The demographics of England have been measured by the decennial national census since 1801, and are marked by centuries of population growth and urbanization. Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources, estimates of the population of England for dates prior to the first census in 1801 vary considerably. The population of England at the 2021 census was about 56,489,800.
The population of England in 2021 was estimated to be 56,489,800. This is the most recent census. In the previous census, in 2011, the population was 53,012,456.
Data for the 2021 census:
Russell (1948) states that the fundamental demographic categories of the Domesday Survey in 1086 were broadly similar to that of the Poll Tax Survey of 1377. These were:
There was a recorded 740 monks, 200 nuns and 4500 secular clergy in 1086. The counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire all had different boundaries to their modern namesakes and had uncharacteristically low populations due to the Harrying of the North.
Russell (1948) therefore calculates a total English population in 1086 as 1,105,216 including burgesses, landowners and clergy. To this he adds estimates of Wales (100,000), Ireland (400,000) and Scotland (120,000) for a total British Isles population of roughly 1,720,000.
This is UK wide information.
(c) = Census results.
In 2024, 34.7% of live births were to mothers born outside the UK and for 40.4% of live births, one or both parents were born outside of the UK.
The number of registered births and deaths correspond to England and Wales, since the Office for National Statistics provides provisional monthly birth data without distinguishing both countries.
Country of birth given by respondents in the corresponding UK censuses were as follows:
Below are the estimates of the largest foreign-born groups in England according to ONS estimates.
The data below is based on the 2011 census. In 2001, the mean age of England's population was 38.60, and the median age was 37.00. In 2022, the median age was 40.5.
Notes for table above
The ethnicity of school pupils in England has been changing since the figures were first published in 1997, White and especially White British students proportionally have been in decline compared to other groups who have risen.
The most common main languages spoken in England according to the 2011 census are shown below.
Respondents to the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses gave their religions as follows: