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People and census in Cherwell

District

The north west of the South East. 172,178 people in 589 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Cherwell, 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

Cherwell’s 498 output areas range from 103 to 686.

What is the population of Cherwell?

Cherwell had 161,016 usual residents at the census.

Cherwell is the 146th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
161,016
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Cherwell had 161,016 usual residents at the census.

Cherwell is the 146th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Cherwell is 161,016.

Population estimate

Council
172,178
ONS population estimates · 2025

Cherwell’s population was an estimated 172,178 in mid-2025.

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

Cherwell is 142nd most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Cherwell is 172,178.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
64.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

64.9% of residents in Cherwell were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South East the figure is 63.1%.

Against South East
3% higher63.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Cherwell is 64.9%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
17.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.4% of residents in Cherwell were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.4%.

Against South East
10% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Cherwell is 17.4%.

Aged under 15

Council
17.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.7% of residents in Cherwell were aged under 15 at the census.

In South East the figure is 17.4%.

Against South East
2% higher17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Cherwell is 17.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
17.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.6% of residents in Cherwell were born outside the UK.

In South East the figure is 15.8%.

Against South East
11% higher15.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Cherwell is 17.6%.

Disability

Council
14.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.5% of residents in Cherwell 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
10% lower16.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Cherwell is 14.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
85.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

85.1% of residents in Cherwell said their health was good or very good.

In South East the figure is 84.0%.

Against South East
1% higher84.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Cherwell is 85.1%.

Households

Council
65,894
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Cherwell had 65,894 households at the census.

Cherwell is 158th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Cherwell is 65,894.

Households without a car or van

Council
14.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.7% of households in Cherwell had no car or van at the census.

In South East the figure is 16.9%.

Against South East
13% lower16.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Cherwell is 14.7%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
66.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

66.9% of households in Cherwell owned their home at the census.

In South East the figure is 67.1%.

Against South East
About the same67.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Cherwell is 66.9%.

Population density

Council
273 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Cherwell had 273 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
44% lower486 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Cherwell is 273 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
19.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.8% of households in Cherwell rented privately at the census.

In South East the figure is 19.2%.

Against South East
3% higher19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Cherwell is 19.8%.

Social rented homes

Council
13.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.3% of households in Cherwell rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South East the figure is 13.6%.

Against South East
2% lower13.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Cherwell among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Cherwell is 13.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
35.1%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

35.1% of residents aged 16 and over in Cherwell had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
2% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Cherwell among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Cherwell is 35.1%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
6.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

6.0% of residents in Cherwell identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 7.0%.

Against South East
14% lower7.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Cherwell is 6.0%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.8% of residents in Cherwell identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.4%.

Against South East
25% lower2.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Cherwell is 1.8%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.9% of residents in Cherwell identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 2.8%.

Against South East
4% higher2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Cherwell is 2.9%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.3% of residents in Cherwell identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South East the figure is 1.5%.

Against South East
13% lower1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Cherwell is 1.3%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
88.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

88.1% of residents in Cherwell identified with a White ethnic group.

In South East the figure is 86.3%.

Against South East
2% higher86.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Cherwell is 88.1%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
50.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

50.3% of residents in Cherwell said they were Christian.

In South East the figure is 46.5%.

Against South East
8% higher46.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Cherwell is 50.3%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
38.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

38.1% of residents in Cherwell said they had no religion.

In South East the figure is 40.2%.

Against South East
5% lower40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Cherwell is 38.1%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
32.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

32.2% of working residents in Cherwell worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South East the figure is 35.8%.

Against South East
10% lower35.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Cherwell among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Cherwell is 32.2%.

Annual population change

Council
0.8%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Cherwell’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 South East
33% higher0.6%
Against the UK
2.7 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Cherwell among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Cherwell is 0.8%.