Data from the new census released today, Tuesday, has revealed how Bury’s population is ageing and not increasing as fast as the national average. 

The census takes place every 10 years, with every household in the UK required to take part.

The latest snapshot of England and Wales was captured on March 21, 2021.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said the population of England and Wales has increased by more than 3.5m in the 10 years leading up to the 2021 census with a total of 59,597,300 people.

Unsurprisingly, Bury and the North West’s populations have increased.

But Bury’s population has risen by 4.7 per cent from around 185,100 in 2011 to 193,800 in 2021 but the North West’s has jumped at a slightly higher rate (5.2 per cent).

These figures are also lower than the percentage increase of England (6.6 per cent).

Out of the 39 local authority areas in the North West, Bury was rated the 10th most densely populated area with around 14 people living in a football pitch sized area.

The data showed that Bury’s population is gradually ageing with there being an increase of almost 20 per cent of people in the borough aged 65 and over (19.8 per cent), compared to just a one per cent increase in 15 to 64-year-olds and a 5.2 per cent increase in children under 15 years.

Bury Times:

In 2011, the largest age group in the North West was those aged between 45 to 49 years.

However, in 2021, the largest age group was those aged between 50 to 54 years.

The balance of men and women has also shifted with Bury’s population is now 49.1 per cent male and 51 per cent female, meaning there is now a slightly higher proportion of men in the area than 10 years ago.

In 2011, people living in Bury were 49 per cent male and 51 per cent female.

There were 24.8m households in England and Wales on census day 2021, up from 23.4m in 2011, with an average of 2.4 people in each household - the same as in 2011.