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Walsall Counts — Walsall, in numbers.Local help →

Walsall, in numbers

People and living standards

Walsall council area. Every figure carries its own date.

How the population is changing, who lives here and what living standards look like.

Walsall council area. These are council-area figures. They are not a separate history for every ward or the city centre.

More people? A different age mix?

The population grew from 261,267 in 1991 to 295,722 in 2025.

A growing number of children, working-age adults or older residents can mean different needs for homes, schools, jobs and care.

Population

1996 to 2025

Walsall council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 257,712 people in 1996; 295,722 people in 2025. 14.7% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Population — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991261,267
1992260,688
1993261,378
1994260,245
1995258,462
1996257,712
1997256,631
1998255,540
1999255,808
2000254,899
2001253,333
2002254,287
2003255,352
2004256,702
2005258,172
2006259,454
2007260,939
2008263,034
2009264,774
2010266,834
2011269,524
2012270,517
2013271,704
2014273,764
2015275,490
2016278,429
2017281,229
2018282,921
2019284,600
2020284,578
2021284,392
2022286,669
2023290,545
2024294,626
2025295,722
Source →
People aged 0 to 15

People aged 0 to 15

1996 to 2025

Walsall council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 56,485 people in 1996; 62,688 people in 2025. 11% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 0 to 15 — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199155,609
199255,975
199356,811
199457,018
199556,760
199656,485
199756,277
199856,077
199956,052
200055,719
200154,978
200254,815
200354,749
200454,864
200554,855
200654,848
200754,822
200855,116
200955,291
201055,541
201156,112
201256,350
201356,724
201457,394
201557,938
201659,060
201760,182
201860,944
201961,456
202061,319
202160,970
202261,422
202362,380
202462,886
202562,688
Source →
People aged 16 to 64

People aged 16 to 64

1996 to 2025

Walsall council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 161,584 people in 1996; 181,837 people in 2025. 12.5% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 16 to 64 — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991167,976
1992166,619
1993165,956
1994164,435
1995162,579
1996161,584
1997160,207
1998158,837
1999159,055
2000158,339
2001157,257
2002157,938
2003158,586
2004159,351
2005160,398
2006161,570
2007162,689
2008163,873
2009164,760
2010165,860
2011167,317
2012167,049
2013167,159
2014167,748
2015168,571
2016170,070
2017171,473
2018172,461
2019173,395
2020173,628
2021173,771
2022175,142
2023177,744
2024181,117
2025181,837
Source →
People aged 65 or over

People aged 65 or over

1996 to 2025

Walsall council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 39,643 people in 1996; 51,197 people in 2025. 29.1% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 65 or over — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199137,682
199238,094
199338,611
199438,792
199539,123
199639,643
199740,147
199840,626
199940,701
200040,841
200141,098
200241,534
200342,017
200442,487
200542,919
200643,036
200743,428
200844,045
200944,723
201045,433
201146,095
201247,118
201347,821
201448,622
201548,981
201649,299
201749,574
201849,516
201949,749
202049,631
202149,651
202250,105
202350,421
202450,623
202551,197
Source →

Population growth alone does not show whether services are under pressure. Capacity, location and residents’ needs also matter.

How residents described their ethnic group

These are census snapshots, not annual estimates. Open a year to see both the number of people and their share of the population.

2021 census · 284,126 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Walsall · 2021
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh53,19918.7%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African13,0244.6%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups9,3173.3%
White202,72471.4%
Other ethnic group5,8622.1%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2011 census · 269,323 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Walsall · 2011
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White212,46978.9%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups7,2242.7%
Asian/Asian British41,02215.2%
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British6,3692.4%
Other ethnic group2,2390.8%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2001 census · 253,499 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Walsall · 2001
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White219,06586.4%
Mixed3,5511.4%
Asian/Asian British26,48210.4%
Black/Black British3,5001.4%
Chinese/Other9010.4%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →

A complete, comparable 30-year ethnicity history is not available for every current area. Missing years have not been estimated.

How comfortable is life here?

Pay, housing costs, health and opportunities tell different parts of the story. An area average can hide large differences between households.

In 2024, average disposable income per person was 26.9% below the UK average.

Money available to spend or save per person

1997 to 2024

Walsall council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £8,608 per person in 1997; £18,993 per person in 2024. 120.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Money available to spend or save per person — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Period£ per person, current prices
19978,608
19988,909
19999,212
20009,523
20019,746
20029,998
200310,152
200410,372
200510,393
200610,639
200710,983
200811,226
200911,639
201011,815
201111,998
201212,340
201312,815
201413,422
201513,912
201614,267
201714,672
201815,102
201915,353
202015,547
202116,176
202216,830
202317,991
202418,993
Source →
Has the gap with the UK average changed?

Above zero means income is above the UK average; below zero means it is below. Each year is compared with the UK average for that same year.

Income above or below the UK average

1997 to 2024

Walsall council area · %

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: -18.9% in 1997; -26.9% in 2024. 8 percentage points lower.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils. Displayed as the published UK=100 value minus 100, giving the percentage above or below the UK average.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Income above or below the UK average — Walsall council area: full reviewed history
Period%
1997-18.9
1998-17.7
1999-18.6
2000-20
2001-21.2
2002-21
2003-22.1
2004-23.6
2005-26.1
2006-27.4
2007-28.4
2008-28.7
2009-27.3
2010-26.8
2011-26.4
2012-26.9
2013-26.8
2014-25.8
2015-26.9
2016-25.9
2017-25.5
2018-26
2019-27.1
2020-25.9
2021-25.9
2022-26.7
2023-26.4
2024-26.9
Source →

Mixed-source official estimates: administrative records and surveys. Income here is the average money per resident available to spend or save after tax and benefits. It is not typical pay or household wealth. Cash figures do not show how much prices changed.

Adults in work

53.1%

21 March 2021 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

All usual residents aged 16 and over

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

Source →

Households facing several disadvantages

24.8%

21 March 2021 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

All households

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Adults with no qualifications

26.3%

21 March 2021 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

Residents aged 16 and over

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

People reporting bad or very bad health

6.6%

21 March 2021 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Average home price

£215,000

July 2026 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Published UK House Price Index average price, all property types and all buyers, not seasonally adjusted. Entire series comes from the 2026-07 official full-file release, preserving its historical revisions and exact area codes. It is a mix-adjusted average, not the median price paid.

Source →

Average monthly private rent

£924

August 2026 · Walsall council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Official local housing data feed. House prices are provisional, not seasonally adjusted; rents use the Price Index of Private Rents. Local short-term estimates are variable. Country references use only the explicitly country-coded ctry object, never the local place object.

Source →

Deprivation describes several kinds of disadvantage. It is not a measure of household wealth. A change in an area's ranking does not by itself show whether living conditions improved.

See differences between neighbourhoods →

What could the changes mean locally?

Use the age profile alongside school places and care capacity, and look at housing costs alongside pay. Then check whether local plans respond to the needs shown by the evidence.

Read the local action plan →
Which histories are missing or need care?

These histories describe the stated whole area. A consistent historical series for its current wards has not been established.

1991 ethnicity has not been reconstructed to this current area. No annual ethnicity values are inferred between census dates.

These local income figures include inflation. No local inflation-adjusted income series has been substituted or inferred from regional prices.

This series describes the stated council or reference area. A comparable 30-year income history for its current wards has not been established.

The reviewed release starts in 1997. Earlier income values have not been invented or joined from another definition.