Skip to content
Winchester Counts — Winchester, in numbers.Local help →

Winchester · England

People and living standards

Winchester council area. Every figure carries its own date.

Winchester

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

Winchester local authority 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 98,388 in 1991 to 136,856 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

Winchester 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: 103,778 people in 1996; 136,856 people in 2025. 31.9% 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 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199198,388
199298,823
199399,376
1994100,404
1995102,520
1996103,778
1997105,207
1998106,878
1999107,307
2000107,390
2001107,264
2002107,844
2003108,515
2004109,179
2005109,947
2006110,628
2007111,820
2008113,267
2009114,505
2010115,789
2011116,820
2012117,789
2013118,736
2014119,937
2015121,440
2016122,844
2017123,771
2018123,877
2019124,407
2020125,754
2021127,921
2022130,537
2023133,284
2024135,444
2025136,856
Source →
People aged 0 to 15

People aged 0 to 15

1996 to 2025

Winchester 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: 19,526 people in 1996; 24,287 people in 2025. 24.4% 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 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199118,634
199218,816
199318,908
199419,159
199519,503
199619,526
199719,729
199819,783
199919,892
200019,918
200119,974
200219,966
200320,122
200420,343
200520,526
200620,624
200720,714
200820,993
200921,199
201021,271
201121,475
201221,748
201321,801
201421,931
201522,191
201622,532
201722,760
201822,628
201922,429
202022,436
202122,750
202223,226
202323,881
202424,260
202524,287
Source →
People aged 16 to 64

People aged 16 to 64

1996 to 2025

Winchester 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: 66,544 people in 1996; 83,242 people in 2025. 25.1% 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 16 to 64 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199163,218
199263,283
199363,531
199464,069
199565,546
199666,544
199767,583
199868,949
199969,287
200069,225
200168,875
200269,314
200369,687
200469,931
200570,148
200670,681
200771,423
200872,161
200972,679
201073,163
201173,321
201273,160
201373,414
201473,983
201574,790
201675,371
201775,669
201875,494
201975,886
202076,939
202178,382
202279,761
202381,338
202482,573
202583,242
Source →
People aged 65 or over

People aged 65 or over

1996 to 2025

Winchester 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: 17,708 people in 1996; 29,327 people in 2025. 65.6% 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 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199116,536
199216,724
199316,937
199417,176
199517,471
199617,708
199717,895
199818,146
199918,128
200018,247
200118,415
200218,564
200318,706
200418,905
200519,273
200619,323
200719,683
200820,113
200920,627
201021,355
201122,024
201222,881
201323,521
201424,023
201524,459
201624,941
201725,342
201825,755
201926,092
202026,379
202126,789
202227,550
202328,065
202428,611
202529,327
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 · 127,444 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 · Winchester · 2021
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh3,9173.1%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African7920.6%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups2,5902%
White119,30593.6%
Other ethnic group8400.7%

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 · 116,595 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 · Winchester · 2011
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White111,57795.7%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups1,6261.4%
Asian/Asian British2,6392.3%
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British4570.4%
Other ethnic group2960.3%

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 · 107,222 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 · Winchester · 2001
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White104,90797.8%
Mixed7080.7%
Asian/Asian British7390.7%
Black/Black British2700.3%
Chinese/Other5980.6%

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 33.9% above the UK average.

Money available to spend or save per person

1997 to 2024

Winchester 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: £14,390 per person in 1997; £34,756 per person in 2024. 141.5% 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 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Period£ per person, current prices
199714,390
199814,500
199915,004
200016,086
200116,774
200217,023
200317,144
200418,123
200518,720
200619,401
200720,453
200820,964
200921,097
201021,122
201121,228
201222,171
201323,106
201423,357
201524,774
201624,656
201725,339
201826,699
201928,075
202027,170
202128,165
202229,685
202332,416
202434,756
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

Winchester 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: 35.6% in 1997; 33.9% in 2024. 1.7 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 — Winchester council area: full reviewed history
Period%
199735.6
199833.9
199932.6
200035.1
200135.6
200234.5
200331.5
200433.5
200533.2
200632.5
200733.3
200833.1
200931.8
201030.8
201130.3
201231.3
201331.9
201429.2
201530.2
201628
201728.6
201830.8
201933.2
202029.4
202128.9
202229.3
202332.6
202433.9
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.

Households facing several disadvantages

11.3%

21 March 2021 · Winchester local authority area

Show the workings

All households

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Adults with no qualifications

11.1%

21 March 2021 · Winchester local authority 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

3.4%

21 March 2021 · Winchester local authority 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

£463,000

July 2026 · Winchester local authority 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

£1,508

August 2026 · Winchester local authority 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.