Somerset demographics.
Somerset · Census 2023 · latest available data
A data-driven statistical profile of Somerset — 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 | Bath | 83,286 | 88,180 | 94,092 |
| 2 | Weston-super-Mare | 73,898 | 79,617 | 84,628 |
| 3 | Taunton | 54,518 | 58,097 | 61,674 |
| 4 | Yeovil | 42,285 | 46,019 | 50,176 |
| 5 | Bridgwater | 35,358 | 40,169 | 47,852 |
| 6 | Frome | 23,935 | 25,659 | 27,898 |
| 7 | Portishead | 17,344 | 23,699 | 26,366 |
| 8 | Clevedon | 21,655 | 21,002 | 21,078 |
| 9 | Keynsham | 15,448 | 15,551 | 19,261 |
| 10 | Burnham-on-Sea | 15,287 | 16,261 | 16,315 |
| 11 | Nailsea | 17,028 | 16,060 | 15,917 |
| 12 | Chard | 12,007 | 13,074 | 14,287 |
| 13 | Wellington | 10,599 | 11,213 | 13,810 |
| 14 | Midsomer Norton | 11,568 | 12,095 | 13,758 |
| 15 | Street | 11,068 | 11,805 | 12,709 |
| 16 | Wells | 10,777 | 10,898 | 12,110 |
| 17 | Minehead | 11,699 | 11,981 | 11,757 |
| 18 | Radstock | 8,818 | 9,419 | 9,980 |
| 19 | Shepton Mallet | 8,395 | 9,520 | 9,648 |
| 20 | Glastonbury | 8,128 | 8,248 | 8,297 |
| 21 | Yatton | 7,442 | 7,436 | 7,708 |
| 22 | Crewkerne | 6,460 | 6,728 | 7,059 |
| 23 | Wincanton | 4,803 | 5,435 | 6,740 |
| 24 | Peasedown St John | 6,306 | 6,446 | 6,673 |
| 25 | Paulton | 4,896 | 5,302 | 6,503 |
| 26 | Ilminster | 4,573 | 5,808 | 5,968 |
| 27 | Cheddar | 4,796 | 5,328 | 5,839 |
| 28 | Highbridge | 3,861 | 4,895 | 5,363 |
| 29 | Long Ashton | 3,620 | 4,903 | 5,185 |
| 30 | Somerton | 4,321 | 4,518 | 5,101 |
| 31 | Pill | 4,719 | 4,828 | 4,953 |
| 32 | Winscombe (/ Sandford) | 4,168 | 4,375 | 4,603 |
| 33 | Monkton Heathfield | 1,699 | 1,742 | 4,580 |
| 34 | Backwell | 3,872 | 4,158 | 4,347 |
| 35 | Saltford | 4,153 | 4,073 | 4,133 |
| 36 | Martock | 3,932 | 4,162 | 4,083 |
| 37 | Batheaston | 3,613 | 3,692 | 3,881 |
| 38 | Locking | 1,893 | 2,566 | 3,822 |
| 39 | Norton Fitzwarren | 2,010 | 2,747 | 3,767 |
| 40 | Watchet | 3,710 | 3,581 | 3,635 |
| 41 | Langport | 2,977 | 3,063 | 3,578 |
| 42 | Castle Cary | 3,056 | 3,232 | 3,447 |
| 43 | Milborne Port | 2,644 | 2,802 | 3,204 |
| 44 | North Petherton | 3,140 | 3,142 | 3,178 |
| 45 | South Petherton | 2,515 | 2,747 | 3,099 |
| 46 | Rockwell Green | 2,246 | 2,609 | 2,859 |
| 47 | Bruton | 2,982 | 2,984 | 2,816 |
| 48 | Congresbury | 2,752 | 2,756 | 2,794 |
| 49 | Timsbury | 2,442 | 2,504 | 2,509 |
| 50 | Williton | 2,311 | 2,374 | 2,429 |
| 51 | West Wick | 364 | 1,179 | 2,424 |
| 52 | Cotford St Luke | 1,170 | 2,309 | 2,409 |
| 53 | Creech St Michael | 1,899 | 1,944 | 2,325 |
| 54 | Woolavington | 2,163 | 2,115 | 2,325 |
| 55 | Cannington | 2,381 | 2,271 | 2,316 |
| 56 | Wiveliscombe | 2,084 | 2,178 | 2,309 |
| 57 | Tatworth | 2,211 | 2,259 | 2,286 |
| 58 | Puriton | 2,033 | 1,968 | 2,266 |
| 59 | Berrow (/ Brean) | 2,329 | 2,169 | 2,248 |
| 60 | Coleford | 2,196 | 2,151 | 2,236 |
| 61 | Banwell | 1,998 | 1,956 | 2,180 |
| 62 | Evercreech | 1,790 | 1,845 | 2,167 |
| 63 | Merriott | 1,966 | 1,979 | 2,073 |
| 64 | Ilchester | 2,123 | 2,153 | 2,061 |
| 65 | Bishops Lydeard | 1,975 | 2,040 | 2,051 |
| 66 | Curry Rivel | 1,807 | 1,844 | 2,013 |
| 67 | Axbridge | 2,025 | 2,057 | 1,998 |
| 68 | Wrington | 1,995 | 1,918 | 1,997 |
| 69 | Churchill | 1,715 | 1,687 | 1,992 |
| 70 | Whitchurch | 1,313 | 1,354 | 1,992 |
| 71 | Chilcompton | 1,708 | 1,767 | 1,857 |
| 72 | Wembdon | 1,421 | 1,807 | 1,771 |
| 73 | Bathampton | 1,504 | 1,603 | 1,698 |
| 74 | Hutton | 1,776 | 1,643 | 1,689 |
| 75 | High Littleton | 1,614 | 1,639 | 1,658 |
| 76 | Templecombe | 1,462 | 1,560 | 1,656 |
| 77 | Clutton | 1,393 | 1,449 | 1,630 |
| 78 | Kewstoke | 1,367 | 1,437 | 1,608 |
| 79 | Henstridge | 1,240 | 1,530 | 1,578 |
| 80 | Temple Cloud | 1,286 | 1,292 | 1,517 |
| 81 | Nether Stowey | 1,313 | 1,373 | 1,482 |
| 82 | Ruishton | 1,427 | 1,473 | 1,473 |
| 83 | Westonzoyland | 1,462 | 1,425 | 1,465 |
| 84 | Wedmore | 1,407 | 1,409 | 1,429 |
| 85 | Trull | 1,297 | 1,344 | 1,428 |
| 86 | Bishop Sutton | 1,035 | 1,193 | 1,424 |
| 87 | Newton St Loe | 631 | 581 | 1,369 |
| 88 | Stoke-sub-Hamdon | 1,410 | 1,437 | 1,358 |
| 89 | Chew Magna | 1,161 | 1,149 | 1,248 |
| 90 | Keinton Mandeville | 949 | 1,068 | 1,215 |
| 91 | Horton (/ Broadway) | 986 | 1,117 | 1,212 |
| 92 | Porlock | 1,239 | 1,213 | 1,182 |
| 93 | Bathford | 1,109 | 1,102 | 1,151 |
| 94 | Walton | 1,106 | 1,106 | 1,147 |
| 95 | Milverton | 955 | 1,112 | 1,113 |
| 96 | Farmborough | 897 | 847 | 1,107 |
| 97 | Pilton | 935 | 998 | 1,104 |
| 98 | Shipham | 1,022 | 1,087 | 1,104 |
| 99 | Barwick (/ Stoford) | 1,063 | 1,115 | 1,094 |
| 100 | Draycott | 979 | 1,057 | 1,070 |
| 101 | Blagdon | 1,032 | 1,001 | 1,056 |
| 102 | North Curry | 881 | 926 | 1,056 |
| 103 | Misterton | 792 | 826 | 1,038 |
| 104 | Norton St Philip | 848 | 858 | 1,004 |
| 105 | Beckington | 807 | 849 | 1,001 |
| 106 | Yeovilton | 472 | 1,064 | 998 |
| 107 | Meare | 807 | 828 | 990 |
| 108 | Pawlett | 938 | 892 | 983 |
| 109 | Holcombe | 936 | 947 | 960 |
| 110 | Ilton | 712 | 727 | 952 |
| 111 | Tintinhull | 970 | 902 | 937 |
| 112 | Brent Knoll | 900 | 933 | 936 |
| 113 | Pensford | 869 | 870 | 928 |
| 114 | Catcott (/ Edington) | 839 | 903 | 917 |
| 115 | Farrington Gurney | 846 | 901 | 906 |
| 116 | East Huntspill | 820 | 782 | 883 |
| 117 | West Coker | 874 | 850 | 882 |
| 118 | Ashcott | 946 | 876 | 881 |
| 119 | Montacute | 775 | 831 | 865 |
| 120 | Nunney | 910 | 844 | 856 |
| 121 | Dulverton | 891 | 844 | 846 |
| 122 | Huntspill | 835 | 834 | 843 |
| 123 | Stratton-on-the-Fosse | 936 | 995 | 841 |
| 124 | Chew Stoke | 708 | 776 | 830 |
| 125 | Westbury-sub-Mendip | 806 | 801 | 813 |
| 126 | Wookey | 786 | 810 | 801 |
| 127 | Carhampton | 780 | 687 | 792 |
| 128 | Stogursey | 736 | 838 | 791 |
| 129 | Rode | 566 | 711 | 766 |
| 130 | Butleigh | 750 | 712 | 761 |
| 131 | Burton | 775 | 749 | 759 |
| 132 | Failand | 704 | 691 | 758 |
| 133 | Oakhill | 680 | 739 | 758 |
| 134 | South Horrington | 604 | 807 | 752 |
| 135 | Stoke St Michael | 724 | 731 | 752 |
| 136 | Shepton Beauchamp | 743 | 728 | 749 |
| 137 | Odcombe | 746 | 759 | 745 |
| 138 | Winsham | 752 | 748 | 737 |
| 139 | Norton-sub-Hamdon | 724 | 743 | 727 |
| 140 | Middlezoy | 723 | 725 | 721 |
| 141 | Cleeve | 763 | 721 | 717 |
| 142 | Haselbury Plucknett | 669 | 744 | 717 |
| 143 | Combe St Nicholas | 646 | 713 | 695 |
| 144 | Baltonsborough | 526 | 523 | 693 |
| 145 | Blackford | 676 | 736 | 686 |
| 146 | Othery | 575 | 642 | 686 |
| 147 | North Cadbury | 577 | 638 | 683 |
| 148 | Kingsbury Episcopi | 602 | 641 | 682 |
| 149 | Chilton Polden | 668 | 698 | 672 |
| 150 | East Brent | 647 | 628 | 672 |
| 151 | East Harptree | 680 | 644 | 668 |
| 152 | Mark | 712 | 741 | 665 |
| 153 | Combwich | 746 | 693 | 660 |
| 154 | Bradford-on-Tone | 573 | 622 | 649 |
| 155 | Cossington | 552 | 564 | 641 |
| 156 | Leigh Woods | 785 | 553 | 636 |
| 157 | Tickenham | 593 | 585 | 627 |
| 158 | Ash | 585 | 626 | 619 |
| 159 | Fivehead | 638 | 609 | 605 |
| 160 | Monkton Combe | 556 | 554 | 600 |
| 161 | West Chinnock | 600 | 592 | 598 |
| 162 | Lympsham | 598 | 618 | 593 |
| 163 | Washford | 607 | 601 | 584 |
| 164 | Croscombe | 606 | 603 | 578 |
| 165 | Queen Camel | 577 | 574 | 569 |
| 166 | Sparkford | 363 | 460 | 559 |
| 167 | Compton Martin | 508 | 508 | 555 |
| 168 | Blagdon Hill | 534 | 505 | 553 |
| 169 | Chilthorne Domer | 557 | 574 | 553 |
| 170 | Wellow | 511 | 529 | 549 |
| 171 | Bleadon | 604 | 550 | 540 |
| 172 | Langford Budville | 519 | 535 | 530 |
| 173 | Hallatrow | 472 | 465 | 529 |
| 174 | Marston Magna | 446 | 523 | 518 |
| 175 | Edithmead | 326 | 337 | 514 |
| 176 | East Chinnock | 487 | 479 | 503 |
| 177 | Long Sutton | 440 | 464 | 501 |
— 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