2011 Census
at a glance
(First Release) July 2012
This paper provides an overview of the headline Census figures
for Cornwall following the first release of statistics from the
2011 Census on 16 July 2012.
Headlines
Population continues to grow:
The usual resident population of England & Wales at census day 2011 was 56,075,900; an
increase of 7.1% since 2001.
Cornwall population’s has risen to 532,300, an increase of 6.7% since 2001.
523,400 (98.3%) in Cornwall live in households – giving an average household size of 2.27 –
with a further 8,800 living in communal establishments (1.7%).
There are 230,400 households in Cornwall an increase of 6.8% since 2001.
Change:
The changes in Cornwall’s age structure are as would be expected. Numbers of residents
in the 5-14, 30-39 and 50-59 age groups have decreased in Cornwall over the last
decade. Due to younger migration and more births the numbers of residents in the 0-4,
15-29 age groups have increased, along with those aged 40-49. As with the rest of
the UK, Cornwall’s population continues to grow older with increases in the 60-74, 75-84
and 85+ age groups.
Impacts:
Census figures provide the most complete source of information we have about the
population. The detailed information that Census provides us helps us to understand our
communities and the characteristics of people who live and work in Cornwall, this will help us
to plan and deliver services for the future and inform policy decisions for years to come.
These figures are also used over the next 10 years to inform both projections and funding so
it is key that these figures are as accurate as possible to ensure that Cornwall gets its rightful
share of future Government resources.
The population figures for Cornwall are lower than expected and represent a nominal
reduction from published mid year estimates of population from ONS. This does not however
represent a decline. It is normal for the release of Census figures to lead to a revision of
previously published estimates. The Council will be looking to better understand the reasons
behind the apparent slowdown in population and housing identified through these figures and
will be undertaking a process of cross referencing and analysis of local data.
Total Population
Cornwall (the black bar)
compared to other upper tier
authorities
Total Population
Headline
figure
Population Change 1961-2011
(2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
The population of Cornwall has increased by 33,233 when compared with estimates from
the 2001 Census. These figures see Cornwall become the largest unitary authority but the
rise is lower than anticipated showing a slowdown in recent growth levels.
Cornwall: Total population 1961-2011
Cornwall
600
532,300
Cornwall
500
SW
EN&W
400
300
5.3m
56.1m
Thousands
Thousands
Total Population: All English
Unitary Authorities 2011
600
500
400
300
200
200
100
100
0
0
1961
Population by Age
1971
1981
1991
2001
2011
(2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
As with the rest of the UK, Cornwall’s population continues to grow older the pyramids
below highlight the aging of the ‘baby boom’ cohort over the last three decades.
Cornwall: 1991
Cornwall: 2001
Cornwall: 2011
85+
80‐84
75‐79
70‐74
65‐69
60‐64
55‐59
50‐54
45‐49
40‐44
35‐39
30‐34
25‐29
20‐24
15‐19
10‐14
5‐9
0‐4
85+
80‐84
75‐79
70‐74
65‐69
60‐64
55‐59
50‐54
45‐49
40‐44
35‐39
30‐34
25‐29
20‐24
15‐19
10‐14
5‐9
0‐4
85+
80‐84
75‐79
70‐74
65‐69
60‐64
55‐59
50‐54
45‐49
40‐44
35‐39
30‐34
25‐29
20‐24
15‐19
10‐14
5‐9
0‐4
25000 15000 5000
5000 15000 25000
25000 15000 5000
5000 15000 25000
25000 15000 5000
5000 15000 25000
Cornwall Council, Community Intelligence Team, [email protected]
2
Change 2001 – 2011
(2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
An overall increase in population of 6.7% is lower than the average for the South West and
for England and Wales.
There is substantial fluctuation in the change in age groups highlighting significant
increases in the 15-29, 40-49 and 60-90 age groups.
2001-2011 Change (%) all English
Unitary Authorities
20
2001-2011 Change (%) by Age Group
Cornwall
50
6.7% 
40
30
15
SW
EN&W
10
7%
7.1%
20
10
0
Cornwall
5
-10
Population aged 0-19
85 to 89
90 and over
80 to 84
75 to 79
70 to 74
65 to 69
60 to 64
55 to 59
50 to 54
45 to 49
40 to 44
35 to 39
30 to 34
25 to 29
20 to 24
15 to 19
5 to 9
0 to 4
-5
10 to 14
-20
0
(2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
The number of 0-19 year olds in Cornwall has risen to 115,300. This increase of 21.7% is
marginally lower than regional and national averages. The overall increase in this age
range is a moderate 2.4% but this masks the more significant 6.9% decrease in the 5-14
age range and average increase in the 0-4 and 15-19 age ranges of 8%.
Change (2001-2011)
Cornwall 2011
115,300
Cornwall
21.7% 
SW
EN&W
22.6%
24%
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
-1000
-2000
-3000
0 to 4
5 to 9
10 to 14 15 to 19
Cornwall Council, Community Intelligence Team, [email protected]
3
Population aged 20-64 (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
The greatest increases in this age range are seen at both ends with the 20-24 and 60-64
age groups seeing a 28% and 42% rise respectively. These figures identify a rise in young
adults remaining or returning to Cornwall and support migration evidence that fewer 20-24
year olds are leaving the county to pursue employment and education opportunities
elsewhere.
The large numbers of 60-64 year olds can be identified as the ‘Baby Boom’ generation and
can be traced back in the two previous Censuses as the largest population group.
Change (2001-2011)
Cornwall 2011
Cornwall
15000
56.7% 
10000
5000
57.9%
59.6%
0
-5000
60 to 64
55 to 59
50 to 54
45 to 49
40 to 44
35 to 39
30 to 34
25 to 29
-10000
20 to 24
301,900
SW
EN&W
Population aged 65-84 (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
The total number of 65-84 year olds has risen to 99,500. The largest change in this age
range is among the 65-69 age groups with an average increase of 31.3% on 2001 figures.
This group can also been considered as part of the ‘Baby Boom’ generation but also reflects
the large number of people the have migrated to Cornwall in their pre-retirement years.
Cornwall 2011
Change (2001-2011)
Cornwall
99,500
18.7% 
SW
EN&
W
16.7%
14.2%
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
65 to 69
70 to 74
75 to 79
80 to 84
Population aged 85+ (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
There is a substantial increase in the number of people living in Cornwall over the age of
85. The 2,608 increase from 2001 estimates supports the understanding that people are
generally living longer.
Cornwall 2011
Cornwall
2.9% 
15,700
SW
EN&W
2.9%
2.2%
Cornwall Council, Community Intelligence Team, [email protected]
4
Short Term Non-UK Residents1 (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
Cornwall has a relatively low number of short term non-UK residents when compared to
other areas in the South West. These figures are not included within the resident population
figures however, they would account for an additional 0.08% of people if they were added.
South West Non-UK Resident No’s
2011
Cornwall
400
2,500
2,000
SW
EN
1,500
1,000
11,5k
195.1k
Cornwall (%) Non-UK Residents as a
proportion of total population
Torbay UA
0.08%
Isles of Scilly UA
North Somerset UA
Poole UA
Gloucestershire
South…
Swindon UA
Cornwall UA
Dorset
Wiltshire UA
Somerset
Plymouth UA
Devon
Bournemouth UA
Bristol, City of UA
0
Bath and North…
500
1
The main population base for outputs from the 2011 Census is the usual resident population as at census day (27 March
2011). Although the population base for enumeration included non-UK short-term residents, these are not included in the
2011 Census, but are analysed separately. All outputs, unless specified, are produced using only usual residents of the For
2011 Census purposes, a usual resident of the UK is anyone who, on census day, was in the UK and had stayed or intended to
stay in the UK for a period of 12 months or more, or had a permanent UK address and was outside the UK and intended to be
outside the UK for less than 12 months.
A census short-term UK resident is anyone born outside the UK who has stayed or intends to stay in the UK for a period of
three months or more but less than 12 months.
Households
Cornwall (the black bar)
compared to other areas
Headline
figure
Change in Cornwall over time
Total Households (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
The total number of households in Cornwall has risen to 230,400; this is an increase of 7%
from 2001, which is a slower rate of growth than in previous decades. These figures require
further investigation to understand the reasons behind this.
Total Households all English Unitary
Authorities 2011
Cornwall Council, Community Intelligence Team, [email protected]
2001-11
1991-01
0
2,264,600
23,366,000
1981-91
50
SW
EN&W
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1971-81
100
230,400
1961-71
150
Cornwall
1951-61
200
Cornwall
Thousands
250
Cornwall: Total Household Change
1961-2011
5
Communal Establishments2 (2011 Census, 1st Release, July 2012, ONS)
Despite its relative size in comparison to other Unitary Authorities, Cornwall has a lower
number of residents living in communal establishments than Nottingham, Durham, Wiltshire
and Bristol. These areas all have either large university, military, health and care
establishments or prison populations or a combination of the aforementioned establishments.
Cornwall
18
8,800
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
Cornwall
SW
EN&W
113,900
1,003,300
Cornwall: Communal Establishments
2001-2011
Thousands
Communal Establishments all
English Unitary Authorities 2011
8.9
8.8
8.7
8.6
8.5
8.4
8.3
8.2
8.1
8
2001
2011
0
2
A communal establishment is an establishment providing managed residential accommodation. ‘Managed’ in this context
means full-time or part-time supervision of the accommodation. Including:
 Health and Care Establishments (including includes National Health Service (NHS) and private hospitals and hospices,
care homes, nursing homes, residential homes, mental health establishments, children’s homes, maternity units and
rehabilitation centres);
 Access Restricted Establishments (prisons, military and others such as consulates and royal households);
 Educational Establishments (including university halls of residence, boarding schools, residential schools for disabled
children, theological and training colleges):
 Sheltered accommodation units where fewer than 50 per cent of the units in the establishment have their own cooking
facilities, or similar accommodation where elderly people have their own rooms, but the main meal is provided, should
be defined as communal establishments; and
 Other Managed Establishments (includes hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts with room for 10 or more guests,
health farms, holiday camps, youth hostels).
This release is the first of four and will only provide headline figures for Cornwall; further
detailed statistics will be released between Nov 2012 and October 2013. Further details of the
release plans for the 2011 Census statistics can be found on the ONS website: 2011 Census
Prospectus.
The figures provided in this brief will also include comparison to other geographical areas,
and changes over time; its purpose is to provide a brief profile, but it does not attempt to
draw conclusions or make policy recommendations.
Cornwall Council, Community Intelligence Team, [email protected]
6