Census 2011: East of England population rises to nearly 6 million
The population of the East of England has risen to more than 5.8 million since 2001, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown.
The population of the East on census day (27 March 2011) showed an increase of 8 per cent from 2001 when it was 5.4 million.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the first results from the 2011 Census today.
By comparison the population across the whole of England and Wales increased by 7 per cent to 56.1 million, the largest growth in population in any 10-year period since census taking began in 1801.
Jil Matheson, National Statistician said: "I'd like to thank everyone in the East of England for their support. The 2011 Census has been a resounding success and I am proud of the incredible effort that has been put in. It is a rich source of information about the population and its characteristics.
“Across England and Wales around 19 out of 20 people responded and we have excellent statistical methods for ensuring we have a complete estimate of the whole population. These statistics will provide valuable information for planners, policy-makers and the public for years to come."
Most local authorities in the region increased in population since 2001, although Tendring had a small decrease (0.6 per cent). Peterborough grew the most with a population increase since 2001 of 26,200 (17 per cent).
The largest local authority in the East of England by population was Central Bedfordshire with 254,000 people, an increase of 20,400 (9 per cent) between 2001 and 2011.
Forest Heath was the local authority with the fewest people (59,700).
Luton was the most densely populated with almost 4,700 people per square kilometre, which equates to around 47 people on a rugby pitch. The least densely populated was Breckland, with 100 people per square kilometre.
The local authority with the largest proportion of people aged 65 and over was North Norfolk with 29 per cent; the smallest proportion was in Luton (12 per cent). Conversely, Luton had the largest proportion of people aged 19 and under (28 per cent) and North Norfolk the smallest (19 per cent).
Across England and Wales there has been a 13 per cent increase in the number of children under five, with over 400,000 more than in 2001. In the East of England there were 40,000 more under-fives compared to 2001, an increase of 12 per cent. Luton had the largest proportion in this age group with 8 per cent, with the smallest proportion in North Norfolk (4 per cent).
The total number of households in the East of England was 2.4 million. Luton had the highest average household size with 2.7 people, with the lowest in Norwich (2.1).
Local Authorities in East of England ranked by population size in 2011 Census
Change 2001-2011 (per cent)
Central Bedfordshire (8.7%)
2011: 254,400
2001: 234,000
Luton (9.3%)
2011: 203,200
2001: 185,900
Peterborough (16.6%)
2011: 183,600
2001: 157,400
Basildon (5.2%)
2011: 174,500
2001: 165,900
Southend-on-Sea (8.2%)
2011: 173,600
2001: 160,400
Colchester (11%)
2011: 173,100
2001: 156,000
Huntingdonshire (7.8%)
2011: 169,500
2001: 157,200
Chelmsford (7%)
2011: 168,300
2001: 157,300
Thurrock (10%)
2011: 157,700
2001: 143,300
Bedford (6.3%)
2011: 157,500
2001: 148,100
South Cambridgeshire (14%)
2011: 148,800
2001: 130,500
King's Lynn and West Norfolk (8.8%)
2011: 147,500
2001: 135,600
Braintree (11%)
2011: 147,100
2001: 132,500
Dacorum (5.1%)
2011: 144,800
2001: 137,800
St Albans (8.8%)
2011: 140,600
2001: 129,200
Tendring (-0.6%)
2011: 138,000
2001: 138,800
East Hertfordshire (6.7%)
2011: 137,700
2001: 129,100
Ipswich (13.8%)
2011: 133,400
2001: 117,200
Norwich (8.3%)
2011: 132,500
2001: 122,400
Breckland (7.3%)
2011: 130,500
2001: 121,600
North Hertfordshire (8.5%)
2011: 127,100
2001: 117,100
Epping Forest (3.15)
2011: 124,700
2001: 121,000
Broadland (5%)
2011: 124,700
2001: 118,800
Suffolk Coastal (7.9%)
2011: 124,300
2001: 115,200
South Norfolk (11.9%)
2011: 124,000
2001: 110,800
Cambridge (12.7%)
2011: 123,900
2001: 109,900
Waveney (2.5%)
2011: 115,300
2001: 112,500
St Edmundsbury (12.9%)
2011: 111,000
2001: 98,300
Welwyn Hatfield (13.2%)
2011: 110,500
2001: 97,600
North Norfolk (3%)
2011: 101,500
2001: 98,500
Hertsmere (5.8%)
2011: 100,000
2001: 94,500
Great Yarmouth (7%)
2011: 97,300
2001: 90,900
Mid Suffolk (11.1%)
2011: 96,700
2001: 87,000
Fenland (13.9%)
2011: 95,300
2001: 83,700
Broxbourne (7.3%)
2011: 93,600
2001: 87,200
Watford (12.3%)
2011: 90,300
2001: 80,400
Castle Point (1.5%)
2011: 88,000
2001: 86,700
Babergh (5%)
2011: 87,700
2001: 83,500
Three Rivers (5.3%)
2011: 87,300
2001: 82,900
Stevenage (5.3%)
2011: 84,000
2001: 79,800
East Cambridgeshire (14.2%)
2011: 83,800
2001: 73,400
Rochford (5.8%)
2011: 83,300
2001: 78,700
Harlow (3.9%)
2011: 81,900
2001: 78,800
Uttlesford (15.1%)
2011: 79,400
2001: 69,000
Brentwood (7.4%)
2011: 73,600
2001: 68,500
Maldon (3.4%)
2011: 61,600
2001: 59,600
Forest Heath (6.4%)
2011: 59,700
2001: 56,100
Northampton (9.1%)
2011: 212,100
2001: 194,400
Kettering (13.6%)
2011: 93,500
2001: 82,300
East Northamptonshire (13%)
2011: 86,800
2001: 76,800
South Northamptonshire (7.2%)
2011: 85,200
2001: 79,500
Wellingborough (4%)
2011: 75,400
2001: 72,500
Corby (14.8%)
2011: 61,300
2001: 53,400
Milton Keynes (17%)
2011: 248,800
2001: 212,700