Dorset
South West · England 379,580 Population (2021 Census)
93.9% White British (2021)
76.3% White British (2041 projected)
66.2% White British (2051 projected)
Ethnic composition
Census 2021 observed data with Hamilton-Perry projections to 2061.
white british 93.9%
white other 3.2%
asian 1.1%
black 0.7%
mixed 0.7%
other 0.3%
Projected 2051
white british 66.2%
white other 9.7%
asian 11.1%
black 5.8%
mixed 3.5%
other 3.6%
Diversity index
low diversity Shannon entropy: 0.17 · Dissimilarity: 19.4
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 98.2%
notEnglishPct 3.7%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Service demand pressure
Ethnic change20/20
Asylum0/20
School5/20
Language0/20
Housing0/20
Economic profile
Avg employment rate53.3%
Avg home ownership69.9%
Avg social rent12.1%
Degree or above30.9%
No qualifications15.5%
Housing demand projection
Census 2021 tenure patterns by ethnicity, projected to 2041 from demographic composition change.
Ownership (2021)69.9%
Social rent (2021)12.1%
Private rent (2021)16.1%
Ownership (2041)61.9%
Social rent (2041)10.9%
Social rent change-1.1pp
Housing demand growth from demographic change is moderate.
School demographics
DfE School Census 2024/25. 46,663 pupils.
WBI pupils89.1%
Minority pupils10.9%
EAL growth (projected)+4.8pp
WBI gap (school vs population)4.8pp
School and population ethnic composition are closely aligned.
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 98.2%
notEnglishPct 3.7%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Projected non-English growth+17.5pp
Interpreter demand is manageable at current levels.
Asylum and immigration data
Asylum seekers on support, hotel costs, grant rates, and the True Cost of Asylum for this area.
View Dorset on Asylum Stats →