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Cheshire East Counts — Cheshire East, in numbers.Local help →

Cheshire East, in numbers

People and living standards

Cheshire East council area. Every figure carries its own date.

How the population is changing, who lives here and what living standards look like.

Cheshire East council area. These are council-area figures. They are not a separate history for every ward or the city centre.

More people? A different age mix?

The population grew from 340,546 in 1991 to 425,459 in 2025.

A growing number of children, working-age adults or older residents can mean different needs for homes, schools, jobs and care.

Population

1996 to 2025

Cheshire East council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 349,911 people in 1996; 425,459 people in 2025. 21.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Population — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991340,546
1992342,260
1993344,113
1994346,153
1995348,698
1996349,911
1997350,985
1998352,066
1999350,932
2000351,234
2001352,104
2002353,348
2003355,529
2004357,354
2005359,807
2006362,049
2007365,003
2008367,160
2009368,023
2010369,051
2011370,736
2012372,501
2013373,956
2014376,574
2015378,511
2016381,414
2017384,221
2018386,891
2019390,556
2020393,203
2021400,474
2022406,971
2023414,906
2024420,472
2025425,459
Source →
People aged 0 to 15

People aged 0 to 15

1996 to 2025

Cheshire East council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 68,882 people in 1996; 73,022 people in 2025. 6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 0 to 15 — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199166,812
199267,370
199368,032
199468,607
199568,929
199668,882
199768,893
199868,993
199968,893
200068,745
200168,524
200268,188
200368,219
200468,113
200567,896
200667,575
200767,331
200866,970
200966,323
201065,856
201165,682
201266,033
201365,958
201466,101
201566,150
201666,673
201767,247
201868,043
201968,521
202068,706
202169,397
202271,096
202372,433
202473,027
202573,022
Source →
People aged 16 to 64

People aged 16 to 64

1996 to 2025

Cheshire East council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 224,300 people in 1996; 254,901 people in 2025. 13.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 16 to 64 — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991219,561
1992220,225
1993220,830
1994221,859
1995223,533
1996224,300
1997224,949
1998225,547
1999224,031
2000223,620
2001223,891
2002224,586
2003225,812
2004226,832
2005228,590
2006230,589
2007232,717
2008233,654
2009233,238
2010232,898
2011232,992
2012231,234
2013230,182
2014230,209
2015230,557
2016231,370
2017232,291
2018232,901
2019234,553
2020236,251
2021241,087
2022244,382
2023249,342
2024252,150
2025254,901
Source →
People aged 65 or over

People aged 65 or over

1996 to 2025

Cheshire East council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 56,729 people in 1996; 97,536 people in 2025. 71.9% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 65 or over — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199154,173
199254,665
199355,251
199455,687
199556,236
199656,729
199757,143
199857,526
199958,008
200058,869
200159,689
200260,574
200361,498
200462,409
200563,321
200663,885
200764,955
200866,536
200968,462
201070,297
201172,062
201275,234
201377,816
201480,264
201581,804
201683,371
201784,683
201885,947
201987,482
202088,246
202189,990
202291,493
202393,131
202495,295
202597,536
Source →

Population growth alone does not show whether services are under pressure. Capacity, location and residents’ needs also matter.

How residents described their ethnic group

These are census snapshots, not annual estimates. Open a year to see both the number of people and their share of the population.

2021 census · 398,772 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Cheshire East · 2021
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh9,5312.4%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African2,4220.6%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups7,0591.8%
White376,54394.4%
Other ethnic group3,2170.8%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2011 census · 370,127 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Cheshire East · 2011
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White357,94096.7%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups3,8731%
Asian/Asian British6,0601.6%
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British1,4020.4%
Other ethnic group8520.2%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2001 census · 351,817 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Cheshire East · 2001
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White345,63798.2%
Mixed2,0760.6%
Asian/Asian British1,9180.5%
Black/Black British7140.2%
Chinese/Other1,4720.4%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →

A complete, comparable 30-year ethnicity history is not available for every current area. Missing years have not been estimated.

How comfortable is life here?

Pay, housing costs, health and opportunities tell different parts of the story. An area average can hide large differences between households.

In 2024, average disposable income per person was 12.5% above the UK average.

Money available to spend or save per person

1997 to 2024

Cheshire East council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £11,900 per person in 1997; £29,202 per person in 2024. 145.4% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Money available to spend or save per person — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Period£ per person, current prices
199711,900
199812,051
199912,693
200013,073
200113,339
200214,201
200314,811
200415,349
200515,848
200616,384
200716,974
200817,282
200917,783
201017,797
201117,849
201218,489
201319,541
201420,240
201521,747
201621,663
201722,491
201823,658
201924,347
202024,080
202124,954
202225,709
202327,548
202429,202
Source →
Has the gap with the UK average changed?

Above zero means income is above the UK average; below zero means it is below. Each year is compared with the UK average for that same year.

Income above or below the UK average

1997 to 2024

Cheshire East council area · %

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: 12.2% in 1997; 12.5% in 2024. 0.3 percentage points higher.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils. Displayed as the published UK=100 value minus 100, giving the percentage above or below the UK average.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Income above or below the UK average — Cheshire East council area: full reviewed history
Period%
199712.2
199811.3
199912.2
20009.8
20017.8
200212.2
200313.6
200413.1
200512.7
200611.9
200710.6
20089.7
200911.1
201010.2
20119.5
20129.5
201311.6
201411.9
201514.3
201612.5
201714.2
201815.9
201915.5
202014.7
202114.2
202212
202312.7
202412.5
Source →

Mixed-source official estimates: administrative records and surveys. Income here is the average money per resident available to spend or save after tax and benefits. It is not typical pay or household wealth. Cash figures do not show how much prices changed.

Adults in work

58.4%

21 March 2021 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

All usual residents aged 16 and over

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

Source →

Households facing several disadvantages

13.6%

21 March 2021 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

All households

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Adults with no qualifications

15%

21 March 2021 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

Residents aged 16 and over

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

People reporting bad or very bad health

4.7%

21 March 2021 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Average home price

£309,000

July 2026 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Published UK House Price Index average price, all property types and all buyers, not seasonally adjusted. Entire series comes from the 2026-07 official full-file release, preserving its historical revisions and exact area codes. It is a mix-adjusted average, not the median price paid.

Source →

Average monthly private rent

£985

August 2026 · Cheshire East council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Official local housing data feed. House prices are provisional, not seasonally adjusted; rents use the Price Index of Private Rents. Local short-term estimates are variable. Country references use only the explicitly country-coded ctry object, never the local place object.

Source →

Deprivation describes several kinds of disadvantage. It is not a measure of household wealth. A change in an area's ranking does not by itself show whether living conditions improved.

See differences between neighbourhoods →

What could the changes mean locally?

Use the age profile alongside school places and care capacity, and look at housing costs alongside pay. Then check whether local plans respond to the needs shown by the evidence.

Read the local action plan →
Which histories are missing or need care?

These histories describe the stated whole area. A consistent historical series for its current wards has not been established.

1991 ethnicity has not been reconstructed to this current area. No annual ethnicity values are inferred between census dates.

These local income figures include inflation. No local inflation-adjusted income series has been substituted or inferred from regional prices.

This series describes the stated council or reference area. A comparable 30-year income history for its current wards has not been established.

The reviewed release starts in 1997. Earlier income values have not been invented or joined from another definition.