North West population statistics

In 2024, there were 7.7M residents in North West with an average age of 40.6 years. Population density was 546 residents/km². Population grew by 14.0% since 2002 and population average age increased by 1.8 years in the same period.

Key Population Data: Residents, Age and Density in 2024 (latest estimate from ONS)
Population Estimates, 2024	North West region	England + Wales
Total residents	7.7M	12.5% of Eng+Wls
Average age	40.6	40.8
Population density	546	409

North West 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
Cheshire	486
Cumbria	75
Greater Manchester	2.4k
Lancashire	522
Merseyside	2.3k

North West 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
Cheshire	43
Cumbria	45
Greater Manchester	38
Lancashire	42
Merseyside	41

North West population growth

Total population per year outlines headcount differences.

Total annual population in North West region and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) compared to England and Wales
Year	Total population	CAGR	CAGR ENG+WLS
2024	7.7M	0.60%	0.74%
2023	7.6M	0.56%	0.72%
2022	7.5M	0.52%	0.68%
2021	7.4M	0.47%	0.66%
2020	7.4M	0.47%	0.68%
2019	7.4M	0.48%	0.71%
2018	7.3M	0.47%	0.72%
2017	7.3M	0.47%	0.73%
2016	7.2M	0.46%	0.75%
2015	7.2M	0.44%	0.74%
2014	7.1M	0.43%	0.74%
2013	7.1M	0.42%	0.73%
2012	7.1M	0.43%	0.73%
2011	7.1M	0.44%	0.73%
2010	7.0M	0.43%	0.72%
2009	7.0M	0.42%	0.70%
2008	7.0M	0.42%	0.70%
2007	6.9M	0.42%	0.67%
2006	6.9M	0.43%	0.63%
2005	6.9M	0.42%	0.61%
2004	6.8M	0.41%	0.52%
2003	6.8M	0.44%	0.50%
2002	6.8M	-	-

North West 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.

North West population pyramid by year

North West population share by decade of age

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

North West 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	1.4M	18.6%	18.3%
16-64	4.8M	62.6%	62.8%
65+	1.5M	18.8%	18.9%

North West average age rank

Comparison of regions average ages, 2024 population estimates.

North West average age rank by year

Average Age in North West region and Comparison to England & Wales
region	Average age in 2024
North West	40.6
England & Wales	40.8

North West population average age

Annual area statistics of North West's population average age compared to country statistics.

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