Last updated: 09/10/2024.
The Office for National Statistics is due to release new population projections in March 2025.
The ONS mid-2022 population estimate for Wakefield was 357,729 people.
This represents a 1.1% increase in the size of the population compared to mid-2021.
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Use the calculator below to obtain the population figures for a specific age and geography breakdowns.
Estimate resident population
The size of the resident population of the Wakefield District is estimated to be in the region of 350,000, making the district the 25th largest lower-tier Local Authority in England. As is typical nationally, the Wakefield age profile shows the effect of baby-boom years of the 1950s and 1960s and greater numbers of women (48,016) aged 60+ than men (42,416).
When compared to other local Health & Wellbeing Board areas, Wakefield’s age profile has smaller than average proportions of people in the late-teen, early 20’s age bands. This reflects the absence of any sizeable university presence within Wakefield District. By contrast, in large university cities such as Leeds, 8.9% of the population are aged 20-24, compared to 4.8% in Wakefield District.
Projected resident population
The Office for National Statistics is due to release new population projections in March 2025. This page will be updated with the latest data shortly after release.
When assessing population projections, there are expected to be shifts in the population structure in the medium-to-long term, as the proportion of the population aged over 60 increases.
In the 60-79 age range, the size of this population has been steadily increasing for the last decade and will continue to do so over the next few years, with the 2021 census figure of 71,717 expected to rise to 81,470 persons by 2028. After which, there is predicted to be continued rise, plateauing in 2035. An increase in the population size is also seen in the 80+ age range, which is predicted to steadily increase from 16,440 in 2021 to 22,617 in 2028. This increase will continue for the foreseeable future.
Implications of an ageing population are wide in terms of people living longer into older age, with an increased demand for health and well-being services, a reduced contribution to the economy and lower incomes, and increased human resources for care services (paid and unpaid carers).