Census 2021 Results: North West England

North West at a Glance

The 2021 Census recorded 7,417,300 usual residents in the North West, up from 7.05 million in 2011 — a growth of 5.2%. This was slightly below the England and Wales average of 6.3%, continuing a long-term pattern of slower growth in northern regions compared to London and the South East.

The region encompasses 39 local authority districts across five sub-regions: Greater Manchester (10 districts), Merseyside (5 districts), Lancashire (12 districts plus 2 unitaries), Cheshire (4 unitaries), and Cumbria (6 districts, now reorganised into 2 unitaries).

Indicator	North West	England & Wales
Total population	7,417,300	56,489,800
Population growth (2011–21)	+5.2%	+6.3%
Median age	40	40
Born outside UK	11.8%	17.4%
White British	81.5%	74.4%
Degree or higher (age 16+)	30.4%	33.8%
Home ownership	62.8%	61.3%

Greater Manchester: The Growth Engine

Greater Manchester is the North West's economic powerhouse and the largest metropolitan area outside London. The combined population in 2021 was 2,867,800 — accounting for 38.7% of the regional total.

Manchester City

Manchester city recorded 552,000 residents in 2021, up 9.7% from 2011. This growth was concentrated in the city centre and inner-ring neighbourhoods, driven by a massive expansion of purpose-built apartment blocks (particularly in Ancoats, Salford Quays, and Castlefield). Manchester's median age of 32 makes it one of the youngest local authorities in England — a function of its large university sector (University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan together enrol over 70,000 students) and its role as a migration destination for young professionals.

Manchester is also significantly more diverse than the North West average:

• White British: 53.5% (vs. 81.5% regionally)
• Asian or Asian British: 17.1% (concentrated in South Asian communities in Rusholme, Longsight, and Cheetham Hill)
• Black or Black British: 9.9%
• Degree-level qualifications: 40.1% (vs. 30.4% regionally)

Salford

Salford grew by 12.5% to 269,000, driven almost entirely by MediaCityUK and the surrounding residential developments at Salford Quays. The borough has a sharp internal divide: affluent new developments along the waterfront contrast with some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England (particularly in Little Hulton, Langworthy, and Ordsall).

Stockport, Trafford, and the Suburban Belt

The outer boroughs — Stockport, Trafford, Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Tameside, Oldham, Rochdale — grew more slowly (2–5%) and have older, more homogeneous populations. Trafford has the highest proportion of owner-occupied housing (70.7%) and the lowest deprivation levels in Greater Manchester. Bolton and Oldham have significant South Asian communities (over 20% Asian) and higher deprivation.

Liverpool City Region

The Liverpool City Region (LCR) — Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral, and Halton — recorded 1,575,700 residents in 2021, up 3.2% from 2011. Growth was concentrated in Liverpool city centre while some outer boroughs were essentially flat.

Liverpool

Liverpool city grew by 4.4% to 486,100. Like Manchester, the city centre has been transformed by apartment construction, and the university population (University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Liverpool Hope) underpins its young demographic profile (median age 35).

Liverpool remains one of the most deprived local authorities in England. In the IMD 2019, 34% of Liverpool's LSOAs were in the most deprived decile nationally. Health outcomes are significantly below the national average — 7.2% of residents reported "bad" or "very bad" health, compared to 5.3% nationally.

Knowsley

Knowsley is the most deprived local authority in Merseyside, with 36% of LSOAs in the most deprived decile. It has the North West's highest rate of economic inactivity among working-age adults (30.2% vs. 22.4% nationally) and the lowest proportion of degree-holders (20.1%).

Lancashire and Cumbria

The non-metropolitan parts of the North West present a sharply different picture from the cities.

Lancashire

Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn with Darwen, and Burnley are the main urban centres. Blackburn with Darwen has the highest non-White British population in Lancashire at 42.6% (predominantly Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities). Burnley and Pendle also have significant South Asian populations. Rural Lancashire (Ribble Valley, Fylde, South Ribble) is older, whiter, and more affluent.

Blackpool

Blackpool deserves special mention. It is the most deprived local authority in England according to the IMD 2019, with 39% of its LSOAs in the most deprived decile. The 2021 Census showed:

• Life expectancy gap: Blackpool has the lowest male life expectancy of any English local authority
• Health: 9.1% reported "bad" or "very bad" health (the highest rate in the North West)
• Qualifications: 26.6% of residents have no qualifications (vs. 18.2% nationally)
• Economic activity: High rates of long-term sickness as a reason for economic inactivity

Cumbria

Cumbria is the most sparsely populated part of the North West. The six districts (now reorganised into two unitaries, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness) had a combined population of 499,800 in 2021 — essentially unchanged from 2011. Cumbria's population is older (median age 47), more White British (96.4%), and more likely to own their home outright (36.7% vs. 30.7% nationally). The "Barriers to Housing and Services" deprivation domain scores poorly across rural Cumbria, reflecting the distance to GPs, schools, and public transport.

Housing and Tenure

The North West has higher home ownership (62.8%) than the national average (61.3%), driven by relatively affordable house prices in much of the region. However, housing tenure varies enormously:

• Highest ownership: Ribble Valley (76.2%), Fylde (73.1%), South Ribble (72.9%)
• Highest private renting: Manchester (33.4%), Liverpool (25.8%)
• Highest social renting: Knowsley (28.7%), Manchester (24.1%), Liverpool (22.3%)

The private rented sector has grown significantly in the city centres, particularly in Manchester where it now exceeds 33% — close to London levels. This reflects the growth of purpose-built student and young professional accommodation.

Deprivation in the North West

The North West has the second-highest concentration of deprivation after London (which has pockets of extreme deprivation alongside extreme wealth). Five of the ten most deprived local authorities in England are in the North West:

1. Blackpool — 39% of LSOAs in decile 1
2. Knowsley — 36%
3. Liverpool — 34%
4. Manchester — 33%
5. Burnley — 29%

Health deprivation is particularly acute. The North West has higher rates of limiting long-term illness, mental health conditions, and premature mortality than any other English region outside the North East. This health gap is persistent and has widened over recent decades.

Ethnic and Religious Diversity

The North West is less diverse than England and Wales as a whole, but with significant local variation:

• 81.5% White British (vs. 74.4% nationally)
• 5.8% Asian or Asian British (concentrated in Greater Manchester and east Lancashire)
• 2.2% Black or Black British (concentrated in Manchester and Liverpool)
• 2.4% Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups

Religion

The North West has a distinctive religious profile. It has the highest proportion of Christians of any English region (51.5% vs. 46.2% nationally) and significant Muslim communities in Manchester (15.8% of city residents), Blackburn with Darwen (31.5%), and Pendle (20.1%). The Liverpool–Manchester corridor has historically distinct Catholic and Protestant communities reflected in school provision and social infrastructure.

Economy and Qualifications

The North West's economic transformation from manufacturing to services is reflected in the census data:

• 30.4% hold a degree or higher (below the national 33.8%)
• 20.4% have no qualifications (above the national 18.2%)
• 3.9% were unemployed at Census Day (above the national 3.5%)

The qualification gap is starkest between cities and towns. Manchester (40.1% degree-holders) looks more like London than like its own region. Knowsley (20.1%), Blackpool (21.2%), and many east Lancashire authorities are well below the national average, reflecting the legacy of deindustrialisation and persistent educational underperformance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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