2021 Census Nottingham City
Demography
Background
The 2021 National Census took place on 21st March 2021. The first results were released in
September 2022 and gave population and household counts for Local Authority areas. On
2nd November 2022, more detailed data for the first of a series of topic areas was released
on Population, Demography, Households and Country of Birth, for small geographical areas.
This note summarises some of the data for Nottingham City.
Future releases of data are scheduled throughout November, December and January, and
will cover topic areas such as Ethnicity, Housing, Health and Education.
Further analysis of Census data and topics will be made available through the Nottingham
Insight website www.nottinghaminsight.org.uk/research-areas/census as they are released.
Summary

On Census Day, the size of the usual resident population in Nottingham was 323,627; an
increase of nearly 18,000 (5.9%) since the last Census in 2011, when it was 305,680.

The median age in Nottingham was 31 years; one of the lowest of all Local Authority areas.

There were 124,745 households in Nottingham on Census Day; a decrease of 1,386 (-1.1%)
since 2011, when there were 126,131 households.

7% of the population in Nottingham lives in Communal Establishments, which is the 6th
highest of all Local Authorities.

25% of the population were born outside of the UK, with the largest numbers from Pakistan,
Poland, India, Nigeria and Romania.

Of the Nottingham residents who were born outside of the UK, nearly half have been
resident in the UK for 10 years or more. Just 17% have been resident for less than 2 years.
Population
There were 323,627 people living in Nottingham on 21st March 2021. This is 17,947 more
(5.9%) than in 2011.
The increase between 2011 and 2021 is lower than the overall increase for England (6.6%)
and the East Midlands (7.7%)
Surrounding Local Authorities saw varying increases with Rushcliffe seeing the largest
growth in population between 2011 and 2021 of 7.1%, Gedling saw an increase of 3.3%
and Broxtowe saw smaller growth of 1.3%.
Of the 8 Core Cities, Nottingham saw the 6th highest growth on population, higher than
Liverpool and Sheffield. Bristol and Manchester both saw increases of around 10%.
Population density
Nottingham had 4,338 people per square kilometre in 2021, 35th in England, and 6th
excluding London Boroughs.
Age
By age, the biggest increases between the 2011 Census and the 2021 Census were seen in
the 5-19 age bands (+17.4%) and the 50-59 age bands (+19.6%)
Due to the large numbers of students at the two Universities, Nottingham continues to have
a different age structure to the national average, with 30.8% of the population being between
15 and 29, and nearly half (48%) aged under 30. This compares to 18.3% and 35.7%
respectively for England.
The median age in Nottingham is 31, the second youngest of all Local Authorities, along with
Oxford, Cambridge and Manchester. The youngest was Tower Hamlets with a median age
of 30.
Figure 1: Population Pyramid showing age structure of Nottingham City (bars) and England
(lines)
Sex
There were 164,628 women (50.9% of the population) and 159,004 men (49.1%) in
Nottingham. The split is almost identical to the national average.
Legal Partnership status
Over half of all over 16’s in Nottingham have never been married or registered a civil
partnership. This includes those who are cohabiting in opposite or same sex partnerships.
30.4% are married to someone of the opposite sex and 0.2% are married to someone of the
same sex. A further 0.1% are in a registered civil partnership with someone of the same
sex.
Table 1: Marital and Partnership Status, Nottingham, over 16s
Marital and civil partnership status
Never married and never registered a civil partnership
Married: Opposite sex
Married: Same sex
In a registered civil partnership: Opposite sex
In a registered civil partnership: Same sex
Separated, but still married
Separated, but still in a registered civil partnership
Divorced
Formerly in a civil partnership now legally dissolved
Widowed
Surviving partner from civil partnership
Total
Number
%
145,860
55.2%
80,229
30.4%
658
0.2%
196
0.1%
355
0.1%
5,614
2.1%
37
0.0%
19,558
7.4%
57
0.0%
11,737
4.4%
20
0.0%
264,321
100.0%
Households
Number of households
There were 124,745 households in Nottingham on 21st March 2021. This is 1,386 fewer (1.1%) than in 2011, although this is likely to be due to the way communal households,
including communal student households, have been counted in 20211. Nottingham was one
of only 12 Local Authority areas that saw a decrease in households and an increase in
population. Oxford was another.
Initial analysis suggests that the largest ‘falls’ in household numbers are mostly in areas
around the City Centre and inner city, often with large numbers of students.
Overall, the number of households in England increased by 6.2% between 2011 and 2021,
with the East Midlands seeing an increase of 7.5%.
1
Further information on how Communal establishments were counted is due to be released in early
2023.
Household composition
A third of Nottingham’s households are comprised of one person, with 22.8% being under
retirement age. The comparable figures for England are 30.1% and 17.3%.
13.7% are comprised of single parent households, higher than the 11.1% nationally, and
31st highest of all Local Authority areas.
‘Other’ household types including full time students, comprise 8.4%, the 19th highest of all
Local Authority areas.
The median household size in Nottingham is 1.5 people, similar to the national average.
Households by deprivation dimensions
1. The release of Census 2021 data provided estimates that classify households by four
dimensions of deprivation2: employment, education, health and disability, and
household overcrowding. 41.6% of households in Nottingham were not deprived in
any dimension, lower than the national figures of 48.4%. 366 households (0.3%)
were considered to be deprived in all four dimensions, slightly higher than the
national figure of 0.2%.
Table 2: Households deprived by deprivation dimension, Nottingham
Household deprivation
Household is not deprived in any dimension
Household is deprived in one dimension
Household is deprived in two dimensions
Household is deprived in three dimensions
Household is deprived in four dimensions
Total
Number of
% of
households
households
51,881
41.6%
42,946
34.4%
22,536
18.1%
7,016
5.6%
366
0.3%
124,745
100.0%
Number of usual residents in households and communal establishments
7% of the population in Nottingham lives in Communal Establishments, which is the 6th
highest of all Local Authorities, behind Cambridge, Oxford, Rutland, Exeter and Lincoln. The
average for England is 1.7%.
2
A household is classified as deprived in the education dimension if no one has at least level 2 education and
no one aged 16 to 18 years is a full-time student. A household is classified as deprived in the employment
dimension if any member, not a full-time student, is either unemployed or disabled. A household is classified
as deprived in the health dimension if any member is disabled. A household is classified as deprived in the
housing dimension if the household's accommodation is either overcrowded, in a shared dwelling, or has no
central heating.
Country of Birth
Age of arrival
79,499 people in Nottingham – 25% of the population - were born outside of the UK. Over
half of these arrived in the UK between 20 and 44 years of age.
Country of birth
The greatest numbers of people who were born outside of the UK, were from the Middle
East and Asia area, specifically, Pakistan (9,042) and India (5,604), with particular states
within the EU also having high numbers, specifically Poland (8,844) and Romania (3,333).
Nottingham also has large numbers of people who were born in Nigeria (3,442).
Table 3: Country of Birth, Nottingham – all countries over 2,000 people
Country of birth
Pakistan
Poland
India
Nigeria
Other EU countries
Romania
Jamaica
Italy
Other South and Eastern Africa
Other Middle East
North Africa
China
Number %
9,042
11.4%
8,844
11.1%
5,604
7.0%
3,442
4.3%
3,367
4.2%
3,333
4.2%
2,863
3.6%
2,607
3.3%
2,441
3.1%
2,315
2.9%
2,301
2.9%
2,165
2.7%
Of the Nottingham residents who were born outside of the UK, nearly half have been
resident in the UK for 10 years or more. Just 17% have been resident for less than 2 years.
Figure 2: Length of residence in the UK – Nottingham residents born outside of the UK
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
10 years or more
5 years or more,
but less than 10
years
2 years or more,
but less than 5
years
Less than 2 years
Future Releases
Further Census results are being released by the Office for National Statistics throughout the
rest of 2022 and 2023, and any analysis undertaken for the City will be added to Nottingham
Insight - Census - Nottingham Insight - as it is made available.
The current timetable for the next releases of results is as follows:
Ethnic Group, National Identity, Language, and Religion
Labour Market and Travel to Work
Housing
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Education
Health Disability and Unpaid Care
29th November 2022
8th December 2022
5th January 2023
6th January 2023
10th January 2023
19th January 2023
These will be followed by data which combines multiple variables, which is likely to be after
January 2023.
Contact details
If you have any specific queries about this Census data or any future releases, please contact:
Nicola Kirk
Information and Research Officer
Policy and Research
Nottingham City Council
Email: nicola.kirk@nottinghamcity.gov.uk