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People and census in Colchester

District

The south east of the East of England. 201,163 people in 332 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Colchester, 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

Colchester’s 633 output areas range from 112 to 1,632.

What is the population of Colchester?

Colchester had 192,715 usual residents at the census.

Colchester is the 116th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
192,715
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Colchester had 192,715 usual residents at the census.

Colchester is the 116th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Colchester among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Colchester is 192,715.

Population estimate

Council
201,163
ONS population estimates · 2025

Colchester’s population was an estimated 201,163 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.7% in the year to mid-2025.

Colchester is 113th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Colchester among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Colchester is 201,163.

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 Colchester 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: Colchester among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Colchester is 64.4%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
17.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.8% of residents in Colchester were aged 65 or over at the census.

In East of England the figure is 19.6%.

Against East of England
9% lower19.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Colchester among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Colchester is 17.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
17.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.8% of residents in Colchester were aged under 15 at the census.

In East of England the figure is 17.6%.

Against East of England
1% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Colchester among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Colchester is 17.8%.

Born outside the UK

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

14.5% of residents in Colchester were born outside the UK.

In East of England the figure is 14.9%.

Against East of England
3% lower14.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Colchester among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Colchester is 14.5%.

Disability

Council
16.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.9% of residents in Colchester 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
2% higher16.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Colchester among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Colchester is 16.9%.

Good or very good health

Council
83.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

83.9% of residents in Colchester 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: Colchester among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Colchester is 83.9%.

Households

Council
79,710
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Colchester had 79,710 households at the census.

Colchester is 119th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Colchester among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Colchester is 79,710.

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 Colchester 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: Colchester among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Colchester is 18.2%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
65.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

65.1% of households in Colchester 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: Colchester among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Colchester is 65.1%.

Population density

Council
580 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Colchester had 580 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
1.8 times331 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Colchester among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Colchester is 580 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
21.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

21.5% of households in Colchester rented privately at the census.

In East of England the figure is 18.2%.

Against East of England
18% higher18.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Colchester among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Colchester is 21.5%.

Social rented homes

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

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

In East of England the figure is 15.5%.

Against East of England
14% lower15.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Colchester among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Colchester is 13.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
32.2%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

32.2% of residents aged 16 and over in Colchester had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In East of England the figure is 31.6%.

Against East of England
2% higher31.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Colchester among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Colchester is 32.2%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.1% of residents in Colchester identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 6.4%.

Against East of England
20% lower6.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Colchester among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Colchester is 5.1%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.5% of residents in Colchester 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
21% higher2.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Colchester among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Colchester is 3.5%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
2.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In East of England the figure is 2.8%.

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

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

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

In East of England the figure is 1.4%.

Against East of England
7% higher1.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Colchester among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Colchester is 1.5%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
87.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

87.0% of residents in Colchester identified with a White ethnic group.

In East of England the figure is 86.5%.

Against East of England
1% higher86.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Colchester among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Colchester is 87.0%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
44.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.4% of residents in Colchester said they were Christian.

In East of England the figure is 46.6%.

Against East of England
5% lower46.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Colchester among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Colchester is 44.4%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
44.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.4% of residents in Colchester said they had no religion.

In East of England the figure is 40.2%.

Against East of England
10% higher40.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Colchester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Colchester is 44.4%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
30.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

30.6% of working residents in Colchester worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In East of England the figure is 31.9%.

Against East of England
4% lower31.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Colchester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Colchester is 30.6%.

Annual population change

Council
0.7%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Colchester’s estimated population changed by 0.7% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against East of England
About the same0.7%
Against the UK
2.3 times0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Colchester among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Colchester is 0.7%.