Early Census results show Fenland population grew more than national figure in 10 years leading up to 2021

The first results released from the 2021 National Census shows that the population of Fenland has increased by 7.6%, from around 95,300 in 2011 to 102,500.

This is higher than the overall increase for England (6.6%), where the population grew by nearly 3.5 million to 56,489,800.

Nearby areas like Peterborough and South Holland have seen their populations increase by around 17.5% and 7.7%, respectively, while others such as King's Lynn and West Norfolk saw an increase of 4.6% and East Cambridgeshire saw smaller growth (4.6%).

The largest population increases in the East of England have been seen in Bedford and Cambridge, where the populations have grown by 17.7% and 17.6%, respectively.

At the other end of the scale, North Norfolk has seen an increase of just 1.5%.

At 7.6%, Fenland's population increase is lower than the increase for the East of England (8.3%).

Tower Hamlets saw the largest percentage growth in population in England, increasing 22.1% between 2011 and 2021. Dartford was second, increasing 20.0%.

Some local authority areas have seen their populations decline. Kensington and Chelsea had an estimated population of 143,400 in 2021, which was around 15,200 fewer than in 2011 and a decrease of 9.6%.

In 2021, Fenland ranked 238th for total population out of 309 local authority areas in England, moving up four places in a decade.

It is the 12th least densely populated of the East of England's 45 local authority areas, with an average of one person living on each football pitch-sized area of land. Tower Hamlets has the equivalent of around 112 people per pitch.

There has been an increase of 21.1% in people aged 65 years and over in Fenland, an increase of 3.4% in people aged 15 to 64 years, and an increase of 6.5% in children aged under 15 years.