Census 2011: population increase in Midlands

The population of the Midlands on census day (27 March 2011) was 10.1 million, an increase from 2001 when it was 9.5 million.

The population of the West Midlands was 5.6 million, an increase of 6 per cent from 2001 when it was 5.3 million. The population of the East Midlands on census day was 4.5 million – an increase of 8 per cent from 2001 when it was 4.2 million.

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.

All local authorities in the West Midlands grew in population. The largest growth was in Rugby (14 per cent) and the smallest growth was 0.3 per cent in North Warwickshire which also had the smallest population (62,000).

Birmingham was the largest local authority by population in the whole of England and Wales with 1.1 million people, an increase of 88,000 (9 per cent) between 2001 and 2011. Birmingham is the only local authority in England and Wales with a population greater than a million.

Birmingham was also the most densely populated local authority in the region with 4,000 people per square kilometre, which equates to 40 people on a rugby pitch. The least densely populated was the County of Herefordshire, with 88 people per square kilometre.

Leicester was the largest local authority in the East Midlands with 330,000 people, a 47,000 increase.

Leicester grew the most (17 per cent) in the region and the next greatest population growths were in South Derbyshire and Boston, both with 16 per cent. Rutland had the smallest population with 37,000 people, but it still grew by more than 8 per cent from 2001 to 2011.

Leicester was the most densely populated with 4,500 people per square kilometre, which equates to about 45 people on a rugby pitch. The least densely populated local authority was West Lindsey with 77 people per square kilometre.