People and census in County Durham
Unitary authorityThe south west of the North East. 539,146 people in 2,231 square kilometres.
24 layers about people and census for County Durham, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.
Population by output area
Census 2021, England and Wales
County Durham’s 1,780 output areas range from 104 to 3,205.
What is the population of County Durham?
County Durham had 522,068 usual residents at the census.
County Durham is the 11th most populated of 361 in the UK.
Population
CouncilCounty Durham had 522,068 usual residents at the census.
County Durham is the 11th most populated of 361 in the UK.
Population estimate
CouncilCounty Durham’s population was an estimated 539,146 in mid-2025.
The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.
County Durham is 11th most populated of 361 for population.
Aged 15 to 64
Council62.9% of residents in County Durham were aged 15 to 64 at the census.
In North East the figure is 63.0%.
- Against North East
- About the same63.0%
Aged 65 and over
Council21.3% of residents in County Durham were aged 65 or over at the census.
In North East the figure is 20.4%.
- Against North East
- 4% higher20.4%
Aged under 15
Council15.8% of residents in County Durham were aged under 15 at the census.
In North East the figure is 16.6%.
- Against North East
- 5% lower16.6%
Born outside the UK
Council4.4% of residents in County Durham were born outside the UK.
In North East the figure is 6.8%.
- Against North East
- 35% lower6.8%
Disability
Council22.9% of residents in County Durham had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.
In North East the figure is 21.4%.
- Against North East
- 7% higher21.4%
Good or very good health
Council76.9% of residents in County Durham said their health was good or very good.
In North East the figure is 78.0%.
- Against North East
- 1% lower78.0%
Households
CouncilCounty Durham had 234,761 households at the census.
County Durham is 8th highest of 361 for the number of households.
Households without a car or van
Council24.1% of households in County Durham had no car or van at the census.
In North East the figure is 27.6%.
- Against North East
- 13% lower27.6%
Owner-occupied homes
Council62.8% of households in County Durham owned their home at the census.
In North East the figure is 60.7%.
- Against North East
- 3% higher60.7%
Population density
CouncilCounty Durham had 234 people per square kilometre at the census.
In North East the figure is 308 per km².
Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.
- Against North East
- 24% lower308 per km²
Private rented homes
Council17.1% of households in County Durham rented privately at the census.
In North East the figure is 17.2%.
- Against North East
- 1% lower17.2%
Social rented homes
Council20.0% of households in County Durham rented from a council or housing association at the census.
In North East the figure is 22.0%.
- Against North East
- 9% lower22.0%
Degree-level qualifications
CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only26.7% of residents aged 16 and over in County Durham had a degree-level qualification at the census.
In North East the figure is 28.6%.
- Against North East
- 7% lower28.6%
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh
CouncilEngland and Wales only1.5% of residents in County Durham identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.
In North East the figure is 3.7%.
- Against North East
- 59% lower3.7%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African
CouncilEngland and Wales only0.3% of residents in County Durham identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.
In North East the figure is 1.0%.
- Against North East
- 70% lower1.0%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups
CouncilEngland and Wales only0.9% of residents in County Durham identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.
In North East the figure is 1.3%.
- Against North East
- 31% lower1.3%
Other ethnic group
CouncilEngland and Wales only0.4% of residents in County Durham identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.
In North East the figure is 1.0%.
- Against North East
- 60% lower1.0%
White ethnic groups
CouncilEngland and Wales only96.8% of residents in County Durham identified with a White ethnic group.
In North East the figure is 93.0%.
- Against North East
- 4% higher93.0%
Christian
CouncilEngland and Wales only54.6% of residents in County Durham said they were Christian.
In North East the figure is 50.8%.
- Against North East
- 7% higher50.8%
No religion
CouncilEngland and Wales only38.6% of residents in County Durham said they had no religion.
In North East the figure is 40.0%.
- Against North East
- 4% lower40.0%
Working mainly from home
CouncilEngland and Wales only23.9% of working residents in County Durham worked mainly from home in March 2021.
In North East the figure is 24.8%.
- Against North East
- 4% lower24.8%
Annual population change
CouncilCounty Durham’s estimated population changed by 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.
Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.
- Against North East
- 20% lower0.5%
- Against the UK
- 33% higher0.3%