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Knowsley, in numbers

People and living standards

Knowsley council area. Every figure carries its own date.

How the population is changing, who lives here and what living standards look like.

Knowsley council area. These are council-area figures. They are not a separate history for every ward or the city centre.

More people? A different age mix?

The population grew from 155,135 in 1991 to 163,723 in 2025.

A growing number of children, working-age adults or older residents can mean different needs for homes, schools, jobs and care.

Population

1996 to 2025

Knowsley council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 152,714 people in 1996; 163,723 people in 2025. 7.2% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Population — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
1991155,135
1992153,882
1993153,752
1994152,719
1995152,737
1996152,714
1997152,655
1998153,168
1999151,837
2000151,392
2001151,238
2002150,506
2003149,795
2004149,216
2005148,900
2006148,788
2007148,188
2008147,822
2009147,070
2010146,398
2011145,903
2012146,227
2013146,370
2014146,562
2015147,300
2016147,928
2017148,567
2018150,042
2019151,793
2020153,408
2021154,978
2022157,023
2023159,191
2024161,714
2025163,723
Source →
People aged 0 to 15

People aged 0 to 15

1996 to 2025

Knowsley council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 37,437 people in 1996; 32,430 people in 2025. 13.4% lower between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 0 to 15 — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199137,561
199237,486
199337,747
199437,677
199537,649
199637,437
199737,127
199836,840
199936,034
200035,325
200134,362
200233,490
200332,851
200432,192
200531,629
200631,166
200730,547
200830,010
200929,471
201028,910
201128,591
201228,517
201328,378
201428,239
201528,511
201628,723
201728,978
201829,589
201929,755
202030,234
202130,297
202231,032
202331,613
202432,150
202532,430
Source →
People aged 16 to 64

People aged 16 to 64

1996 to 2025

Knowsley council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 94,263 people in 1996; 102,309 people in 2025. 8.5% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 16 to 64 — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199198,468
199297,004
199396,150
199494,911
199594,517
199694,263
199794,217
199894,721
199994,003
200094,090
200194,517
200294,383
200394,182
200494,239
200594,448
200694,838
200794,866
200895,015
200994,700
201094,518
201194,219
201294,061
201394,022
201494,099
201594,354
201694,446
201794,620
201895,163
201996,226
202097,023
202198,241
202299,030
202399,954
2024101,332
2025102,309
Source →
People aged 65 or over

People aged 65 or over

1996 to 2025

Knowsley council area · people

Reviewed figures: 1991 to 2025. The chart opens on the latest 30 years; choose All history for the full reviewed record.

Shown on this chart: 21,014 people in 1996; 28,984 people in 2025. 37.9% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published annual mid-year population estimates, both sexes. Exact requested ONS area code; source geography vintage retained. Latest revised source series is used throughout; no years are interpolated and no ward values are inferred.

Mid-year estimates, not census counts. Historical revisions and boundaries follow this one published series.

This is the whole stated area, not a ward or necessarily the named city settlement.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

People aged 65 or over — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Periodpeople
199119,106
199219,392
199319,855
199420,131
199520,571
199621,014
199721,311
199821,607
199921,800
200021,977
200122,359
200222,633
200322,762
200422,785
200522,823
200622,784
200722,775
200822,797
200922,899
201022,970
201123,093
201223,649
201323,970
201424,224
201524,435
201624,759
201724,969
201825,290
201925,812
202026,151
202126,440
202226,961
202327,624
202428,232
202528,984
Source →

Population growth alone does not show whether services are under pressure. Capacity, location and residents’ needs also matter.

How residents described their ethnic group

These are census snapshots, not annual estimates. Open a year to see both the number of people and their share of the population.

2021 census · 154,518 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Knowsley · 2021
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh2,5101.6%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African1,2640.8%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups2,6581.7%
White147,23495.3%
Other ethnic group8520.6%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2011 census · 145,893 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Knowsley · 2011
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White141,85897.2%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups1,9131.3%
Asian/Asian British1,4031%
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British5050.3%
Other ethnic group2140.1%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →
2001 census · 150,459 residents
How this census compares with other years

Census snapshots use the categories and boundaries published for each year. They are not annual estimates. In England and Wales, Chinese moved from Chinese/Other in 2001 to Asian in 2011; mixed categories and later write-in categories also changed. No change is calculated across these categories.

Ethnic group · Knowsley · 2001
Residents’ census answerPeopleShare
White148,08298.4%
Mixed1,2530.8%
Asian/Asian British3520.2%
Black/Black British3170.2%
Chinese/Other4550.3%

Census wording and the available categories can change. The tables retain the categories published for each year; they are not automatically like-for-like trends.

Source and method →

A complete, comparable 30-year ethnicity history is not available for every current area. Missing years have not been estimated.

How comfortable is life here?

Pay, housing costs, health and opportunities tell different parts of the story. An area average can hide large differences between households.

In 2024, average disposable income per person was 21.9% below the UK average.

Money available to spend or save per person

1997 to 2024

Knowsley council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £7,891 per person in 1997; £20,287 per person in 2024. 157.1% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Money available to spend or save per person — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Period£ per person, current prices
19977,891
19987,948
19998,419
20008,979
20019,430
20029,655
200310,117
200410,633
200511,038
200611,430
200712,027
200812,351
200912,841
201012,998
201113,219
201213,575
201313,877
201414,219
201514,816
201615,083
201715,772
201815,953
201916,658
202017,000
202117,292
202217,970
202319,162
202420,287
Source →
Has the gap with the UK average changed?

Above zero means income is above the UK average; below zero means it is below. Each year is compared with the UK average for that same year.

Income above or below the UK average

1997 to 2024

Knowsley council area · %

Reviewed figures: 1997 to 2024. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: -25.6% in 1997; -21.9% in 2024. 3.7 percentage points higher.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Published ONS table values from one 1997–2024 release, matched by exact source geography code. Table3 per-person values are retained, not recalculated from rounded totals. Source country/region references are the official published totals, not averages of selected councils. Displayed as the published UK=100 value minus 100, giving the percentage above or below the UK average.

Amounts are in cash prices for each year and include inflation. A rise does not by itself show an increase in purchasing power.

This is an average per resident, including children and retired people, not the income of a typical household, wages or wealth.

These are official statistics in development, combining administrative and survey inputs. The Annual Population Survey contributes to some components; it is not the sole source.

The 2024 estimates are provisional. Earlier years have been revised within this single release; no release editions are spliced.

The UK index compares each year with the UK average in that same year. It is not an inflation-adjusted income index.

Geography as published in the ONS 19 August 2026 release; exact source code retained. The workbook does not specify a separate local-boundary effective date.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Income above or below the UK average — Knowsley council area: full reviewed history
Period%
1997-25.6
1998-26.6
1999-25.6
2000-24.6
2001-23.8
2002-23.7
2003-22.4
2004-21.7
2005-21.5
2006-22
2007-21.6
2008-21.6
2009-19.8
2010-19.5
2011-18.9
2012-19.6
2013-20.8
2014-21.4
2015-22.1
2016-21.7
2017-19.9
2018-21.8
2019-20.9
2020-19
2021-20.8
2022-21.7
2023-21.6
2024-21.9
Source →

Mixed-source official estimates: administrative records and surveys. Income here is the average money per resident available to spend or save after tax and benefits. It is not typical pay or household wealth. Cash figures do not show how much prices changed.

Adults in work

55.9%

21 March 2021 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

All usual residents aged 16 and over

21 March 2021, residents aged 16 and over. Includes full-time students in the corresponding work/unemployment categories. Not a current labour-market estimate or the usual 16–64 employment rate. Census took place during the coronavirus pandemic; furlough and lockdown affected answers. Ward counts sum complete official output-area best-fit membership; privacy adjustment can make totals differ slightly.

Source →

Households facing several disadvantages

26.9%

21 March 2021 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

All households

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Adults with no qualifications

26.2%

21 March 2021 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

Residents aged 16 and over

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

People reporting bad or very bad health

8.6%

21 March 2021 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

All usual residents; self-reported, not age-standardised

Published Census 2021 count; percentage uses the matching population denominator

Source →

Average home price

£189,000

July 2026 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Published UK House Price Index average price, all property types and all buyers, not seasonally adjusted. Entire series comes from the 2026-07 official full-file release, preserving its historical revisions and exact area codes. It is a mix-adjusted average, not the median price paid.

Source →

Average monthly private rent

£858

August 2026 · Knowsley council area

Show the workings

Homes in the local authority area

Official local housing data feed. House prices are provisional, not seasonally adjusted; rents use the Price Index of Private Rents. Local short-term estimates are variable. Country references use only the explicitly country-coded ctry object, never the local place object.

Source →

Deprivation describes several kinds of disadvantage. It is not a measure of household wealth. A change in an area's ranking does not by itself show whether living conditions improved.

See differences between neighbourhoods →

What could the changes mean locally?

Use the age profile alongside school places and care capacity, and look at housing costs alongside pay. Then check whether local plans respond to the needs shown by the evidence.

Read the local action plan →
Which histories are missing or need care?

These histories describe the stated whole area. A consistent historical series for its current wards has not been established.

1991 ethnicity has not been reconstructed to this current area. No annual ethnicity values are inferred between census dates.

These local income figures include inflation. No local inflation-adjusted income series has been substituted or inferred from regional prices.

This series describes the stated council or reference area. A comparable 30-year income history for its current wards has not been established.

The reviewed release starts in 1997. Earlier income values have not been invented or joined from another definition.