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People and census in Dorset

Unitary authority

The south east of the South West. 391,036 people in 2,491 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Dorset, 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

Dorset’s 1,284 output areas range from 100 to 999.

What is the population of Dorset?

Dorset had 379,579 usual residents at the census.

Dorset is the 22nd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
379,579
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Dorset had 379,579 usual residents at the census.

Dorset is the 22nd most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Dorset among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Dorset is 379,579.

Population estimate

Council
391,036
ONS population estimates · 2025

Dorset’s population was an estimated 391,036 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.

Dorset is 22nd most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Dorset among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Dorset is 391,036.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
56.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

56.3% of residents in Dorset were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In South West the figure is 61.8%.

Against South West
9% lower61.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Dorset among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Dorset is 56.3%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
29.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.6% of residents in Dorset were aged 65 or over at the census.

In South West the figure is 22.3%.

Against South West
33% higher22.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Dorset among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Dorset is 29.6%.

Aged under 15

Council
14.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

14.1% of residents in Dorset were aged under 15 at the census.

In South West the figure is 15.9%.

Against South West
11% lower15.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Dorset among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Dorset is 14.1%.

Born outside the UK

Council
6.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

6.5% of residents in Dorset were born outside the UK.

In South West the figure is 10.2%.

Against South West
36% lower10.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Dorset among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Dorset is 6.5%.

Disability

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

19.8% of residents in Dorset had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In South West the figure is 18.6%.

Against South West
6% higher18.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Dorset among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Dorset is 19.8%.

Good or very good health

Council
80.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

80.7% of residents in Dorset said their health was good or very good.

In South West the figure is 81.8%.

Against South West
1% lower81.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Dorset among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Dorset is 80.7%.

Households

Council
169,261
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Dorset had 169,261 households at the census.

Dorset is 21st highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Dorset among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Dorset is 169,261.

Households without a car or van

Council
13.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.7% of households in Dorset had no car or van at the census.

In South West the figure is 16.8%.

Against South West
18% lower16.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Dorset among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Dorset is 13.7%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
71.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

71.4% of households in Dorset owned their home at the census.

In South West the figure is 67.0%.

Against South West
7% higher67.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Dorset among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Dorset is 71.4%.

Population density

Council
152 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Dorset had 152 people per square kilometre at the census.

In South West the figure is 239 per km².

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

Against South West
36% lower239 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Dorset among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Dorset is 152 per km².

Private rented homes

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

16.3% of households in Dorset rented privately at the census.

In South West the figure is 19.7%.

Against South West
17% lower19.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Dorset among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Dorset is 16.3%.

Social rented homes

Council
12.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

12.3% of households in Dorset rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In South West the figure is 13.3%.

Against South West
8% lower13.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Dorset among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Dorset is 12.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
31.5%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.5% of residents aged 16 and over in Dorset had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In South West the figure is 33.1%.

Against South West
5% lower33.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Dorset among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Dorset is 31.5%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.1% of residents in Dorset identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 2.8%.

Against South West
61% lower2.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Dorset among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Dorset is 1.1%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.3% of residents in Dorset identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 1.2%.

Against South West
75% lower1.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Dorset among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Dorset is 0.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
1.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.2% of residents in Dorset identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 2.0%.

Against South West
40% lower2.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Dorset among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Dorset is 1.2%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
0.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.4% of residents in Dorset identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In South West the figure is 0.9%.

Against South West
56% lower0.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Dorset among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Dorset is 0.4%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
97.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

97.1% of residents in Dorset identified with a White ethnic group.

In South West the figure is 93.1%.

Against South West
4% higher93.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Dorset among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Dorset is 97.1%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
51.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

51.6% of residents in Dorset said they were Christian.

In South West the figure is 46.2%.

Against South West
12% higher46.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Dorset among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Dorset is 51.6%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
40.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

40.1% of residents in Dorset said they had no religion.

In South West the figure is 44.1%.

Against South West
9% lower44.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Dorset among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Dorset is 40.1%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
28.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

28.2% of working residents in Dorset worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In South West the figure is 30.4%.

Against South West
7% lower30.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Dorset among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Dorset is 28.2%.

Annual population change

Council
0.4%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Dorset’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 South West
About the same0.4%
Against the UK
33% higher0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Dorset among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Dorset is 0.4%.