Home / Places / South West / Devon Devon: population and ethnicity County council area. 8 district councils.
Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area.
ONS estimates show that the county council area's population rose by 97,832 residents (13.1%) between mid-2011 and mid-2025, from 747,709 to 845,541. Source: ONS MYE4 .
845,541 Residents, mid-2025 ONS MYE4 estimate 811,642 Residents, Census 2021 ethnicity table ONS TS021 county row 746,399 Residents, Census 2011 ONS KS201EW county row Ethnic groups in the county council area Census 2011
White British 94.9% White Other 2.6% Asian 1.2% Black 0.2% Mixed 0.9% Other 0.2% Census 2021
White British 92.6% White Other 3.8% Asian 1.5% Black 0.3% Mixed 1.4% Other 0.5% Published county counts. Changes are percentage points calculated from unrounded shares. Group 2011 2021 Change White British 708,590 751,816 -2.3pp White Other 19,483 30,639 +1.2pp Asian 8,710 11,845 +0.3pp Black 1,413 2,474 +0.1pp Mixed 6,520 10,967 +0.5pp Other 1,683 3,901 +0.3pp
How county and district counts relate County figures use the ONS county council row. Districts use their own published rows. Census 2021 counts include disclosure-control changes, so district figures may not add exactly to the county figure. The reconciliation table shows each difference. Census 2011 counts and annual population estimates agree exactly with the district sums.
The 2021 district total is 9 residents lower than the published county total. Both figures are retained as published. The ethnicity table's all-residents count is the denominator for every county ethnic group share.
ONS explains Census 2021 disclosure controls . The audit does not establish the precise cause of each individual difference.
Reconciliation: every county and district-sum comparison Difference means district sum minus published county count. Year and measure County District sum Difference 2011: All residents 746,399 746,399 0 2011: White British 708,590 708,590 0 2011: White Other 19,483 19,483 0 2011: Asian 8,710 8,710 0 2011: Black 1,413 1,413 0 2011: Mixed 6,520 6,520 0 2011: Other 1,683 1,683 0 2021: All residents 811,642 811,633 -9 2021: White British 751,816 751,815 -1 2021: White Other 30,639 30,635 -4 2021: Asian 11,845 11,842 -3 2021: Black 2,474 2,473 -1 2021: Mixed 10,967 10,969 +2 2021: Other 3,901 3,899 -2
Raw source rows: KS201EW, 2011 , row 74. TS021, 2021 , row 133.
Download all county reconciliation records (CSV)
Annual county population estimates, 2011 to 2025 ONS MYE4. Every value agrees exactly with the sum of constituent districts. Year Residents 2011 747,709 2012 751,136 2013 754,431 2014 760,234 2015 766,810 2016 773,800 2017 783,352 2018 789,834 2019 796,542 2020 800,796 2021 814,435 2022 825,600 2023 833,930 2024 842,043 2025 845,541
Population change since 2011 Map: Population change since 2011, mid-2025 estimate. Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils. East Devon +19.8%; Exeter +17.8%; Mid Devon +9.8%; North Devon +7.8%; Plymouth +5.8%; South Hams +11.5%; Teignbridge +11.5%; Torbay +6.3%; Torridge +10.0%; West Devon +9.9%. East Devon: +19.8% Exeter: +17.8% Mid Devon: +9.8% North Devon: +7.8% Plymouth: +5.8% South Hams: +11.5% Teignbridge: +11.5% Torbay: +6.3% Torridge: +10.0% West Devon: +9.9% West Devon +9.9% 58,980 people Torridge +10.0% 70,378 people East Devon +19.8% 159,637 people North Devon +7.8% 101,281 people South Hams +11.5% 93,171 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils ONS ESTIMATE −4 −1 +1 +4 +8 +12% Change in the estimated resident population at 30 June, compared with mid-2011. Source: ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, England and Wales, June 2025, table MYE4 (published 29 July 2026). Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. ukdemographics.co.uk Every figure sourced. Map: Population change since 2011, mid-2025 estimate. Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils. East Devon +19.8%; Exeter +17.8%; Mid Devon +9.8%; North Devon +7.8%; Plymouth +5.8%; South Hams +11.5%; Teignbridge +11.5%; Torbay +6.3%; Torridge +10.0%; West Devon +9.9%. East Devon: +19.8% Exeter: +17.8% Mid Devon: +9.8% North Devon: +7.8% Plymouth: +5.8% South Hams: +11.5% Teignbridge: +11.5% Torbay: +6.3% Torridge: +10.0% West Devon: +9.9% West Devon +9.9% 58,980 people Torridge +10.0% 70,378 people East Devon +19.8% 159,637 people North Devon +7.8% 101,281 people Teignbridge +11.5% 138,607 people Mid Devon +9.8% 85,593 people South Hams +11.5% 93,171 people Plymouth +5.8% 271,361 people Exeter +17.8% 137,894 people Torbay +6.3% 139,486 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils ONS ESTIMATE −4 −1 +1 +4 +8 +12% Change in the estimated resident population at 30 June, compared with mid-2011. Source: ONS, Mid-Year Population Estimates, England and Wales, June 2025, table MYE4 (published 29 July 2026). Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. ukdemographics.co.uk Every figure sourced. ONS mid-year estimates. Councils A to Z. Council 2011 2025 Change East Devon 133,272 159,637 +19.8% Exeter 117,063 137,894 +17.8% Mid Devon 77,936 85,593 +9.8% North Devon 93,976 101,281 +7.8% Plymouth Unitary, outside county total 256,589 271,361 +5.8% South Hams 83,563 93,171 +11.5% Teignbridge 124,271 138,607 +11.5% Torbay Unitary, outside county total 131,193 139,486 +6.3% Torridge 63,973 70,378 +10.0% West Devon 53,655 58,980 +9.9%
Census 2021 ethnic groups Map: White British share of residents, Census 2021. Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils. East Devon 94.2%; Exeter 82.7%; Mid Devon 93.8%; North Devon 94.3%; Plymouth 89.5%; South Hams 94.2%; Teignbridge 94.9%; Torbay 92.1%; Torridge 96.1%; West Devon 94.9%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. East Devon: 94.2% Exeter: 82.7% Mid Devon: 93.8% North Devon: 94.3% Plymouth: 89.5% South Hams: 94.2% Teignbridge: 94.9% Torbay: 92.1% Torridge: 96.1% West Devon: 94.9% West Devon 94.9% fell 1.4 points from 2011 Torridge 96.1% fell 1.0 points from 2011 East Devon 94.2% fell 2.0 points from 2011 South Hams 94.2% fell 1.7 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils CENSUS · OBSERVED 40 50 60 70 80 90% England and Wales 2011: 80.5% England and Wales 2021: 74.4% Share of usual residents in the White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British group. Source: ONS Census 2011, table KS201EW. Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Share of usual residents in the White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British group. Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS021; change from Census 2011, table KS201EW. Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. ukdemographics.co.uk Every figure sourced. Map: White British share of residents, Census 2021. Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils. East Devon 94.2%; Exeter 82.7%; Mid Devon 93.8%; North Devon 94.3%; Plymouth 89.5%; South Hams 94.2%; Teignbridge 94.9%; Torbay 92.1%; Torridge 96.1%; West Devon 94.9%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. East Devon: 94.2% Exeter: 82.7% Mid Devon: 93.8% North Devon: 94.3% Plymouth: 89.5% South Hams: 94.2% Teignbridge: 94.9% Torbay: 92.1% Torridge: 96.1% West Devon: 94.9% West Devon 94.9% fell 1.4 points from 2011 Torridge 96.1% fell 1.0 points from 2011 East Devon 94.2% fell 2.0 points from 2011 North Devon 94.3% fell 1.7 points from 2011 Teignbridge 94.9% fell 1.3 points from 2011 Mid Devon 93.8% fell 2.1 points from 2011 South Hams 94.2% fell 1.7 points from 2011 Plymouth 89.5% fell 3.5 points from 2011 Exeter 82.7% fell 5.6 points from 2011 Torbay 92.1% fell 2.7 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Devon: 8 district councils, 2 unitary councils CENSUS · OBSERVED 40 50 60 70 80 90% England and Wales 2021: 74.4% Share of usual residents in the White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British group. Source: ONS Census 2011, table KS201EW. Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Share of usual residents in the White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British group. Source: ONS Census 2021, table TS021; change from Census 2011, table KS201EW. Plymouth and Torbay are unitary councils in ceremonial Devon, shown with their own figures and outside the county council's area. Boundaries: ONS LAD (May 2026) BSC. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. ukdemographics.co.uk Every figure sourced. Each bar shows all six groups. Figures are observed Census 2021 shares; they are not projections.
White British 94.2% White Other 3.2% Asian 1.0% Black 0.2% Mixed 1.1% Other 0.3% White British 82.7% White Other 7.6% Asian 4.9% Black 0.9% Mixed 2.5% Other 1.4% White British 93.8% White Other 4.1% Asian 0.7% Black 0.1% Mixed 1.1% Other 0.3% White British 94.3% White Other 2.7% Asian 1.1% Black 0.3% Mixed 1.2% Other 0.3% Unitary council, outside the county council total.
White British 89.5% White Other 4.5% Asian 2.3% Black 1.1% Mixed 1.8% Other 1.0% White British 94.2% White Other 3.3% Asian 0.7% Black 0.2% Mixed 1.2% Other 0.4% White British 94.9% White Other 2.8% Asian 0.7% Black 0.2% Mixed 1.2% Other 0.3% Unitary council, outside the county council total.
White British 92.1% White Other 4.0% Asian 1.6% Black 0.3% Mixed 1.5% Other 0.4% White British 96.1% White Other 2.2% Asian 0.5% Black 0.1% Mixed 0.9% Other 0.2% White British 94.9% White Other 2.9% Asian 0.6% Black 0.2% Mixed 1.1% Other 0.3% Sources: ONS MYE4 population estimates, Census 2011 KS201EW and Census 2021 TS021. Boundaries: ONS Open Geography. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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