The first results of the 2021 Census have been released this week by the Office for National Statistics, providing a glimpse of how Horsham District's population has changed over the past decade.
The population size of the District has increased by 11.8%, from around 131,300 in 2011 to 146,800 in 2021.This is higher than the overall increase for England (6.6%), where the population grew by nearly 3.5 million to 56,489,800 and higher than the increase for the Southeast (7.5%).
Horsham District Council Leader and Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Jonathan Chowen commented:
Whilst these results show that Horsham District is a great place to live, it also highlights that we are building more houses than the national average.
This is unsustainable as it causes environmental and water stress issues, highlighted by both the Council and Natural England’s “pause” on all development currently until an answer to these climate change challenges can be found.
The results come as no surprise really as the area continues to be recognised as a great place to live, work and spend valuable leisure time, and is often voted as one of the best places to live in the UK.
But as a council we will strive to put the environment at the top of our agenda, whilst working with our communities and parishes to deliver excellent services in parks, recycling, sport, leisure and culture.
Cllr Jonathan Chowen, HDC Leader and Cabinet Member for the Local Economy
The first results from the 2021 Census show an increase in the usual resident population of England and Wales of 6.3% compared with Census Day 2011,resulting in a population of 59,597,300 million on Census Day, 21 March 2021.
This was the largest population ever recorded through a census in England and Wales – an increase of more than 3.5 million (6.3%) compared with Census Day 2011.
Commenting on the numbers, the Office for National Statistics’ Deputy National Statistician Pete Benton said:
Today’s census statistics begin to paint a rich and detailed snapshot of the nation and how we were living during the pandemic. They show the population of England and Wales continued to grow across the decade, albeit at different rates across the regions.
Ultimately, the full suite of census results, based on the information we all gave, will ensure decisions about how the billions of pounds we spend each year as a nation are made using the best possible evidence.
The results from Census 2021 – and there’s lots more to follow - provide a key bridge from the past to the future as we deliver more frequent, relevant and timely statistics using data from across government to allow us to understand population change in local areas this year and beyond.
Pete Benton, Deputy National Statistician for the Office for National Statistics
You can find out more about how the population has changed in different local authority areas and how they compare with others across England and Wales in the interactive article: How the population changed where you live.
You can find more information about the Census on the Office for National Statistics website.
For media queries please email press@horsham.gov.uk .