Population and Census Information
Population estimates for 2011
The Office for National Statistics has published (25 September 2012) 2011 mid-year population estimates, based on the 2011 Census. The data reflects changes in population between Census Day (March 27 2011) and 30 June 2011 (mid-year 2011), based on births, deaths and migration.
For Swale, this results in an estimated increase in population of around 500, to 136,300. View a breakdown of population (in thousands) by age bracket for all areas in Kent.
| Area | All | 0 | 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85-89 | 90+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | 1,466.5 | 17.8 | 71.5 | 84.5 | 90.9 | 96.1 | 87.8 | 83.4 | 83.0 | 90.8 | 108.1 | 110.2 | 96.0 | 85.6 | 95.8 | 78.8 | 60.4 | 49.8 | 38.7 | 23.7 | 13.5 |
| Ashford | 118.4 | 1.5 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 7.6 | 6.4 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.0 |
| Canterbury | 150.6 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 8.4 | 12.4 | 16.6 | 8.6 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 9.6 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 1.7 |
| Dartford | 97.6 | 1.4 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 6.2 | 5.1 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Dover | 111.7 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 6.6 | 7.1 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 8.2 | 6.9 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| Gravesham | 101.8 | 1.3 | 5.4 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Maidstone | 155.8 | 2.0 | 7.6 | 8.8 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 10.1 | 11.9 | 12.0 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 10.1 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 5.1 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 |
| Sevenoaks | 115.4 | 1.4 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 7.2 | 8.2 | 6.5 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 |
| Shepway | 108.2 | 1.2 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.3 | 6.6 | 8.1 | 6.6 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 1.3 |
| Swale | 136.3 | 1.8 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 10.0 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 9.2 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 |
| Thanet | 134.4 | 1.6 | 6.5 | 7.3 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 9.5 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.7 |
| Tonbridge and Malling | 121.11 | 1.3 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 8.4 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 8.4 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| Tunbridge Wells | 115.2 | 1.5 | 5.8 | 7.0 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
Census 2011 data
Ward population and households breakdown
| Ward name | Population | Households |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 6,084 | 2,749 |
| Borden | 2,432 | 988 |
| Boughton and Courtenay | 5,626 | 2,288 |
| Chalkwell | 5,451 | 2,267 |
| Davington Priory | 2,593 | 1,096 |
| East Downs | 2,788 | 1,123 |
| Grove | 7,334 | 2,875 |
| Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch | 5,778 | 2,322 |
| Iwade and Lower Halstow | 4,267 | 1,630 |
| Kemsley | 7,621 | 2,909 |
| Leysdown and Warden | 3,019 | 1,336 |
| Milton Regis | 4,947 | 1,976 |
| Minster Cliffs | 7,513 | 3,154 |
| Murston | 5,977 | 2,469 |
| Queenborough and Halfway | 7,523 | 3,139 |
| Roman | 5,022 | 2,171 |
| Sheerness East | 5,842 | 2,441 |
| Sheerness West | 6,096 | 2,567 |
| Sheppey Central | 10,298 | 3,726 |
| St Ann's | 5,268 | 2,270 |
| St Michaels | 6,143 | 2,516 |
| Teynham and Lynsted | 5,323 | 2,235 |
| Watling | 5,371 | 2,230 |
| West Downs | 2,638 | 1,057 |
| Woodstock | 4,881 | 2,051 |
| Total |
135,835 | 55,585 |
Population by five year age group by ward
| Area | All | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85-89 | 90+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 6,084 | 294 | 305 | 322 | 389 | 509 | 451 | 396 | 424 | 410 | 341 | 338 | 363 | 279 | 212 | 168 | 170 | 131 | 102 |
| Borden | 2,432 | 103 | 151 | 147 | 109 | 112 | 108 | 134 | 180 | 207 | 185 | 163 | 239 | 172 | 102 | 65 | 62 | 47 | 35 |
| Boughton and Courtenay | 5,626 | 332 | 380 | 345 | 255 | 226 | 244 | 361 | 426 | 454 | 427 | 358 | 473 | 391 | 271 | 183 | 133 | 70 | 24 |
| Chalkwell | 5,451 | 296 | 372 | 367 | 368 | 464 | 407 | 390 | 368 | 380 | 304 | 243 | 299 | 246 | 173 | 122 | 126 | 71 | 36 |
| Davington Priory | 2,593 | 153 | 172 | 189 | 140 | 112 | 118 | 111 | 176 | 240 | 167 | 165 | 185 | 144 | 142 | 100 | 86 | 34 | 15 |
| East Downs | 2,788 | 161 | 221 | 173 | 105 | 66 | 90 | 145 | 240 | 270 | 252 | 186 | 212 | 174 | 160 | 104 | 69 | 34 | 17 |
| Grove | 7,334 | 516 | 501 | 424 | 413 | 500 | 518 | 582 | 614 | 511 | 413 | 371 | 408 | 319 | 227 | 195 | 142 | 74 | 42 |
| Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch | 5,778 | 308 | 370 | 368 | 283 | 228 | 265 | 320 | 477 | 491 | 411 | 393 | 457 | 356 | 287 | 211 | 150 | 74 | 46 |
| Iwade and Lower Halstow | 4,267 | 338 | 294 | 248 | 188 | 224 | 367 | 373 | 361 | 371 | 260 | 230 | 241 | 173 | 111 | 63 | 38 | 31 | 11 |
| Kemsley | 7,621 | 641 | 575 | 488 | 429 | 581 | 597 | 638 | 637 | 627 | 460 | 352 | 383 | 217 | 156 | 93 | 59 | 22 | 17 |
| Leysdown and Warden | 3,019 | 158 | 188 | 176 | 128 | 140 | 96 | 132 | 195 | 235 | 232 | 233 | 283 | 248 | 173 | 108 | 82 | 32 | 16 |
| Milton Regis | 4,947 | 312 | 326 | 364 | 334 | 298 | 257 | 271 | 375 | 366 | 343 | 300 | 294 | 207 | 175 | 163 | 132 | 78 | 44 |
| Minster Cliffs | 7,513 | 310 | 438 | 524 | 391 | 248 | 270 | 373 | 527 | 602 | 539 | 543 | 745 | 593 | 428 | 309 | 205 | 107 | 56 |
| Murston | 5,977 | 402 | 397 | 391 | 411 | 493 | 484 | 429 | 416 | 404 | 334 | 303 | 322 | 229 | 197 | 130 | 72 | 45 | 26 |
| Queenborough and Halfway | 7,523 | 437 | 500 | 501 | 427 | 435 | 409 | 403 | 488 | 556 | 531 | 445 | 546 | 436 | 349 | 272 | 167 | 100 | 48 |
| Roman | 5,022 | 267 | 298 | 343 | 324 | 372 | 326 | 268 | 356 | 363 | 306 | 299 | 341 | 233 | 180 | 182 | 129 | 81 | 35 |
| Sheerness East | 5,842 | 421 | 374 | 444 | 507 | 457 | 384 | 320 | 398 | 436 | 381 | 272 | 253 | 178 | 144 | 110 | 91 | 53 | 31 |
| Sheerness West | 6,096 | 439 | 474 | 418 | 380 | 419 | 310 | 332 | 413 | 413 | 381 | 341 | 342 | 298 | 220 | 180 | 147 | 72 | 31 |
| Sheppey Central | 10,298 | 482 | 630 | 666 | 753 | 786 | 626 | 704 | 828 | 801 | 709 | 590 | 669 | 498 | 396 | 253 | 191 | 89 | 51 |
| St Ann's | 5,268 | 308 | 350 | 278 | 254 | 276 | 298 | 371 | 403 | 427 | 377 | 324 | 335 | 288 | 239 | 178 | 126 | 64 | 29 |
| St Michaels | 6,143 | 345 | 366 | 414 | 400 | 415 | 397 | 421 | 446 | 476 | 367 | 327 | 362 | 285 | 222 | 196 | 163 | 104 | 40 |
| Teynham and Lynsted | 5,323 | 290 | 326 | 348 | 249 | 284 | 232 | 318 | 414 | 400 | 389 | 356 | 444 | 327 | 269 | 166 | 125 | 69 | 39 |
| Watling | 5,371 | 286 | 320 | 324 | 225 | 313 | 271 | 336 | 375 | 411 | 361 | 316 | 398 | 291 | 243 | 216 | 154 | 98 | 57 |
| West Downs | 2,638 | 170 | 180 | 137 | 111 | 80 | 76 | 168 | 213 | 265 | 185 | 207 | 207 | 196 | 116 | 100 | 73 | 31 | 16 |
| Woodstock | 4,881 | 203 | 272 | 311 | 217 | 142 | 174 | 199 | 322 | 386 | 324 | 331 | 423 | 402 | 319 | 301 | 213 | 133 | 51 |
| Total | 135,835 | 7,972 | 8,780 | 8,710 | 7,790 | 8,180 | 7,775 | 8,495 | 10,072 | 10,502 | 8,979 | 7,986 | 9,224 | 7,180 | 5,511 | 4,168 | 3,105 | 1,744 | 915 |
Population estimates for 2011
This information is based on Census 2011 ward based population estimates.
Town Data
| Town | Population |
|---|---|
| Faversham | 19,300 |
| Sheerness | 12,000 |
| Sittingbourne | 47,400 |
Area Data
| Area | Population |
|---|---|
| Faversham | 33,000 |
| Isle of Sheppey | 40,300 |
| Sittingbourne | 62,500 |
Individual Ward and Parish population estimates are also available to view. The Office for National Statistics Neighbourhood Statistics site is also a good source of population and other statistical information.
- Find population data on a specific area on the Office for National Statistics website
- View Parish level population estimates from the Kent County Council website
Census - News
The last census happened on Sunday 27 March 2011, and the first data from the Census was released on 16 July. More releases will take place throughout 2012-13. For more details about the data being released view the ONS website.
Headline Figures
- the usual-resident population as at Census Day 2011 was 135,800. This compares to a 2001 population of 122,880 and the latest mid-year estimate (2010) of 133,400
- the number of households in Swale is now 55,600
- Swale has the third highest resident population of all Kent local authorities, behind Maidstone (155,200) and Canterbury (151,200)
- of the total Swale population, 23% are aged over 60
Data on second homes was released in October 2012:
- some 3200 people who live outside Swale, have a second address in Swale
- around 1760 people who live in Swale have a second address elsewhere in the UK
- a further 1030 residents of Swale have a second home outside the UK
What is the Census
Every ten years the Office for National Statistics (ONS) carries out a census to find out more about the people who live in England and Wales, and about the make-up of local neighbourhoods.
The census asks about work, health, national identity, citizenship, ethnic background, education, second homes, language, religion, marital status and so on. These statistics are then used to build a picture of today's society.
Why should this matter?
Like all local authorities in England and Wales, Swale Borough Council relies on census population statistics to get the government funding we need for public services. How much we get is directly related to how many and what kind of people the census says live in our area. So even if the census were to end up just a few households short, it could make a very real difference to people's lives. The census needs to include everyone, everywhere - and that's why everyone has to take part.
When did the Census happen?
The last census happened on the 27 March 2011.
Who carries out the census?
In England and Wales the census is planned and carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). ONS produces a wide range of regular, high quality, professional statistics.
Elsewhere in the UK, responsibility lies with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the General Register Office for Scotland.
Why do we have a census?
The census tells us how many people live in the UK and what types of services they need now and are likely to need in the future. It helps the Government and your local council to allocate funds, decide future policy and plan important services such as transport, housing, health and schools.
Why is it important?
The amount of money that councils have to spend on services for the next 10 years will be based on the number and type of people living in the local area.
If everyone does not complete a census form the results won't show complete information about local communities and a council might not get all the funding it needs.
What does the census tell us?
The census asks everyone the same questions at the same time to produce a unique set of facts and figures about the UK.
It tells us about:
- Population - to help central government decide how much funding it needs to give to each local and health authority. The authorities then use census data to plan the services within their local areas.
- Health and disability - to help plan services and put policies in place to ensure people with disabilities are treated equally.
- Housing - to allow central government and local authorities to assess the quality of housing and plan to meet future needs.
- Employment - by showing how many people work in different occupations and industries to help plan jobs and training policies.
- Ethnic group - to help central government allocate resources and monitor policies to ensure that all groups are treated equally.
- Transport - to help understand the pressures on our transport systems and improve planning for roads and public transport.
How did the census start?
The first census in 1801 took place because the Government was worried that the country's supply of food may not be enough to feed the growing population. It asked five questions and the results showed 10 million people living in two million households.
By comparison the last census, held in 2001, asked 40 questions. The results showed there were almost 60 million people and approximately 24 million households.
