Home / Places / South West / Gloucestershire Gloucestershire: population and ethnicity County council area. 6 district councils.
South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its own figures and outside the county council's area.
ONS estimates show that the county council area's population rose by 73,619 residents (12.3%) between mid-2011 and mid-2025, from 598,289 to 671,908. Source: ONS MYE4 .
671,908 Residents, mid-2025 ONS MYE4 estimate 645,079 Residents, Census 2021 ethnicity table ONS TS021 county row 596,984 Residents, Census 2011 ONS KS201EW county row Ethnic groups in the county council area Census 2011
White British 91.6% White Other 3.9% Asian 2.1% Black 0.9% Mixed 1.5% Other 0.2% Census 2021
White British 87.7% White Other 5.3% Asian 2.9% Black 1.2% Mixed 2.2% Other 0.7% Published county counts. Changes are percentage points calculated from unrounded shares. Group 2011 2021 Change White British 546,599 565,811 -3.8pp White Other 23,048 34,503 +1.5pp Asian 12,433 18,464 +0.8pp Black 5,150 7,777 +0.3pp Mixed 8,661 14,149 +0.7pp Other 1,093 4,375 +0.5pp
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 596,984 596,984 0 2011: White British 546,599 546,599 0 2011: White Other 23,048 23,048 0 2011: Asian 12,433 12,433 0 2011: Black 5,150 5,150 0 2011: Mixed 8,661 8,661 0 2011: Other 1,093 1,093 0 2021: All residents 645,079 645,070 -9 2021: White British 565,811 565,811 0 2021: White Other 34,503 34,495 -8 2021: Asian 18,464 18,465 +1 2021: Black 7,777 7,774 -3 2021: Mixed 14,149 14,151 +2 2021: Other 4,375 4,374 -1
Raw source rows: KS201EW, 2011 , row 78. TS021, 2021 , row 136.
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 598,289 2012 601,301 2013 605,213 2014 611,331 2015 617,671 2016 624,076 2017 629,712 2018 634,653 2019 638,676 2020 640,572 2021 646,485 2022 652,645 2023 661,406 2024 668,109 2025 671,908
Population change since 2011 Map: Population change since 2011, mid-2025 estimate. Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council. Cheltenham +5.0%; Cotswold +10.1%; Forest of Dean +9.7%; Gloucester +13.7%; South Gloucestershire +17.2%; Stroud +11.8%; Tewkesbury +26.1%. Cheltenham: +5.0% Cotswold: +10.1% Forest of Dean: +9.7% Gloucester: +13.7% South Gloucestershire: +17.2% Stroud: +11.8% Tewkesbury: +26.1% Cotswold +10.1% 91,563 people South Gloucestershire +17.2% 308,787 people Forest of Dean +9.7% 90,157 people Tewkesbury +26.1% 103,753 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council 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). South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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. Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council. Cheltenham +5.0%; Cotswold +10.1%; Forest of Dean +9.7%; Gloucester +13.7%; South Gloucestershire +17.2%; Stroud +11.8%; Tewkesbury +26.1%. Cheltenham: +5.0% Cotswold: +10.1% Forest of Dean: +9.7% Gloucester: +13.7% South Gloucestershire: +17.2% Stroud: +11.8% Tewkesbury: +26.1% Cotswold +10.1% 91,563 people South Gloucestershire +17.2% 308,787 people Forest of Dean +9.7% 90,157 people Stroud +11.8% 126,418 people Tewkesbury +26.1% 103,753 people Gloucester +13.7% 138,565 people Cheltenham +5.0% 121,452 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council 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). South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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 Cheltenham 115,645 121,452 +5.0% Cotswold 83,180 91,563 +10.1% Forest of Dean 82,200 90,157 +9.7% Gloucester 121,921 138,565 +13.7% South Gloucestershire Unitary, outside county total 263,417 308,787 +17.2% Stroud 113,074 126,418 +11.8% Tewkesbury 82,269 103,753 +26.1%
Census 2021 ethnic groups Map: White British share of residents, Census 2021. Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council. Cheltenham 83.3%; Cotswold 92.0%; Forest of Dean 94.7%; Gloucester 78.0%; South Gloucestershire 85.8%; Stroud 92.4%; Tewkesbury 90.3%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. Cheltenham: 83.3% Cotswold: 92.0% Forest of Dean: 94.7% Gloucester: 78.0% South Gloucestershire: 85.8% Stroud: 92.4% Tewkesbury: 90.3% Cotswold 92.0% fell 2.5 points from 2011 South Gloucestershire 85.8% fell 6.2 points from 2011 Forest of Dean 94.7% fell 2.0 points from 2011 Tewkesbury 90.3% fell 3.6 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council 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. South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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. South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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. Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council. Cheltenham 83.3%; Cotswold 92.0%; Forest of Dean 94.7%; Gloucester 78.0%; South Gloucestershire 85.8%; Stroud 92.4%; Tewkesbury 90.3%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. Cheltenham: 83.3% Cotswold: 92.0% Forest of Dean: 94.7% Gloucester: 78.0% South Gloucestershire: 85.8% Stroud: 92.4% Tewkesbury: 90.3% Cotswold 92.0% fell 2.5 points from 2011 South Gloucestershire 85.8% fell 6.2 points from 2011 Forest of Dean 94.7% fell 2.0 points from 2011 Stroud 92.4% fell 2.5 points from 2011 Tewkesbury 90.3% fell 3.6 points from 2011 Gloucester 78.0% fell 6.5 points from 2011 Cheltenham 83.3% fell 5.0 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Gloucestershire: 6 district councils, 1 unitary council 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. South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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. South Gloucestershire is a unitary council in ceremonial Gloucestershire, shown with its 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 83.3% White Other 8.1% Asian 4.1% Black 1.0% Mixed 2.5% Other 1.0% White British 92.0% White Other 4.4% Asian 1.3% Black 0.4% Mixed 1.5% Other 0.4% White British 94.7% White Other 2.8% Asian 0.7% Black 0.3% Mixed 1.1% Other 0.4% White British 78.0% White Other 6.9% Asian 6.5% Black 3.6% Mixed 3.8% Other 1.2% Unitary council, outside the county council total.
White British 85.8% White Other 5.4% Asian 3.8% Black 1.6% Mixed 2.5% Other 0.9% White British 92.4% White Other 4.0% Asian 1.0% Black 0.4% Mixed 1.8% Other 0.4% White British 90.3% White Other 4.7% Asian 2.0% Black 0.6% Mixed 1.8% Other 0.5% 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.
All county council areas, A to Z