North Yorkshire demographics.
North Yorkshire · Census 2023 · latest available data
A data-driven statistical profile of North Yorkshire — 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 | Harrogate | 71,886 | 74,029 | 75,507 |
| 2 | Scarborough | 56,632 | 59,759 | 59,497 |
| 3 | Selby | 15,535 | 17,229 | 19,480 |
| 4 | Ripon | 15,922 | 16,702 | 16,589 |
| 5 | Knaresborough | 14,780 | 15,484 | 15,788 |
| 6 | Skipton | 13,962 | 14,284 | 15,042 |
| 7 | Catterick Garrison | 11,978 | 15,384 | 14,209 |
| 8 | Northallerton | 12,048 | 12,963 | 13,308 |
| 9 | Whitby | 13,014 | 12,603 | 12,595 |
| 10 | Sherburn in Elmet | 6,221 | 6,657 | 8,568 |
| 11 | Richmond | 8,178 | 8,413 | 8,076 |
| 12 | Norton-on-Derwent | 6,652 | 7,099 | 7,907 |
| 13 | Pickering | 6,846 | 6,830 | 7,257 |
| 14 | Filey | 6,468 | 6,530 | 6,665 |
| 15 | Tadcaster | 6,548 | 6,480 | 6,335 |
| 16 | Malton | 5,023 | 4,888 | 6,326 |
| 17 | Thirsk | 4,913 | 5,401 | 5,889 |
| 18 | Easingwold | 3,918 | 4,350 | 5,036 |
| 19 | Stokesley | 4,725 | 4,757 | 4,910 |
| 20 | Cross Hills | 4,498 | 4,628 | 4,808 |
| 21 | Sowerby | 3,485 | 3,846 | 4,722 |
| 22 | Great Ayton | 4,451 | 4,518 | 4,346 |
| 23 | Brayton | 3,172 | 3,653 | 4,096 |
| 24 | Romanby | 3,800 | 3,946 | 3,824 |
| 25 | Barlby | 2,702 | 2,884 | 3,496 |
| 26 | Thorpe Willoughby | 2,822 | 2,725 | 3,485 |
| 27 | Bedale | 3,120 | 3,156 | 3,285 |
| 28 | Boroughbridge | 2,549 | 2,776 | 3,067 |
| 29 | Hunmanby | 3,011 | 2,838 | 2,895 |
| 30 | East Ayton (/ West Ayton) | 2,518 | 2,559 | 2,810 |
| 31 | Kirkbymoorside | 2,595 | 2,751 | 2,765 |
| 32 | Catterick | 2,743 | 3,155 | 2,720 |
| 33 | Sutton-in-Craven | 2,377 | 2,579 | 2,719 |
| 34 | Settle | 2,421 | 2,564 | 2,714 |
| 35 | Pannal | 2,251 | 2,219 | 2,530 |
| 36 | Eggborough | 1,578 | 1,952 | 2,440 |
| 37 | South Milford | 1,489 | 1,995 | 2,411 |
| 38 | Leyburn | 1,844 | 2,183 | 2,406 |
| 39 | Riccall | 2,192 | 2,216 | 2,385 |
| 40 | Seamer | 2,048 | 2,006 | 2,122 |
| 41 | Carlton | 1,829 | 1,934 | 2,041 |
| 42 | Brompton | 1,690 | 1,848 | 2,033 |
| 43 | Hutton Rudby | 1,992 | 1,968 | 1,956 |
| 44 | Sleights | 1,995 | 1,972 | 1,929 |
| 45 | Brompton-on-Swale | 1,719 | 1,879 | 1,900 |
| 46 | Hemingbrough | 1,631 | 1,900 | 1,873 |
| 47 | Thornton-le-Dale | 1,845 | 1,759 | 1,856 |
| 48 | Scalby | 1,708 | 1,716 | 1,788 |
| 49 | Tockwith | 1,492 | 1,457 | 1,787 |
| 50 | Aiskew | 1,318 | 1,445 | 1,757 |
| 51 | Ingleton | 1,641 | 1,772 | 1,755 |
| 52 | Hambleton | 1,339 | 1,508 | 1,726 |
| 53 | Embsay | 1,548 | 1,679 | 1,721 |
| 54 | Monk Fryston (/ Hillam) | 1,548 | 1,728 | 1,715 |
| 55 | Leeming | 1,946 | 2,445 | 1,710 |
| 56 | High Bentham | 1,679 | 1,725 | 1,704 |
| 57 | Church Fenton | 897 | 1,413 | 1,643 |
| 58 | Camblesforth | 1,526 | 1,568 | 1,560 |
| 59 | Gargrave | 1,480 | 1,455 | 1,505 |
| 60 | Cawood | 1,326 | 1,409 | 1,502 |
| 61 | Hellifield | 1,102 | 1,426 | 1,478 |
| 62 | Killinghall | 961 | 1,057 | 1,477 |
| 63 | Burniston | 1,389 | 1,523 | 1,464 |
| 64 | Cowling | 1,139 | 1,350 | 1,440 |
| 65 | Byram | 1,406 | 1,434 | 1,437 |
| 66 | Helmsley | 1,408 | 1,385 | 1,348 |
| 67 | Pateley Bridge | 1,447 | 1,432 | 1,341 |
| 68 | North Duffield | 1,205 | 1,317 | 1,307 |
| 69 | Langthorpe | 873 | 945 | 1,294 |
| 70 | Dishforth | 1,176 | 1,402 | 1,266 |
| 71 | Ampleforth | 1,314 | 1,345 | 1,239 |
| 72 | Low Bradley | 1,160 | 1,244 | 1,205 |
| 73 | Rillington | 1,074 | 1,114 | 1,205 |
| 74 | Spofforth | 1,121 | 1,169 | 1,178 |
| 75 | Hampsthwaite | 822 | 923 | 1,169 |
| 76 | Masham | 1,235 | 1,205 | 1,112 |
| 77 | Grassington | 1,155 | 1,126 | 1,107 |
| 78 | Giggleswick | 1,200 | 1,095 | 1,073 |
| 79 | Leeming Bar | 845 | 982 | 1,063 |
| 80 | Carleton-in-Craven | 973 | 1,118 | 1,061 |
| 81 | Huby [in: Hambleton District] | 1,007 | 1,015 | 1,059 |
| 82 | Scorton | 959 | 1,012 | 1,012 |
| 83 | Green Hammerton | 658 | 675 | 994 |
| 84 | Tollerton | 824 | 1,026 | 993 |
| 85 | Wistow | 867 | 998 | 966 |
| 86 | Nawton (/ Beadlam) | 774 | 798 | 947 |
| 87 | Thorpe Underwood | 264 | 793 | 932 |
| 88 | Escrick | 1,104 | 944 | 926 |
| 89 | Kirkby Malzeard | 782 | 887 | 906 |
| 90 | Kellington | 991 | 991 | 893 |
| 91 | Appleton Roebuck | 748 | 792 | 871 |
| 92 | Sherburn | 786 | 830 | 869 |
| 93 | Great Broughton | 821 | 841 | 859 |
| 94 | Sheriff Hutton | 849 | 823 | 849 |
| 95 | Darley | 753 | 783 | 841 |
| 96 | Osgodby | 681 | 811 | 826 |
| 97 | Dalton | 498 | 518 | 825 |
| 98 | Stillington | 741 | 782 | 824 |
| 99 | Whitley | 434 | 755 | 813 |
| 100 | Cononley | 670 | 681 | 809 |
| 101 | Fairburn | 808 | 819 | 806 |
| 102 | Hawes (/ Gayle) | 831 | 887 | 803 |
| 103 | Huby [in: Harrogate District] | 777 | 756 | 800 |
| 104 | Helperby (/ Brafferton) | 780 | 831 | 799 |
| 105 | Carlton Miniott | 701 | 706 | 795 |
| 106 | Middleham | 843 | 825 | 778 |
| 107 | Staithes | 907 | 826 | 776 |
| 108 | Barton | 884 | 837 | 775 |
| 109 | Long Preston | 679 | 742 | 774 |
| 110 | Snainton | 764 | 754 | 755 |
| 111 | Ulleskelf | 541 | 650 | 755 |
| 112 | Staxton | 708 | 737 | 751 |
| 113 | Brotherton | 672 | 728 | 742 |
| 114 | Cloughton | 711 | 687 | 714 |
| 115 | Melsonby | 701 | 735 | 705 |
| 116 | Low Bentham | 689 | 688 | 696 |
| 117 | Scotton | 574 | 624 | 696 |
| 118 | Burton Leonard | 654 | 690 | 695 |
| 119 | Kirk Smeaton (/ Little Smeaton) | 612 | 688 | 691 |
| 120 | Morton-on-Swale | 529 | 536 | 691 |
| 121 | Cliffe | 490 | 583 | 662 |
| 122 | Osmotherley | 689 | 668 | 659 |
| 123 | Follifoot | 576 | 578 | 645 |
| 124 | Slingsby | 700 | 665 | 636 |
| 125 | Threshfield | 690 | 666 | 631 |
| 126 | Kirby Hill | 529 | 553 | 625 |
| 127 | Great Ouseburn | 553 | 598 | 623 |
| 128 | Hinderwell | 649 | 618 | 620 |
| 129 | Sutton-on-the-Forest | 559 | 539 | 612 |
| 130 | Bishop Monkton | 525 | 531 | 605 |
| 131 | Newton-on-Ouse | 529 | 599 | 599 |
| 132 | Alne | 528 | 569 | 594 |
| 133 | Linton-on-Ouse | 1,025 | 1,008 | 585 |
| 134 | Burton in Lonsdale | 579 | 579 | 577 |
| 135 | Swinton | 467 | 608 | 577 |
| 136 | Sharow | 546 | 556 | 575 |
| 137 | Raskelf | 523 | 519 | 568 |
| 138 | Saxton | 495 | 592 | 566 |
| 139 | Bagby | 522 | 593 | 565 |
| 140 | Swainby | 555 | 597 | 563 |
| 141 | Castleton | 570 | 552 | 544 |
| 142 | Thorpefield | 632 | 773 | 541 |
| 143 | Austwick | 476 | 463 | 519 |
| 144 | Drax | 382 | 488 | 515 |
| 145 | Summerbridge | 540 | 532 | 514 |
— 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