Counting heads in Herts – 2011 Census results now in...

(23rd July 2012)

The Office for National Statistics has released the first wave of results from the 2011 Census.

The census provides detailed information about Hertfordshire’s changing population and influences the amount of government funding your local county council receives to provide services for our residents. The population trends identified in the census also help us to plan our services for the years ahead.

Leader of Hertfordshire County Council Robert Gordon said: “The county council uses a variety of methods to gather information about our changing population. The census findings have given us confidence that we are making the right decisions when it comes to planning our services.

"It is critical, particularly when funds are so tight, that we make sure we allocate our resources to the people and places that need them most. These early census results have confirmed that we have a growing number of young children in the county, which is why we are currently working hard to increase the number of school places available for very young children as near as possible to their homes.

"The data also confirms that, like the country as a whole, Hertfordshire has a growing population of older people. How their long-term care is funded is currently the topic of national debate. However, Hertfordshire County Council is already planning ahead through a number of initiatives to help people manage their own care and stay independent for as long as possible.”

The figures released so far provide some interesting headlines for the county:

The total estimated resident population for Hertfordshire is 1,116,000. This increase of 7.9 per cent (82,000) between 2001 and 2011 is in line with the England average.

• There are fewer people in the county aged between 30 and 39, than there were in 2001, while the number of people over 40 has grown during this period.

• Hertfordshire has a higher proportion of people in the 0 to 14 age group than the English average.

• There are fewer people aged 15 to 24 in Hertfordshire than the national average.

There are also some interesting variations by district:

• The population has increased most in Watford and Welwyn Hatfield, and least in Dacorum, Stevenage and Three Rivers.

• Dacorum remains the most populous district with 144,800 residents.

• The district with the fewest residents is Stevenage, with 84,000 residents.

• Of all the districts, St Albans has the highest percentage of people aged 0 to 14 in its population (20.1 per cent).

• Watford has the highest percentage (56 per cent) of people aged 25 to 64 in its population.

• North Herts has the highest percentage (17.2 per cent) of people over 65 in its population.

• There are more females than males in all districts, but the number of males has increased at a higher rate than females in all districts except for Broxbourne and St Albans.

Related categories