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Somerset county profile: England and Wales Census 2021.
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200120112021 / 2022
England & Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
Geographic county profile
Somerset
England and Wales — ew-census-2021-v5. The county dossier covers geographic history and place; this profile presents detailed contemporary Census statistics. Open the interactive map.
At a glance
- Population
- 1,142,655
- Population density
- Aged 65+
- 22.2%
Census 2021
Census 2021
Census 2021
| Measure | Value | Jurisdiction rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,142,655 | 20 of 52 |
| Population density | 27 of 52 | |
| Aged 65+ | 22.2% | 24 of 52 |
View all 118 Census measures
| Topic | Measure | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Migration & mobility | Born in Africa | 1.2% |
| Population & demography | Aged 0–14 | 16.2% |
| Population & demography | Aged 15–64 | 61.6% |
| Population & demography | Aged 65+ | 22.2% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in the Americas or Caribbean | 0.8% |
| Population & demography | Area | |
| Migration & mobility | Recent arrivals among non-UK-born residents | 46.0% |
| Migration & mobility | Arrived in UK 2011–2021 | 4.5% |
| Migration & mobility | Arrived in UK before age 18 (migrants) | 34.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Multi-person households with 2+ religions | 1.1% |
| Households & housing | Bedroom overcrowding | 2.3% |
| Households & housing | 2+ spare bedrooms | 40.9% |
| Work, education & travel | Cycles to work | 2.5% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in the UK | 90.2% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in British Overseas territories | <0.1% |
| Work, education & travel | Travels to work by bus | 2.4% |
| Other | Cannot speak English well or at all | 0.7% |
| Households & relationships | Cohabiting-couple households | 12.2% |
| Population & demography | Population density | |
| Households & housing | Detached homes | 27.2% |
| Health, disability & care | Disabled under Equality Act definition | 18.3% |
| Households & housing | Drives a car or van to work | 48.5% |
| Work, education & travel | Economically active | 60.2% |
| Work, education & travel | Economically inactive | 39.8% |
| Households & housing | Electric heating only | 9.7% |
| Identity, language & religion | Asian ethnic group | 2.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Black ethnic group | 0.9% |
| Identity, language & religion | Mixed ethnic group | 1.9% |
| Identity, language & religion | Other ethnic group | 0.6% |
| Identity, language & religion | White ethnic group | 94.5% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in EU countries | 5.1% |
| Population & demography | Female population | 51.1% |
| Households & housing | Households with 4+ bedrooms | 23.7% |
| Households & housing | Households with 4+ people | 17.8% |
| Work, education & travel | Full-time workers | 68.0% |
| Households & housing | Has a second address | 5.9% |
| Health, disability & care | Bad or very bad health | 5.1% |
| Health, disability & care | Good or very good health | 81.9% |
| Population & demography | Households | 491,715 |
| Households & housing | Households deprived in 2+ dimensions | 15.8% |
| Identity, language & religion | Households with no English/Welsh main language | 2.7% |
| Households & housing | Households not deprived | 50.8% |
| Households & relationships | Households with dependent children | 25.7% |
| Health, disability & care | Households with a disabled person | 32.7% |
| Identity, language & religion | British identity only | 55.4% |
| Identity, language & religion | English identity only | 17.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Non-UK identity only | 6.3% |
| Identity, language & religion | Welsh identity only | 0.8% |
| Work, education & travel | In employment | 57.7% |
| Households & relationships | Divorced or civil partnership dissolved | 9.9% |
| Households & relationships | Married or in civil partnership | 46.3% |
| Households & relationships | Never married / civil partnered | 35.1% |
| Households & relationships | Separated | 2.1% |
| Households & relationships | Widowed or surviving civil partner | 6.6% |
| Households & housing | Lives rent free | 0.1% |
| Households & relationships | Lone-parent households | 9.2% |
| Identity, language & religion | Main language not English/Welsh | 4.7% |
| Households & housing | Mains gas heating only | 68.2% |
| Population & demography | Male population | 48.9% |
| Households & relationships | Married/civil-partnership couple households | 30.3% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in Middle East or Asia | 2.0% |
| Migration & mobility | Moved from outside UK in previous year | 0.8% |
| Migration & mobility | Moved within UK in previous year | 10.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Multi-ethnic-group multi-person households | 11.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Multi-person households with multiple main languages | 4.4% |
| Households & housing | Households with no car or van | 16.7% |
| Households & housing | No central heating | 1.4% |
| Migration & mobility | No passport held | 15.7% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in non-EU Europe | 0.4% |
| Migration & mobility | Born outside the UK | 9.8% |
| Migration & mobility | Non-UK short-term residents | 1,929 |
| Migration & mobility | Female share of non-UK short-term residents | 53.8% |
| Work, education & travel | Not employed and never worked | 17.9% |
| Work, education & travel | Not employed but worked in previous 12 months | 12.7% |
| Work, education & travel | Higher managerial and professional occupations | 13.2% |
| Work, education & travel | Professional occupations | 19.3% |
| Work, education & travel | Skilled trades occupations | 11.9% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in Oceania / other | 0.3% |
| Households & housing | Oil heating only | 7.3% |
| Households & housing | One-bedroom households | 10.4% |
| Households & relationships | One-person households aged 66+ | 14.5% |
| Households & housing | One-person households | 30.1% |
| Households & housing | Households with 1–2 rooms | 9.9% |
| Households & relationships | Other household types | 6.0% |
| Households & housing | Owned outright | 37.6% |
| Households & housing | Owner-occupied households | 66.5% |
| Households & housing | Owned with mortgage or loan | 29.0% |
| Work, education & travel | Part-time workers | 32.0% |
| Population & demography | Population | 1,142,655 |
| Households & housing | Private rented | 18.5% |
| Health, disability & care | Provides 50+ hours unpaid care | 2.6% |
| Health, disability & care | Provides unpaid care | 8.9% |
| Households & housing | Purpose-built flats | 12.2% |
| Work, education & travel | Level 4+ qualifications | 33.5% |
| Work, education & travel | No qualifications | 16.1% |
| Identity, language & religion | Christian | 45.8% |
| Identity, language & religion | Hindu | 0.3% |
| Identity, language & religion | Muslim | 1.0% |
| Identity, language & religion | No religion | 45.2% |
| Households & housing | Room overcrowding | 3.9% |
| Work, education & travel | Schoolchild or full-time student | 18.6% |
| Households & housing | Holiday home share of second addresses | 12.4% |
| Households & housing | Second address outside UK | 1.1% |
| Households & housing | Student share of second addresses | 23.3% |
| Households & housing | Households with 7+ rooms | 7.9% |
| Other | Shared ownership | 1.0% |
| Households & relationships | Single-family households | 63.9% |
| Households & housing | Social rented | 14.0% |
| Work, education & travel | Travels to work by train | 0.5% |
| Households & housing | Households with 2+ cars or vans | 41.4% |
| Migration & mobility | Born in the UK | 90.2% |
| Migration & mobility | UK residence under 5 years | 2.6% |
| Work, education & travel | Unemployed | 2.5% |
| Work, education & travel | Walks to work | 9.7% |
| Work, education & travel | Works mainly from home | 31.0% |
| Work, education & travel | Travels 30km+ to work | 4.5% |
| Work, education & travel | Works 49+ hours | 11.0% |
| Work, education & travel | Works mainly from home | 31.0% |
Sources and methodology
Observations come from the versioned England and Wales Census adapter release. Use the release-specific source notes before drawing cross-jurisdiction conclusions.
Change over time
Historical observations are shown in Census-year order. Published change is limited to the declared release pairs; this is not an annual series.
Published Census history for Somerset
| Measure | 2001 Census | 2011 Census | 2021 Census | Published change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual resident population | 990,928 | 1,053,858 | 1,142,655 | 2001 to 201162,9306.35% 2011 to 202188,7978.43% |
| Usual resident population density | 2001 to 201138.6 people per sq mi (14.89 people per km²)6.35% 2011 to 202154.4 people per sq mi (21.0 people per km²)8.43% | |||
| Residents aged 65 and over | 18.65% | 19.72% | 22.2% | 2001 to 20111.07 percentage points 2011 to 20212.52 percentage points |
| Households with no car or van | 20.11% | 18.86% | 16.7% | 2001 to 2011Release-specific household denominator and category definitions are retained; no public change pair is published. 2011 to 2021Qualified household series require the release-specific denominator and category note to remain visible. |
| Owner-occupied households | 73.63% | 68.15% | 66.5% | 2001 to 2011Release-specific household denominator and category definitions are retained; no public change pair is published. 2011 to 2021Qualified household series require the release-specific denominator and category note to remain visible. |
| Private-rented households | 9.43% | 15.66% | 18.5% | 2001 to 2011Release-specific household denominator and category definitions are retained; no public change pair is published. 2011 to 2021Qualified household series require the release-specific denominator and category note to remain visible. |
Historical sources and methodology: 2001 to 2011
Historical release: England and Wales Census 2001 (ew-census-2001-v2). Official source: ONS Census 2001 via Nomis KS001, KS002, KS017 and UV063.
Official Census small-area data are reproducibly allocated to the fixed Definition A geographic counties using the locked historical methodology. Source statistical areas are not themselves geographic counties.
Paired current release: England and Wales Census 2011 (ew-census-2011-v1). Official source: ONS Census 2011 via Nomis bulk data.
Comparability: Comparable with qualifications.
Historical sources and methodology: 2011 to 2021
Historical release: England and Wales Census 2011 (ew-census-2011-v1). Official source: ONS Census 2011 via Nomis bulk data.
Official Census small-area data are reproducibly allocated to the fixed Definition A geographic counties using the locked historical methodology. Source statistical areas are not themselves geographic counties.
Paired current release: England and Wales Census 2021 (ew-census-2021-v5). Official source: ONS Census 2021 via Nomis bulk data.
Comparability: Comparable with qualifications.
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Sources, releases and methodology
- England and Wales — Census 2021 (ONS Census 2021 via Nomis bulk data)
- Scotland — Census 2022 (NRS / Scotland's Census 2022)
- Northern Ireland — Census 2021 (NISRA Census 2021)
Versioned provenance and adapter artifacts support these values. The map is Definition A geometry simplified only for thematic display.