New small area based population estimates dataset, England and Wales: mid-2012 to mid-2017

NOMIS includes the first release of small area population estimates in England and Wales for mid-2017 and revisions to data for mid-2012 to mid-2016 as published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 25 October 2018. Data for mid-2012 to mid-2016 supersede the previous series of small area population estimates for this period. The Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) report and the Methodology guide set out the changes that have occurred in more detail and explain why these changes have been made now.

This data includes estimates for Lower and Middle layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs and MSOAs), Westminster Parliamentary constituencies and electoral wards in England and Wales, and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England.

Estimates for LSOAs by broad ages and MSOAs by five-year age groups (quinary age) hold National Statistics status. Estimates at a greater level of disaggregation by age including quinary age for LSOAs and single year of age for both SOAs are supporting information only. More information can be found in small area population estimates: summary of methodology review and research update.

Electoral wards and Westminster Parliamentary constituencies all hold Experimental Statistics status. Estimates for CCGs are aggregated directly from LSOAs and hold National Statistics status.

Nomis datasets

The new dataset can be accessed under the Population Estimates source in Nomis queries:

Main points

  • There continues to be wide variations in the age structure of the population across England and Wales, with coastal and rural areas tending to have older populations than cities and urban areas.
  • In mid-2017, the LSOA with the highest median age was Eastbourne 012B at 70.8 years, whereas Salford 016E had the lowest median age at 14.7 years; across all of England and Wales the median age was 39.9 years.
  • The proportion of people aged over 65 years living in areas served by different CCGs in England ranged from 6.2% in Tower Hamlets to 29.6% in NHS North Norfolk (across England 18.0% of the population are aged 65 years or over).