Area type
Metropolitan District
Land area
339 square kilometres
Fertility rate
1.72
Birth rate
11.3
Death rate
11.1
internal migration
0.7%
international migration
0.2%
View trend
View trend
View trend
The population of Wakefield is 351,592 according to mid-2020 population figures published by the ONS. Based on recent growth rates we estimate the current 2022 population of Wakefield to be 358,245. In the year between mid-2019 and mid-2020, the population in Wakefield grew by an estimated 3,280 people, and in the ten years prior to mid-2020, the population grew by 25,159. Compare population by area.
Wakefield's population growth rate between mid-2019 and mid-2020 was 0.9%, which is 0.1% higher than the average population growth rate in Wakefield for the ten years prior to mid-2020 (0.8%).
Wakefield covers an area of 339 square kilometres (131 square miles) and has a population density of 1,038 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2020. That figure has increased by 74 people per km2 over the past decade.
Between mid-2019 and mid-2020, net internal migration into Wakefield was 2,469, and net international migration into Wakefield was 718.
Wakefield's fertility rate (the total number of children that would be born to the average woman in Wakefield if she were to live to the end of her child-bearing years) of 1.72, and birth rate (the number of live births per thousand of population per year) of 11.3, led to population increases of 3,924 during the year, and Wakefield's death rate or mortality rate (the number of deaths per thousand of population per year) of 11.1 resulted in a 3,856 population decrease. In total, a net 68 person natural increase.
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During the past decade, internal migration has risen from a net outflow of 336 in 2011 to a net 2,469 inflow. International migration has fallen from a net inflow of 973 in 2011 to an inflow of 718 in 2020.
The natural increase in population, due to births and deaths, has fallen from an annual net increase of 886 people in 2011 to 68 in 2020.
Internal migration was the largest driver of population change over the past decade, representing circa 45% of the total change in population.
Wakefield Salary
Rental Market of Wakefield
Wakefield Economy
Wakefield's population, population density, and population growth rate, over the past decade.
Figures reported by the ONS in 2021.
Year | Population | Growth rate | Population Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 351,592 | 0.94% | 1,038 |
| 2019 | 348,312 | 0.95% | 1,029 |
| 2018 | 345,038 | 1.25% | 1,019 |
| 2017 | 340,790 | 1.10% | 1,006 |
| 2016 | 337,094 | 0.92% | 995 |
| 2015 | 334,017 | 0.69% | 986 |
| 2014 | 331,720 | 0.57% | 980 |
| 2013 | 329,847 | 0.60% | 974 |
| 2012 | 327,890 | 0.45% | 968 |
| 2011 | 326,433 | 964 |
Wakefield's forecast, population density, and population growth rate, over the next twenty years. Figures reported by the ONS in 2018.
The population of Wakefield is forecast to be 370,623 in 2025 and 385,405 in 2030.
Year | Population | Growth rate | Population Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 364,028 | 0.97% | 1,075 |
| 2024 | 367,402 | 0.93% | 1,085 |
| 2025 | 370,623 | 0.88% | 1,095 |
| 2026 | 373,752 | 0.84% | 1,104 |
| 2027 | 376,785 | 0.81% | 1,113 |
| 2028 | 379,736 | 0.78% | 1,121 |
| 2029 | 382,608 | 0.76% | 1,130 |
| 2030 | 385,405 | 0.73% | 1,138 |
| 2031 | 388,106 | 0.70% | 1,146 |
| 2032 | 390,785 | 0.69% | 1,154 |
| 2033 | 393,468 | 0.69% | 1,162 |
| 2034 | 396,111 | 0.67% | 1,170 |
| 2035 | 398,696 | 0.65% | 1,177 |
| 2036 | 401,253 | 0.64% | 1,185 |
| 2037 | 403,827 | 0.64% | 1,193 |
| 2038 | 406,431 | 0.64% | 1,200 |
| 2039 | 409,003 | 0.63% | 1,208 |
| 2040 | 411,532 | 0.62% | 1,215 |
| 2041 | 414,019 | 0.60% | 1,223 |
| 2042 | 416,467 | 0.59% | 1,230 |
| 2043 | 418,860 | 0.57% | 1,237 |
Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. Data sources: ONS Local statistics