Area type
Unitary Authority
Land area
2,226 square kilometres
Fertility rate
1.42
Birth rate
8.8
Death rate
12.4
internal migration
0.5%
international migration
0.5%
View trend
View trend
View trend
The population of County Durham is 521,346 according to mid-2021 population figures published by the ONS. Based on recent growth rates we estimate the current 2023 population of County Durham to be 523,000. In the year between mid-2020 and mid-2021, the population in County Durham fell by an estimated 11,803 people, and in the ten years prior to mid-2021, the population grew by 7,085. Compare population by area.
County Durham's population growth rate between mid-2020 and mid-2021 was -2.2%, which is 2.4% lower than the average population growth rate in County Durham for the ten years prior to mid-2021 (0.2%).
County Durham covers an area of 2,226 square kilometres (859 square miles) and has a population density of 234 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2021. That figure has increased by 3 people per km2 over the past decade.
Between mid-2019 and mid-2020, net internal migration into County Durham was 2,627, and net international migration into County Durham was 2,428.
County Durham's fertility rate (the total number of children that would be born to the average woman in County Durham if she were to live to the end of her child-bearing years) of 1.42, and birth rate (the number of live births per thousand of population per year) of 8.8, led to population increases of 4,684 during the year, and County Durham's death rate or mortality rate (the number of deaths per thousand of population per year) of 12.4 resulted in a 6,572 population decrease. In total, a net 1,888 person natural decrease.
During the past decade, internal migration has risen from a net outflow of 44 in 2011 to a net 2,627 inflow. International migration has risen from a net inflow of 727 in 2011 to an inflow of 2,428 in 2021.
The natural increase in population, due to births and deaths, has fallen from an annual net increase of 540 people in 2011 to -1,888 in 2021.
International migration was the largest driver of population change over the past decade, representing circa 60% of the total change in population.
County Durham Salary
Rental Market of County Durham
County Durham Economy
County Durham's population, population density, and population growth rate, over the past decade.
Figures reported by the ONS in 2022.
Year | Population | Growth rate | Population Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 521,346 | -2.21% | 234 |
| 2020 | 533,149 | 0.58% | 240 |
| 2019 | 530,094 | 0.59% | 238 |
| 2018 | 526,980 | 0.63% | 237 |
| 2017 | 523,662 | 0.36% | 235 |
| 2016 | 521,776 | 0.47% | 234 |
| 2015 | 519,347 | 0.34% | 233 |
| 2014 | 517,573 | 0.32% | 233 |
| 2013 | 515,923 | 0.32% | 232 |
| 2012 | 514,261 | 231 |
County Durham's forecast, population density, and population growth rate, over the next twenty years. Figures reported by the ONS in 2018.
The population of County Durham is forecast to be 10,972,415 in 2025 and 11,119,711 in 2030.
Year | Population | Growth rate | Population Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10,907,764 | 4,900 | |
| 2024 | 10,940,821 | 0.30% | 4,915 |
| 2025 | 10,972,415 | 0.29% | 4,929 |
| 2026 | 11,003,555 | 0.28% | 4,943 |
| 2027 | 11,033,999 | 0.28% | 4,957 |
| 2028 | 11,063,378 | 0.27% | 4,970 |
| 2029 | 11,091,989 | 0.26% | 4,983 |
| 2030 | 11,119,711 | 0.25% | 4,995 |
| 2031 | 11,146,768 | 0.24% | 5,008 |
| 2032 | 11,173,087 | 0.24% | 5,019 |
Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2022. Data sources: ONS Local statistics