Home / Places / East Midlands / Leicestershire Leicestershire: population and ethnicity County council area. 7 district councils.
Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, shown with its own figures and outside the county council's area.
ONS estimates show that the county council area's population rose by 101,269 residents (15.6%) between mid-2011 and mid-2025, from 651,179 to 752,448. Source: ONS MYE4 .
752,448 Residents, mid-2025 ONS MYE4 estimate 712,366 Residents, Census 2021 ethnicity table ONS TS021 county row 650,489 Residents, Census 2011 ONS KS201EW county row Ethnic groups in the county council area Census 2011
White British 88.9% White Other 2.5% Asian 6.3% Black 0.6% Mixed 1.3% Other 0.4% Census 2021
White British 83.6% White Other 3.9% Asian 8.2% Black 1.1% Mixed 2.2% Other 1.0% Published county counts. Changes are percentage points calculated from unrounded shares. Group 2011 2021 Change White British 578,432 595,796 -5.3pp White Other 16,335 27,633 +1.4pp Asian 40,777 58,066 +1.9pp Black 3,787 7,913 +0.5pp Mixed 8,551 15,543 +0.9pp Other 2,607 7,415 +0.6pp
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 2 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 650,489 650,489 0 2011: White British 578,432 578,432 0 2011: White Other 16,335 16,335 0 2011: Asian 40,777 40,777 0 2011: Black 3,787 3,787 0 2011: Mixed 8,551 8,551 0 2011: Other 2,607 2,607 0 2021: All residents 712,366 712,364 -2 2021: White British 595,796 595,796 0 2021: White Other 27,633 27,630 -3 2021: Asian 58,066 58,068 +2 2021: Black 7,913 7,913 0 2021: Mixed 15,543 15,542 -1 2021: Other 7,415 7,415 0
Raw source rows: KS201EW, 2011 , row 83. TS021, 2021 , row 141.
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 651,179 2012 655,098 2013 658,881 2014 665,412 2015 671,115 2016 678,088 2017 687,456 2018 695,090 2019 700,817 2020 705,536 2021 712,632 2022 722,843 2023 733,723 2024 744,477 2025 752,448
Population change since 2011 Map: Population change since 2011, mid-2025 estimate. Leicestershire: 7 district councils, 1 unitary council. Blaby +15.2%; Charnwood +14.4%; Harborough +24.4%; Hinckley and Bosworth +12.3%; Leicester +16.2%; Melton +8.3%; North West Leicestershire +20.9%; Oadby and Wigston +9.9%. Blaby: +15.2% Charnwood: +14.4% Harborough: +24.4% Hinckley and Bosworth: +12.3% Leicester: +16.2% Melton: +8.3% North West Leicestershire: +20.9% Oadby and Wigston: +9.9% Melton +8.3% 54,694 people Harborough +24.4% 106,577 people Hinckley and Bosworth +12.3% 118,240 people Charnwood +14.4% 189,718 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Leicestershire: 7 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). Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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. Leicestershire: 7 district councils, 1 unitary council. Blaby +15.2%; Charnwood +14.4%; Harborough +24.4%; Hinckley and Bosworth +12.3%; Leicester +16.2%; Melton +8.3%; North West Leicestershire +20.9%; Oadby and Wigston +9.9%. Blaby: +15.2% Charnwood: +14.4% Harborough: +24.4% Hinckley and Bosworth: +12.3% Leicester: +16.2% Melton: +8.3% North West Leicestershire: +20.9% Oadby and Wigston: +9.9% Melton +8.3% 54,694 people Harborough +24.4% 106,577 people Hinckley and Bosworth +12.3% 118,240 people Charnwood +14.4% 189,718 people North West Leicestershire +20.9% 113,263 people Blaby +15.2% 108,423 people Leicester +16.2% 383,116 people Oadby and Wigston +9.9% 61,533 people ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2025 Population change since 2011 Leicestershire: 7 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). Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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 Blaby 94,132 108,423 +15.2% Charnwood 165,876 189,718 +14.4% Harborough 85,699 106,577 +24.4% Hinckley and Bosworth 105,328 118,240 +12.3% Leicester Unitary, outside county total 329,627 383,116 +16.2% Melton 50,495 54,694 +8.3% North West Leicestershire 93,670 113,263 +20.9% Oadby and Wigston 55,979 61,533 +9.9%
Census 2021 ethnic groups Map: White British share of residents, Census 2021. Leicestershire: 7 district councils, 1 unitary council. Blaby 82.3%; Charnwood 77.9%; Harborough 87.6%; Hinckley and Bosworth 90.8%; Leicester 33.2%; Melton 92.9%; North West Leicestershire 92.1%; Oadby and Wigston 59.8%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. Blaby: 82.3% Charnwood: 77.9% Harborough: 87.6% Hinckley and Bosworth: 90.8% Leicester: 33.2% Melton: 92.9% North West Leicestershire: 92.1% Oadby and Wigston: 59.8% Melton 92.9% fell 2.1 points from 2011 Harborough 87.6% fell 5.3 points from 2011 Hinckley and Bosworth 90.8% fell 3.8 points from 2011 North West Leicestershire 92.1% fell 3.2 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Leicestershire: 7 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. Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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. Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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. Leicestershire: 7 district councils, 1 unitary council. Blaby 82.3%; Charnwood 77.9%; Harborough 87.6%; Hinckley and Bosworth 90.8%; Leicester 33.2%; Melton 92.9%; North West Leicestershire 92.1%; Oadby and Wigston 59.8%. England and Wales 2021: 74.4%. Blaby: 82.3% Charnwood: 77.9% Harborough: 87.6% Hinckley and Bosworth: 90.8% Leicester: 33.2% Melton: 92.9% North West Leicestershire: 92.1% Oadby and Wigston: 59.8% Melton 92.9% fell 2.1 points from 2011 Harborough 87.6% fell 5.3 points from 2011 Hinckley and Bosworth 90.8% fell 3.8 points from 2011 Charnwood 77.9% fell 6.3 points from 2011 North West Leicestershire 92.1% fell 3.2 points from 2011 Leicester 33.2% fell 11.9 points from 2011 Blaby 82.3% fell 6.2 points from 2011 Oadby and Wigston 59.8% fell 10.8 points from 2011 ukdemographics.co.uk ukdemographics.co.uk UK Demographics Population data for every community 2021 White British share of residents Leicestershire: 7 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. Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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. Leicester is a unitary council in ceremonial Leicestershire, 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 82.3% White Other 3.9% Asian 8.3% Black 1.6% Mixed 2.7% Other 1.3% White British 77.9% White Other 4.4% Asian 12.4% Black 1.5% Mixed 2.5% Other 1.2% White British 87.6% White Other 3.5% Asian 5.4% Black 0.7% Mixed 2.0% Other 0.8% White British 90.8% White Other 3.5% Asian 2.8% Black 0.6% Mixed 1.8% Other 0.6% Unitary council, outside the county council total.
White British 33.2% White Other 7.7% Asian 43.4% Black 7.8% Mixed 3.8% Other 4.1% White British 92.9% White Other 4.0% Asian 1.2% Black 0.4% Mixed 1.3% Other 0.3% White British 92.1% White Other 3.8% Asian 1.5% Black 0.6% Mixed 1.5% Other 0.5% White British 59.8% White Other 3.6% Asian 27.9% Black 2.2% Mixed 3.2% Other 3.3% 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.
All county council areas, A to Z