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Kirklees, in numbers

People and living standards

Kirklees council area. Every figure carries its own date.

How the population is changing, who lives here and what living standards look like.

Kirklees council area. These are council-area figures. They are not a separate history for every ward or the city centre.

More people? A different age mix?

The population grew from 378,967 in 1991 to 445,832 in 2025.

A growing number of children, working-age adults or older residents can mean different needs for homes, schools, jobs and care.

Population

1996 to 2025

Kirklees council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 383,815 people in 1996; 445,832 people in 2025. 16.2% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Population — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991378,967
1992380,115
1993382,064
1994382,683
1995383,208
1996383,815
1997383,942
1998384,675
1999385,290
2000386,892
2001388,980
2002392,118
2003394,486
2004397,530
2005400,724
2006404,266
2007407,974
2008411,807
2009414,785
2010418,339
2011422,970
2012424,922
2013427,009
2014429,036
2015431,110
2016432,588
2017433,393
2018433,571
2019433,259
2020432,878
2021433,458
2022438,007
2023442,743
2024445,780
2025445,832
Source →
People aged 0 to 15

People aged 0 to 15

1996 to 2025

Kirklees council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 83,624 people in 1996; 86,296 people in 2025. 3.2% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 0 to 15 — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199181,405
199282,127
199383,046
199483,641
199583,564
199683,624
199783,563
199883,738
199984,043
200084,169
200183,962
200284,120
200384,070
200483,983
200584,082
200684,052
200784,087
200884,657
200985,080
201085,367
201186,222
201286,547
201386,877
201487,334
201587,618
201688,024
201788,667
201888,523
201987,938
202087,221
202186,647
202286,944
202387,320
202487,199
202586,296
Source →
People aged 16 to 64

People aged 16 to 64

1996 to 2025

Kirklees council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 243,139 people in 1996; 277,063 people in 2025. 14% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 16 to 64 — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991240,983
1992241,120
1993241,885
1994242,052
1995242,502
1996243,139
1997243,594
1998244,219
1999244,856
2000246,153
2001248,073
2002250,774
2003252,777
2004255,498
2005258,233
2006261,464
2007264,459
2008266,701
2009268,067
2010269,871
2011272,007
2012271,061
2013270,841
2014270,676
2015271,122
2016271,080
2017270,256
2018269,814
2019269,214
2020268,975
2021269,547
2022272,569
2023275,530
2024277,408
2025277,063
Source →
People aged 65 or over

People aged 65 or over

1996 to 2025

Kirklees council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 57,052 people in 1996; 82,473 people in 2025. 44.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 65 or over — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199156,579
199256,868
199357,133
199456,990
199557,142
199657,052
199756,785
199856,718
199956,391
200056,570
200156,945
200257,224
200357,639
200458,049
200558,409
200658,750
200759,428
200860,449
200961,638
201063,101
201164,741
201267,314
201369,291
201471,026
201572,370
201673,484
201774,470
201875,234
201976,107
202076,682
202177,264
202278,494
202379,893
202481,173
202582,473
Source →

Population growth alone does not show whether services are under pressure. Capacity, location and residents’ needs also matter.

How residents described their ethnic group

These are census snapshots, not annual estimates. Open a year to see both the number of people and their share of the population.

2021 census · 433,213 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Kirklees · 2021
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh84,20219.4%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African9,9482.3%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups13,5883.1%
White318,96973.6%
Other ethnic group6,5061.5%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2011 census · 422,458 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Kirklees · 2011
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White334,27079.1%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups9,7902.3%
Asian/Asian British67,78216%
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British7,9051.9%
Other ethnic group2,7110.6%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2001 census · 388,567 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Kirklees · 2001
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White332,65985.6%
Mixed5,4141.4%
Asian/Asian British44,10511.4%
Black/Black British5,2461.4%
Chinese/Other1,1430.3%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →

A complete, comparable 30-year ethnicity history is not available for every current area. Missing years have not been estimated.

How comfortable is life here?

Pay, housing costs, health and opportunities tell different parts of the story. An area average can hide large differences between households.

In 2024, average disposable income per person was 19.5% below the UK average.

Money available to spend or save per person

1997 to 2024

Kirklees council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £9,031 per person in 1997; £20,911 per person in 2024. 131.5% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Money available to spend or save per person — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Period£ per person, current prices
19979,031
19989,231
19999,673
200010,157
200110,442
200210,620
200311,098
200411,524
200511,772
200612,129
200712,690
200812,729
200912,995
201013,024
201113,223
201213,715
201314,169
201414,612
201515,297
201615,293
201715,707
201816,335
201917,037
202017,071
202117,594
202218,456
202319,760
202420,911
Source →
Has the gap with the UK average changed?

Above zero means income is above the UK average; below zero means it is below. Each year is compared with the UK average for that same year.

Income above or below the UK average

1997 to 2024

Kirklees council area · %

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: -14.9% in 1997; -19.5% in 2024. 4.6 percentage points lower.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils. Displayed as the published UK=100 value minus 100, giving the percentage above or below the UK average.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Income above or below the UK average — Kirklees council area: full reviewed history
Period%
1997-14.9
1998-14.7
1999-14.5
2000-14.7
2001-15.6
2002-16.1
2003-14.9
2004-15.1
2005-16.3
2006-17.2
2007-17.3
2008-19.2
2009-18.8
2010-19.4
2011-18.8
2012-18.8
2013-19.1
2014-19.2
2015-19.6
2016-20.6
2017-20.3
2018-20
2019-19.1
2020-18.7
2021-19.5
2022-19.6
2023-19.2
2024-19.5
Source →

Mixed-source official estimates: administrative records and surveys. Income here is the average money per resident available to spend or save after tax and benefits. It is not typical pay or household wealth. Cash figures do not show how much prices changed.

Adults in work

54.9%

21 March 2021 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

All usual residents aged 16 and over

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

Source →

Households facing several disadvantages

19.9%

21 March 2021 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

All households

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Adults with no qualifications

20.7%

21 March 2021 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

Residents aged 16 and over

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

People reporting bad or very bad health

5.6%

21 March 2021 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Average home price

£209,000

July 2026 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Published UK House Price Index average price, all property types and all buyers, not seasonally adjusted. Entire series comes from the 2026-07 official full-file release, preserving its historical revisions and exact area codes. It is a mix-adjusted average, not the median price paid.

Source →

Average monthly private rent

£782

August 2026 · Kirklees council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Official local housing data feed. House prices are provisional, not seasonally adjusted; rents use the Price Index of Private Rents. Local short-term estimates are variable. Country references use only the explicitly country-coded ctry object, never the local place object.

Source →

Deprivation describes several kinds of disadvantage. It is not a measure of household wealth. A change in an area's ranking does not by itself show whether living conditions improved.

See differences between neighbourhoods →

What could the changes mean locally?

Use the age profile alongside school places and care capacity, and look at housing costs alongside pay. Then check whether local plans respond to the needs shown by the evidence.

Read the local action plan →
Which histories are missing or need care?

These histories describe the stated whole area. A consistent historical series for its current wards has not been established.

1991 ethnicity has not been reconstructed to this current area. No annual ethnicity values are inferred between census dates.

These local income figures include inflation. No local inflation-adjusted income series has been substituted or inferred from regional prices.

This series describes the stated council or reference area. A comparable 30-year income history for its current wards has not been established.

The reviewed release starts in 1997. Earlier income values have not been invented or joined from another definition.