Liverpool Population and Age: The Census 2021 Picture
Liverpool district’s population and age bands on 21 March 2021, with the geography, calculations and small differences between census tables explained.
Published
Liverpool had 486,088 usual residents in the Office for National Statistics’ Census 2021 residence-type table, TS001. That figure describes Liverpool district on 21 March 2021. It provides a dated population baseline for understanding the city and comparing age groups.[1][4]
Which Liverpool Do These Figures Describe?
The geography is Liverpool metropolitan district, identified by code E08000012. Every population figure below uses that district. Keep this boundary attached when reusing the numbers, because a Liverpool City Region total or a city-centre count would describe a different area.[4][5]
For a neighbourhood decision, a district total gives the wider context. It cannot establish the age profile of an individual neighbourhood or ward. Liverpool City Council’s Census guidance distinguishes Liverpool-wide topic results from ward and neighbourhood profiles, so check which geographic level a comparison actually uses.[3][4][5]
Liverpool’s Age Profile on 21 March 2021
The largest listed age band was 20 to 24, with 49,337 residents. The next largest was 25 to 29, with 38,082. The table below reproduces Liverpool district’s counts from TS007A, the Census 2021 age table. Its final band covers everyone aged 85 and over.[2][5]
| Age on 21 March 2021 | Liverpool district usual residents |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | 26,372 |
| 5 to 9 | 26,726 |
| 10 to 14 | 25,244 |
| 15 to 19 | 33,846 |
| 20 to 24 | 49,337 |
| 25 to 29 | 38,082 |
| 30 to 34 | 37,314 |
| 35 to 39 | 33,138 |
| 40 to 44 | 27,773 |
| 45 to 49 | 26,579 |
| 50 to 54 | 29,155 |
| 55 to 59 | 30,659 |
| 60 to 64 | 27,542 |
| 65 to 69 | 22,421 |
| 70 to 74 | 19,994 |
| 75 to 79 | 13,260 |
| 80 to 84 | 9,991 |
| 85 and over | 8,656 |
| All ages | 486,089 |
Combining the three bands from 20 to 34 gives 124,733 residents, or 25.66% of Liverpool district’s TS007A total. Residents aged 0 to 14 numbered 78,342, or 16.12%. Adding the five bands from 65 upwards gives 74,322 residents, or 15.29%. These are selected age groups rather than a complete division of the population.[5]
Choosing an Age Group for a Local Decision
For an activity aimed at younger children, the separate 0 to 4, 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 counts offer more detail than one combined figure. Keep the age limits explicit. The 0 to 14 total excludes older children, while the 15 to 19 band crosses the eighteenth birthday. This table cannot produce an exact under-18 count.[2][5]
Age also needs careful interpretation when considering a local market. The 20 to 24 band counts residents of that age. It contains no information about whether they are students, where they work or what they spend. Likewise, the district’s age distribution cannot tell you how many people pass a particular shopping street.[2][5]
For broader context, the council’s interactive Census report covers household composition, housing tenure, car ownership, education and economic activity alongside population. Its guidance says most visuals offer comparisons with the Core Cities and England and Wales when you hold the pointer over the Liverpool value.[3]
Household Residents and Communal Establishments
In Liverpool district on Census Day 2021, TS001 recorded 463,875 people living in households and 22,213 living in communal establishments. Together, those categories make its total of 486,088 usual residents. The household figure counts people living in households. It does not count the number of households.[1][4]
The age table’s total is 486,089, one person higher. ONS explains that its privacy protections can create small differences between tables, including through small adjustments to counts. Preserve each published total and use the denominator from the table being analysed.[1][4][5]
Methods and Reproducible Source Selections
Both datasets describe usual residents on 21 March 2021. For reproduction, select geography E08000012, year 2021 and measure 20100, labelled Value. Both downloads label the geography type “2022 local authorities: districts”. The geography label and the census observation date are separate fields.[1][2][4][5]
| Census table | Category selection | Liverpool district denominator |
|---|---|---|
| TS001: residence type | C2021_RESTYPE_3: 0 = total, 1 = household, 2 = communal establishment | 486,088 usual residents |
| TS007A: age | C2021_AGE_19: 0 = total, 1 to 18 = the listed age bands | 486,089 usual residents |
The broader age counts add mutually exclusive bands: 0 to 14 combines the first three, 20 to 34 combines 20 to 24 through 30 to 34, and 65 and over combines 65 to 69 through 85 and over. Each percentage equals its combined count divided by 486,089, multiplied by 100 and rounded to two decimal places. The 18 individual age-band counts sum to 486,089.[5]
When using these figures in a proposal or local comparison, carry the date and district code with them. A decision about a particular neighbourhood still needs evidence for that smaller area, and a decision about today needs evidence beyond this 2021 snapshot.[1][2][4][5]
Sources and checks
These sources were used for this article. Availability, prices and service details can change after the stated check date.
- TS001 - Number of usual residents in households and communal establishments - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
Checked 20 October 2026.
TS001 classifies usual residents by residence in households or communal establishments. The observation date is 21 March 2021. Statistical disclosure control can create small differences between census tables.
- TS007A - Age by five-year age bands - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
Checked 20 October 2026.
TS007A describes usual residents in age bands at 21 March 2021. The age figures describe a historical census population. Age-band counts alone do not identify student status, spending or street footfall.
- Liverpool Census Reports - Liverpool City Council
Checked 20 October 2026.
The council distinguishes Liverpool-wide results from ward and neighbourhood profiles. The interactive report covers population, households, housing, car ownership, education and economic activity. Most visuals provide comparison tooltips for the Core Cities and England and Wales. The article does not assert that the proposed ward or neighbourhood reports are available.
- TS001
Checked 20 October 2026.
Liverpool district is identified by E08000012 and the geography type is labelled 2022 local authorities: districts. The 2021 TS001 total is 486,088 usual residents. There are 463,875 household residents and 22,213 communal-establishment residents. The two residence categories sum to 486,088. The relevant residence-type selections are 0, 1 and 2, using measure 20100, Value.
- TS007A
Checked 20 October 2026.
All age counts apply to Liverpool district, code E08000012, for 2021. TS007A has a total of 486,089 usual residents and the 18 individual age-band counts reproduced in the article. The largest listed band is 20 to 24 with 49,337 residents, followed by 25 to 29 with 38,082. Ages 0 to 14 total 26,372 + 26,726 + 25,244 = 78,342. Their percentage is 100 × 78,342 / 486,089 = 16.12%, rounded to two decimal places. Ages 20 to 34 total 49,337 + 38,082 + 37,314 = 124,733. Their percentage is 100 × 124,733 / 486,089 = 25.66%, rounded to two decimal places. Ages 65 and over total 22,421 + 19,994 + 13,260 + 9,991 + 8,656 = 74,322. Their percentage is 100 × 74,322 / 486,089 = 15.29%, rounded to two decimal places. The 18 mutually exclusive age-band counts sum to 486,089. The 15 to 19 band crosses age 18, preventing an exact under-18 calculation from these bands. The age-table total exceeds the TS001 total by one person. Age category 0 is the total and categories 1 to 18 are the individual bands, using measure 20100, Value.