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People and census in Bedford

Unitary authority

The west of the East of England. 196,398 people in 476 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Bedford, 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

Bedford’s 564 output areas range from 107 to 1,540.

What is the population of Bedford?

Bedford had 185,225 usual residents at the census.

Bedford is the 121st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
185,225
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Bedford had 185,225 usual residents at the census.

Bedford is the 121st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Bedford among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Bedford is 185,225.

Population estimate

Council
196,398
ONS population estimates · 2025

Bedford’s population was an estimated 196,398 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.8% in the year to mid-2025.

Bedford is 118th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Bedford among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Bedford is 196,398.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
64.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.4% of residents in Bedford were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In East of England the figure is 62.8%.

Against East of England
3% higher62.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Bedford among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Bedford is 64.4%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
16.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.7% of residents in Bedford were aged 65 or over at the census.

In East of England the figure is 19.6%.

Against East of England
15% lower19.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Bedford among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Bedford is 16.7%.

Aged under 15

Council
18.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.8% of residents in Bedford were aged under 15 at the census.

In East of England the figure is 17.6%.

Against East of England
7% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Bedford among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Bedford is 18.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
21.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.4% of residents in Bedford were born outside the UK.

In East of England the figure is 14.9%.

Against East of England
44% higher14.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Bedford among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Bedford is 21.4%.

Disability

Council
15.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.5% of residents in Bedford had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In East of England the figure is 16.6%.

Against East of England
7% lower16.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Bedford among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Bedford is 15.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
83.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

83.8% of residents in Bedford said their health was good or very good.

In East of England the figure is 82.9%.

Against East of England
1% higher82.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Bedford among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Bedford is 83.8%.

Households

Council
74,950
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Bedford had 74,950 households at the census.

Bedford is 131st highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Bedford among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Bedford is 74,950.

Households without a car or van

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

18.2% of households in Bedford had no car or van at the census.

In East of England the figure is 16.8%.

Against East of England
8% higher16.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Bedford among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Bedford is 18.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
64.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.6% of households in Bedford owned their home at the census.

In East of England the figure is 66.2%.

Against East of England
2% lower66.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Bedford among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Bedford is 64.6%.

Population density

Council
389 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Bedford had 389 people per square kilometre at the census.

In East of England the figure is 331 per km².

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

Against East of England
18% higher331 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Bedford among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Bedford is 389 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
19.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.1% of households in Bedford rented privately at the census.

In East of England the figure is 18.2%.

Against East of England
5% higher18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Bedford among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Bedford is 19.1%.

Social rented homes

Council
16.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.3% of households in Bedford rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In East of England the figure is 15.5%.

Against East of England
5% higher15.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Bedford among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Bedford is 16.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
34.7%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

34.7% of residents aged 16 and over in Bedford had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In East of England the figure is 31.6%.

Against East of England
10% higher31.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Bedford among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Bedford is 34.7%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
12.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

12.6% of residents in Bedford identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 6.4%.

Against East of England
twice6.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Bedford among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Bedford is 12.6%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.3% of residents in Bedford identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 2.9%.

Against East of England
1.8 times2.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Bedford among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Bedford is 5.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.6% of residents in Bedford identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 2.8%.

Against East of England
1.6 times2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Bedford among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Bedford is 4.6%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.8% of residents in Bedford identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In East of England the figure is 1.4%.

Against East of England
29% higher1.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Bedford among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Bedford is 1.8%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
75.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

75.7% of residents in Bedford identified with a White ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 86.5%.

Against East of England
12% lower86.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Bedford among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Bedford is 75.7%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
47.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

47.6% of residents in Bedford said they were Christian.

In East of England the figure is 46.6%.

Against East of England
2% higher46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Bedford among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Bedford is 47.6%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
34.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

34.1% of residents in Bedford said they had no religion.

In East of England the figure is 40.2%.

Against East of England
15% lower40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Bedford among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Bedford is 34.1%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
31.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

31.4% of working residents in Bedford worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In East of England the figure is 31.9%.

Against East of England
2% lower31.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Bedford among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Bedford is 31.4%.

Annual population change

Council
0.8%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Bedford’s estimated population changed by 0.8% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against East of England
14% higher0.7%
Against the UK
2.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Bedford among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Bedford is 0.8%.