GROWING CITY IS GROWING OLDER

Latest census figures show Potteries’ population up 3.77 per cent

STOKE-ON-TRENT’S population has grown by more than 9,000 over the last decade, new census data shows.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show 258,400 people were living in the city when last year’s census was carried out, up from 249,008 in 2011 – a 3.77 per cent increase.

The data also shows Stoke-on-trent’s population is getting older, with 17.14 per cent of the city now aged 65 or over, compared to 15.6 per cent in 2011.

Most other parts of Staffordshire have also seen an increase in population over the past decade, with the county as a whole growing 3.25 per cent from 848,489 people in 2011 to 876,100 in 2021.

But both Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands have seen a decline in their populations. Newcastle’s fell from 123,871 to 123,300 while in the Moorlands the population dropped from 97,106 to 95,800 The Moorlands still has the oldest population in the county, with 26.1 per cent of residents now 65 or over, up from 21 per cent in 2011. East Staffordshire is the fastest growing district in the county, with its population increasing by 9.2 per cent to 124,000.

Alan White, leader of Staffordshire County Council said: “The census data always offers a fascinating insight into the makeup of our county, and gives us the information we need to provide the right services to our residents.

“While it is great that so many people in our county are living longer, this does mean that more people will be requiring services to support them as they age. This is why we are investing £360 million – more than ever before – on social care in Staffordshire to support vulnerable adults and children, including those who are getting older.

“It is fantastic to see our county thriving, and I look forward to more detailed data being released in the coming months to see just how much Staffordshire has changed over the past 10 years.”

The population of England and Wales increased 6.3 per cent from 56,075,912 to 59,597,300 over the past decade. This was the largest population ever recorded through a census in England and Wales, although the rate of increase has slowed down compared to the previous 10 years (7.8 per cent).

The areas of the country with the highest rates of population growth were London’s Tower Hamlets (22.1 per cent increase) and Dartford (20 per cent increase), in Kent.