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People and census in Leicester

Unitary authority

The south of the East Midlands. 383,116 people in 73 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Leicester, 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

Leicester’s 1,010 output areas range from 102 to 2,495.

What is the population of Leicester?

Leicester had 368,571 usual residents at the census.

Leicester is the 24th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
368,571
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Leicester had 368,571 usual residents at the census.

Leicester is the 24th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Leicester among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Leicester is 368,571.

Population estimate

Council
383,116
ONS population estimates · 2025

Leicester’s population was an estimated 383,116 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.9% in the year to mid-2025.

Leicester is 24th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Leicester among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Leicester is 383,116.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
68.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

68.5% of residents in Leicester were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 63.6%.

Against East Midlands
8% higher63.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Leicester among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Leicester is 68.5%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
11.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

11.8% of residents in Leicester were aged 65 or over at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 19.5%.

Against East Midlands
39% lower19.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Leicester among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Leicester is 11.8%.

Aged under 15

Council
19.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.7% of residents in Leicester were aged under 15 at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 16.9%.

Against East Midlands
17% higher16.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Leicester among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Leicester is 19.7%.

Born outside the UK

Council
41.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

41.1% of residents in Leicester were born outside the UK.

In East Midlands the figure is 13.7%.

Against East Midlands
3 times13.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Leicester among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Leicester is 41.1%.

Disability

Council
15.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.5% of residents in Leicester had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In East Midlands the figure is 18.3%.

Against East Midlands
15% lower18.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Leicester among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Leicester is 15.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
82.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

82.2% of residents in Leicester said their health was good or very good.

In East Midlands the figure is 81.1%.

Against East Midlands
1% higher81.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Leicester among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Leicester is 82.2%.

Households

Council
127,387
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Leicester had 127,387 households at the census.

Leicester is 45th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Leicester among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Leicester is 127,387.

Households without a car or van

Council
33.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

33.0% of households in Leicester had no car or van at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 19.1%.

Against East Midlands
1.7 times19.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Leicester among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Leicester is 33.0%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
47.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

47.2% of households in Leicester owned their home at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 66.3%.

Against East Midlands
29% lower66.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Leicester among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Leicester is 47.2%.

Population density

Council
5,026 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Leicester had 5,026 people per square kilometre at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 312 per km².

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

Against East Midlands
16 times312 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Leicester among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Leicester is 5,026 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
29.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.4% of households in Leicester rented privately at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 18.7%.

Against East Midlands
1.6 times18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Leicester among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Leicester is 29.4%.

Social rented homes

Council
23.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

23.2% of households in Leicester rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 14.9%.

Against East Midlands
1.6 times14.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Leicester among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Leicester is 23.2%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
26.8%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

26.8% of residents aged 16 and over in Leicester had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In East Midlands the figure is 29.1%.

Against East Midlands
8% lower29.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Leicester among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Leicester is 26.8%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
43.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

43.4% of residents in Leicester identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In East Midlands the figure is 8.0%.

Against East Midlands
5.4 times8.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Leicester among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Leicester is 43.4%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
7.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

7.8% of residents in Leicester identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In East Midlands the figure is 2.7%.

Against East Midlands
2.9 times2.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Leicester among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Leicester is 7.8%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.8% of residents in Leicester identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In East Midlands the figure is 2.4%.

Against East Midlands
1.6 times2.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Leicester among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Leicester is 3.8%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
4.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

4.1% of residents in Leicester identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In East Midlands the figure is 1.3%.

Against East Midlands
3.2 times1.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Leicester among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Leicester is 4.1%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
40.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

40.9% of residents in Leicester identified with a White ethnic group.

In East Midlands the figure is 85.7%.

Against East Midlands
52% lower85.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Leicester among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Leicester is 40.9%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
24.7%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

24.7% of residents in Leicester said they were Christian.

In East Midlands the figure is 45.4%.

Against East Midlands
46% lower45.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Leicester among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Leicester is 24.7%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
23.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

23.0% of residents in Leicester said they had no religion.

In East Midlands the figure is 40.0%.

Against East Midlands
43% lower40.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Leicester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Leicester is 23.0%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
19.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

19.1% of working residents in Leicester worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In East Midlands the figure is 25.8%.

Against East Midlands
26% lower25.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Leicester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Leicester is 19.1%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.9%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Leicester’s estimated population changed by −0.9% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Leicester among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Leicester is −0.9%.