East of England population statistics

In 2024, there were 6.6M residents in East of England with an average age of 41.4 years. Population density was 344 residents/km². Population grew by 21.1% since 2002 and population average age increased by 2.2 years in the same period.

Key Population Data: Residents, Age and Density in 2024 (latest estimate from ONS)
Population Estimates, 2024	East of England region	England + Wales
Total residents	6.6M	10.6% of Eng+Wls
Average age	41.4	40.8
Population density	344	409

East of England population density map

shows a number of residents per square kilometer(km²), estimates from 2020.

Population density per square kilometer in 2024
Area	People/km²
England and Wales	409
Bedfordshire	607
Cambridgeshire	275
Essex	526
Hertfordshire	752
Norfolk	175
Suffolk	207

East of England population average age map

Population average age by LSOA (County) in 2018.

Population average age in 2024
Area	Average age
England and Wales	40.8
Bedfordshire	39
Cambridgeshire	40
Essex	41
Hertfordshire	40
Norfolk	44
Suffolk	44

East of England population growth

Total population per year outlines headcount differences.

Total annual population in East of England region and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) compared to England and Wales
Year	Total population	CAGR	CAGR ENG+WLS
2024	6.6M	0.87%	0.74%
2023	6.5M	0.85%	0.72%
2022	6.4M	0.82%	0.68%
2021	6.3M	0.82%	0.66%
2020	6.3M	0.82%	0.68%
2019	6.3M	0.85%	0.71%
2018	6.2M	0.87%	0.72%
2017	6.2M	0.89%	0.73%
2016	6.2M	0.90%	0.75%
2015	6.1M	0.89%	0.74%
2014	6.0M	0.89%	0.74%
2013	6.0M	0.86%	0.73%
2012	5.9M	0.85%	0.73%
2011	5.9M	0.85%	0.73%
2010	5.8M	0.84%	0.72%
2009	5.8M	0.82%	0.70%
2008	5.7M	0.83%	0.70%
2007	5.7M	0.80%	0.67%
2006	5.6M	0.79%	0.63%
2005	5.6M	0.79%	0.61%
2004	5.5M	0.70%	0.52%
2003	5.5M	0.76%	0.50%
2002	5.4M	-	-

East of England population pyramid

shows the distribution of various age groups in a population in 2024. Females are shown on the left, males are shown on the right.

East of England population pyramid by year

East of England population share by decade of age

Shares of population age groups compared to corresponding shares of population groups in England & Wales, 2024.

East of England working age population share

Working age population share compared to working age population share in England & Wales, 2024.

Age Distribution and Comparison to England & Wales
age group	head-count	% share of population	% for Eng & Wales
0-15	1.2M	18.8%	18.3%
16-64	4.0M	61.3%	62.8%
65+	1.3M	20.0%	18.9%

East of England average age rank

Comparison of regions average ages, 2024 population estimates.

East of England average age rank by year

Average Age in East of England region and Comparison to England & Wales
region	Average age in 2024
East of England	41.4
England & Wales	40.8

East of England population average age

Annual area statistics of East of England's population average age compared to country statistics.

Population average age by year
Year	East of England region	England and Wales
2024	41.4	40.8
2023	41.4	40.7
2022	41.4	40.7
2021	41.3	40.7
2020	41.2	40.5
2019	41.1	40.4
2018	40.9	40.2
2017	40.8	40.1
2016	40.7	39.9
2015	40.6	39.8
2014	40.5	39.7
2013	40.4	39.6
2012	40.3	39.5
2011	40.2	39.4
2010	40.1	39.3
2009	40.0	39.2
2008	39.9	39.2
2007	39.8	39.1
2006	39.7	39.0
2005	39.6	39.0
2004	39.5	38.9
2003	39.4	38.8
2002	39.3	38.7