Population estimate — County Durham
539,146, latest 2025 (+0.4% year on year, from 536,793).
The population stood at 539,146 in 2025. That is 0.4% higher than a year earlier. That is the highest value in the published series, which begins in 1991. Its low point was 493,538 in 2002; the latest reading is 9% above that.
Show the numbers (35 periods)
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 539,146 |
| 2024 | 536,793 |
| 2023 | 533,311 |
| 2022 | 527,377 |
| 2021 | 521,447 |
| 2020 | 519,204 |
| 2019 | 518,562 |
| 2018 | 516,648 |
| 2017 | 515,911 |
| 2016 | 514,431 |
| 2015 | 513,924 |
| 2014 | 513,604 |
| 2013 | 513,179 |
| 2012 | 513,122 |
| 2011 | 512,994 |
| 2010 | 510,628 |
| 2009 | 507,311 |
| 2008 | 505,617 |
| 2007 | 502,960 |
| 2006 | 499,348 |
| 2005 | 497,218 |
| 2004 | 495,147 |
| 2003 | 493,931 |
| 2002 | 493,538 |
| 2001 | 493,678 |
| 2000 | 495,138 |
| 1999 | 496,096 |
| 1998 | 496,945 |
| 1997 | 498,533 |
| 1996 | 498,930 |
| 1995 | 499,927 |
| 1994 | 500,924 |
| 1993 | 501,270 |
| 1992 | 501,608 |
| 1991 | 501,488 |
What these terms mean
- Mid-year estimate
- A modelled count of the population on 30 June, updated between censuses. It is an estimate, not a headcount. Source
- Local authority district
- The council area a statistic is published for -- 361 across the UK. In England these are boroughs, districts and unitary authorities; in Scotland, council areas; in Wales, principal areas; in Northern Ireland, districts.
Before you use these figures
- Mid-year estimate, not a census count: This is a modelled mid-year (30 June) estimate, not a direct headcount. It is rebased periodically against the latest UK census results -- the current series was rebased to the 2021/2022 censuses, replacing previously published estimates for 2011 to 2022. Figures for the same year can therefore change between publications as later data becomes available.
- Unrounded, but not precise to the individual: Figures are published unrounded to enable further calculation, but ONS is explicit that small estimates should not be read as accurate to a specific person -- they are produced using statistical models and disclosure-control methods, not a direct count.
- Not adjusted for population: This figure — 539,146 — is well outside the typical range for other areas currently publishing this dataset (median about 148,095 across 349 other areas). This is a raw count, not adjusted for population — a larger area is expected to report a larger number regardless of anything unusual happening there. Not itself a sign of a data problem.
- Not adjusted for population, 1993: This area's 1993 figure was 501,270, well outside the typical range for other areas that reported for 1993 (median about 121,999 across 349 other areas). This figure is a raw count, not adjusted for population — a larger area is expected to report a larger number regardless of anything unusual happening there. Not itself a sign of a data problem.
Cite this figure:
Population estimate — County Durham 539,146 for County Durham, 2025 Caveats: Mid-year estimate, not a census count; Unrounded, but not precise to the individual; Not adjusted for population; Not adjusted for population, 1993 StatsMapped last confirmed this figure unchanged on 5 Sep 2026. Source: Office for National Statistics, Population Estimates (via Nomis) https://statsmapped.com/united-kingdom/local-authority/durham/population-estimate
See every dataset published for County Durham
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