THE first results of the 2021 census are in – and they show Bromsgrove has seen its population swell over the last decade.

The census takes place every 10 years, with every household in the UK required to take part.

The latest snapshot of England and Wales was captured on March 21, 2021.

Now the first results have been released – and there’s been a rise in the number of people living in Bromsgrove.

On census day, 99,200 people were living in the area – up 6 per cent from 93,637 in 2011, when the last census was carried out.

This also means the population density has grown to 457 usual residents per square kilometre, up from 432 in 2011.

The census is crucial for the UK’s statisticians to understand how our population is changing and plays a vital role in how our public services and government operate.

It shows the balance of men and women in the area has changed – Bromsgrove’s population is now 48.8 per cent male and 51.1 per cent female, meaning there is now a higher proportion of women in the area than 10 years ago.

In 2011, people living in Bromsgrove were 49.4 per cent male and 50.6 per cent female.

It also shows the area has seen a rise in the proportion of both young children and the elderly – a decade ago the population was made up of 10.4 per cent under-10s and 20.4 per cent over-65s, but this had changed to 11 per cent and 23 per cent respectively by 2021.

Across England and Wales, the total population grew 6.3 per cent over the past decade, from 56,075,912 in 2011 to 59,597,300 last year.

This included a 6.2 per cent increase in the West Midlands, where the population rose to 5,950,800 from 5,601,847 in 2011.