Cambridgeshire has seen one of the UK’s biggest population increases over the past ten years, data just published from the 2021 Census shows.
Overall the number of people living in the county rose by more than 57,000 in the last decade to 678,600. This 9.2% rise is higher than the East of England average, in a national picture which saw the East grow faster than any part of the UK
The figures confirm the County Council’s contention that previous Office of National Statistics figures – on which the government bases its grant allocations – under-estimated the size of the county’s population.
An accurate gauge of the county’s population is more important than ever before, following yesterday’s announcement by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove, that later this year local government is to get a two year funding settlement.
Included within the Cambridgeshire Census figures is an overall 26% rise in the number of Cambridgeshire people aged 65+ - against an 18.6% national average rise – with a high percentage increase of people in the 70 to 74 age band in all districts.
And while the more urban areas of the county like Cambridge City have seen population growth across all age ranges, its more rural areas have seen small or no growth in the youngest age groups (0-19) but large increases in older populations.
“I am pleased that so many people continue to want to live and work in Cambridgeshire. I am proud of our county’s record in leading on vaccine development. improving healthcare and in developing new technologies allowing greener living,” said Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council.
“Cambridgeshire offers some great examples of how new innovation can help not just the U.K. but the world to a future where we can live well and not wreck the planet, but we need government to recognise and support that vision – including recognising the costs of the necessary infrastructure needed for a county our size .
“We must make sure we can support our county’s potential, particularly for a growing population of older people living in more rural areas, by providing the necessary services that will make Cambridgeshire fairer, greener and more caring .”
Last year’s census took place in March 2021 and data from the 2021 census for England and Wales will be published in stages over the next two years.
Future releases will include figures on ethnicity, religion, the labour market, education and housing. Also, for the first time, there will be information on UK armed forces veterans, sexual orientation and gender identity.
