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People and census in Canterbury

District

The east of the South East. 162,612 people in 309 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Canterbury, 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

Canterbury’s 487 output areas range from 106 to 4,502.

What is the population of Canterbury?

Canterbury had 157,432 usual residents at the census.

Canterbury is the 151st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
157,432
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Canterbury had 157,432 usual residents at the census.

Canterbury is the 151st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Canterbury is 157,432.

Population estimate

Council
162,612
ONS population estimates · 2025

Canterbury’s population was an estimated 162,612 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

Canterbury is 155th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Canterbury is 162,612.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
63.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.7% of residents in Canterbury were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South East the figure is 63.1%.

Against South East
1% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Canterbury is 63.7%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
21.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.8% of residents in Canterbury were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.4%.

Against South East
12% higher19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Canterbury is 21.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
14.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.6% of residents in Canterbury were aged under 15 at the census.

In South East the figure is 17.4%.

Against South East
16% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Canterbury is 14.6%.

Born outside the UK

Council
12.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

12.9% of residents in Canterbury were born outside the UK.

In South East the figure is 15.8%.

Against South East
18% lower15.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Canterbury is 12.9%.

Disability

Council
19.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.6% of residents in Canterbury had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South East the figure is 16.1%.

Against South East
22% higher16.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Canterbury is 19.6%.

Good or very good health

Council
81.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.7% of residents in Canterbury said their health was good or very good.

In South East the figure is 84.0%.

Against South East
3% lower84.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Canterbury is 81.7%.

Households

Council
63,792
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Canterbury had 63,792 households at the census.

Canterbury is 166th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Canterbury is 63,792.

Households without a car or van

Council
20.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

20.8% of households in Canterbury had no car or van at the census.

In South East the figure is 16.9%.

Against South East
23% higher16.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Canterbury is 20.8%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
65.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

65.7% of households in Canterbury owned their home at the census.

In South East the figure is 67.1%.

Against South East
2% lower67.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Canterbury is 65.7%.

Population density

Council
510 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Canterbury had 510 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South East the figure is 486 per km².

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

Against South East
5% higher486 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Canterbury is 510 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
22.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.0% of households in Canterbury rented privately at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.2%.

Against South East
15% higher19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Canterbury is 22.0%.

Social rented homes

Council
12.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

12.2% of households in Canterbury rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South East the figure is 13.6%.

Against South East
10% lower13.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Canterbury among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Canterbury is 12.2%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
33.1%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

33.1% of residents aged 16 and over in Canterbury had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
8% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Canterbury among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Canterbury is 33.1%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.1% of residents in Canterbury identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 7.0%.

Against South East
41% lower7.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Canterbury is 4.1%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.5% of residents in Canterbury identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.4%.

Against South East
4% higher2.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Canterbury is 2.5%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.7% of residents in Canterbury identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.8%.

Against South East
4% lower2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Canterbury is 2.7%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in Canterbury identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South East the figure is 1.5%.

Against South East
About the same1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Canterbury is 1.5%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
89.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

89.2% of residents in Canterbury identified with a White ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 86.3%.

Against South East
3% higher86.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Canterbury is 89.2%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
46.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

46.6% of residents in Canterbury said they were Christian.

In South East the figure is 46.5%.

Against South East
About the same46.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Canterbury is 46.6%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
42.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

42.0% of residents in Canterbury said they had no religion.

In South East the figure is 40.2%.

Against South East
4% higher40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Canterbury is 42.0%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
30.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

30.4% of working residents in Canterbury worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
15% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Canterbury among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Canterbury is 30.4%.

Annual population change

Council
0.1%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Canterbury’s estimated population changed by 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against South East
83% lower0.6%
Against the UK
67% lower0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Canterbury among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Canterbury is 0.1%.