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People and census in Manchester

Metropolitan borough

The south east of the North West. 588,256 people in 116 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for Manchester, 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

Manchester’s 1,593 output areas range from 100 to 2,224.

What is the population of Manchester?

Manchester had 551,938 usual residents at the census.

Manchester is the 9th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
551,938
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Manchester had 551,938 usual residents at the census.

Manchester is the 9th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Manchester among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Manchester is 551,938.

Population estimate

Council
588,256
ONS population estimates · 2025

Manchester’s population was an estimated 588,256 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.1% in the year to mid-2025.

Manchester is 6th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Manchester among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Manchester is 588,256.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
71.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

71.1% of residents in Manchester were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.7%.

Against North West
12% higher63.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Manchester among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Manchester is 71.1%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
9.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

9.5% of residents in Manchester were aged 65 or over at the census.

In North West the figure is 18.7%.

Against North West
49% lower18.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Manchester among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Manchester is 9.5%.

Aged under 15

Council
19.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.4% of residents in Manchester were aged under 15 at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
10% higher17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Manchester among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Manchester is 19.4%.

Born outside the UK

Council
31.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.4% of residents in Manchester were born outside the UK.

In North West the figure is 11.7%.

Against North West
2.7 times11.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Manchester among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Manchester is 31.4%.

Disability

Council
17.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.5% of residents in Manchester had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In North West the figure is 19.4%.

Against North West
10% lower19.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Manchester among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Manchester is 17.5%.

Good or very good health

Council
82.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

82.3% of residents in Manchester said their health was good or very good.

In North West the figure is 80.4%.

Against North West
2% higher80.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Manchester among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Manchester is 82.3%.

Households

Council
214,732
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Manchester had 214,732 households at the census.

Manchester is 12th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Manchester among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Manchester is 214,732.

Households without a car or van

Council
39.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

39.0% of households in Manchester had no car or van at the census.

In North West the figure is 24.7%.

Against North West
1.6 times24.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Manchester among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Manchester is 39.0%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
38.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

38.0% of households in Manchester owned their home at the census.

In North West the figure is 63.0%.

Against North West
40% lower63.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Manchester among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Manchester is 38.0%.

Population density

Council
4,772 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Manchester had 4,772 people per square kilometre at the census.

In North West the figure is 524 per km².

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

Against North West
9.1 times524 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Manchester among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Manchester is 4,772 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
32.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

32.3% of households in Manchester rented privately at the census.

In North West the figure is 19.2%.

Against North West
1.7 times19.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Manchester among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Manchester is 32.3%.

Social rented homes

Council
29.5%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

29.5% of households in Manchester rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In North West the figure is 17.6%.

Against North West
1.7 times17.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Manchester among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Manchester is 29.5%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
37.6%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

37.6% of residents aged 16 and over in Manchester had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In North West the figure is 31.2%.

Against North West
21% higher31.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Manchester among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Manchester is 37.6%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
20.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

20.9% of residents in Manchester identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 8.4%.

Against North West
2.5 times8.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Manchester among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Manchester is 20.9%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
11.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

11.9% of residents in Manchester identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.3%.

Against North West
5.2 times2.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Manchester among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Manchester is 11.9%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.3% of residents in Manchester identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 2.2%.

Against North West
2.4 times2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Manchester among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Manchester is 5.3%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.1% of residents in Manchester identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In North West the figure is 1.5%.

Against North West
3.4 times1.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Manchester among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Manchester is 5.1%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
56.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

56.8% of residents in Manchester identified with a White ethnic group.

In North West the figure is 85.6%.

Against North West
34% lower85.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Manchester among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Manchester is 56.8%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
36.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

36.2% of residents in Manchester said they were Christian.

In North West the figure is 52.5%.

Against North West
31% lower52.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Manchester among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Manchester is 36.2%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
32.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

32.4% of residents in Manchester said they had no religion.

In North West the figure is 32.6%.

Against North West
1% lower32.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Manchester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Manchester is 32.4%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
31.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

31.6% of working residents in Manchester worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In North West the figure is 27.3%.

Against North West
16% higher27.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Manchester among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Manchester is 31.6%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.1%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Manchester’s estimated population changed by −0.1% 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: Manchester among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Manchester is −0.1%.