 | 528 | 547 |
| 189 | Wittersham | 522 | 520 | 547 |
| 190 | Wrotham Heath | 504 | 527 | 547 |
| 191 | Borden | 510 | 495 | 528 |
| 192 | Mud Row | 337 | 401 | 519 |
| 193 | Hothfield | 531 | 537 | 513 |
— 13 / English Regions
Regional population comparison.
Population figures for English regions across the 2001, 2011 and 2021 census years.
| Region | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 4,172,174 | 4,533,222 | 4,880,054 |
| East of England | 5,388,140 | 5,846,965 | 6,335,074 |
| North East England | 2,515,442 | 2,596,886 | 2,647,013 |
| North West England | 6,729,764 | 7,052,177 | 7,417,397 |
| South East England | 8,000,645 | 8,634,750 | 9,278,065 |
| South West England | 4,928,434 | 5,288,935 | 5,701,186 |
| West Midlands | 5,267,308 | 5,601,847 | 5,950,757 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 4,964,833 | 5,283,733 | 5,480,777 |
— Data sources
- ONS — population, age, ethnicity, housing
- Nomis — employment, earnings, qualifications
- Census 2021 (Nomis) — area vs England comparisons
- Police.uk — crime data
- MHCLG — Index of Multiple Deprivation
- Postcodes.io / GeoNames — boundary mapping