Census and Population

Census and Population Figures

The Research and Intelligence Unit of Cheshire County Council has produced extensive analysis of the output from CENSUS 2001. The Unit is also responsible for producing population forecasts for the County and its Districts.

Many of the statistics are summarised in Cheshire Facts and Figures and Area profiles

Summary statistics for Crewe and Nantwich are given below.

Population in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich

The 2001 Census records a Borough population of 111,007, a rise of 8% since the 1991 Census. This represents the fourth highest population increase across the North West region.

The Borough covers 43,041 hectares, averaging 2.6 people per hectare. Along with Chester, Crewe and Nantwich is the least densely populated Borough within Cheshire, which averages 3.2 people per hectare (4.8 in the North West and 3.4 in England and Wales).

The Borough's ethnic minority population is extremely small, with 98% of the population being white and British. At 2%, the ethnic populations of Crewe & Nantwich and Chester are the highest in Cheshire, but comparatively low compared to the average of 8.7% for England and Wales.

Age and Gender Profile of the Population

The 2001 Census reveals that women outnumber men in the District, with 51% of the total population being female and 49% male.

20.6% of the total population were aged under 16, 58% between 16 and 59 and 21.4% were 60 or over. The average age was 39.1 years old.

Living arrangements

In 2001 in Crewe and Nantwich there were 45,699 households with an average size of 2.4. Of those people aged 16 plus and living in households, 65% were living as part of a couple and 35% were living singly (14.1% being pensioners living alone). 30.5% of households had dependent children, with 4% of these having no adults in employment and 5% being lone parent households.

76% of households within the Borough were owner occupied, 12% were rented from Local Authorities and 2% were rented from Housing Associations/Social Landlords.

Ward Population

The most populated ward as revealed by the 2001 Census is Wistaston Green with just over 6,500 inhabitants. St Barnabas, Leighton and Haslington are the next most populated wards with over 6,000 inhabitants each.

Peckforton, Englesea and Wrenbury each have less than 2,000 residents.

Employment (Resident population aged 16 to 74)

At the time of the 2001 Census there were 51,527 people (aged 16-74) in employment and of this number:

55% were males and 45% were females; and

3% worked in primary industries, 25% in manufacturing or construction industries and 72% in service industries.

Within Crewe and Nantwich, 21% of those unemployed were aged 50 or over, 8% had never worked and 28% were long term unemployed.