The population of North West Leicestershire has grown by 12 per cent in the last decade, the 2021 Census has revealed.

The Office for National Statistics has today (Tuesday) published the first set of results from the Census of England and Wales.

Data shows that the nation's population is now the biggest it has ever been at 59.6 million people.

But with the national growth rate at 6.3 per cent, the population in this region - including Ashby, Coalville and Castle Donington, has grown faster over the past 10 years.

There are now 148,500 people living in the area, compared to 104,700 people living in the district, compared to 93,468 in 2011.

The number of households in the area has jumped 15 per cent - almost 6,000 - in the last 10 years.

In 2011, there were 39,128 homes - now there are 45,000 with a number of hew housing estates built across the district over the past decade.

But the population density has only risen slightly from 335 people per sq kilometre, to 375 in 2021.

A breakdown of ages for the region shows that 63.2 per cent of the population is aged 15-64, whereas 20.2 per cent for the 65s and overs.

Those under the age of 15 account for 16.6 per cent of the people in North West Leicestershire.

The rounded estimates for local authorities published today will be followed by more detailed data in the autumn which will include information on faith and sexuality.

There have been a number of new houses built in the Ashby area. Photo: Ashby Nub News

National Results

Across the nation the population has increased by 3.5 million people since 2011 - a 6.3 per cent increase.

But that signals a slower rate of growth, with the last census showing a record 7.1 per cent increase from 2001.

The results published today also show that 18.6 per cent of the population is now aged 65 years and over - the highest recorded proportion for England and Wales.

ONS figures also show that 51.0 per cent of the population of England and Wales is female which is a slight rise from 50.8 in 2011.

A record 89 per cent of responses to the census were completed online - with 20 million households surveyed in total.

Added to census figures for Northern Ireland and a 2020 estimate of the Scottish population, there are now 66,966,400 people in the UK.