North Kesteven: population and statistics
North Kesteven has a population of 123,267 (2025) across 922.5 km², or 134 people per km². It ranks 239 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +10.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 123,267 residents
- 922.5 km²
- 134 people/km²
North Kesteven in numbers
Population of North Kesteven over time
North Kesteven had 111,665 residents in 2015 and 123,267 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 117,057 |
| 2021 | 118,502 |
| 2022 | 119,727 |
| 2023 | 121,086 |
| 2024 | 122,346 |
| 2025 | 123,267 |
All indicators for North Kesteven
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.3% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 84 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.3% | 17.6% | 17.4% | ranked 253 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 55,870 dwellings | 2,253,470 | 27,429,300 | ranked 215 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 17.8% | 29.8% | 31.6% | ranked 286 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 29.5% | 20.8% | 18.1% | ranked 14 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 50,989 households | 80,736 | 61,440 | ranked 212 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 94.8% | 87.9% | 84.7% | ranked 1 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 4.2% | 11.6% | 14.8% | ranked 318 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 73.8% | 66.0% | 67.3% | ranked 34 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 16.0% | 18.9% | 17.6% | ranked 207 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 10.0% | 15.0% | 14.3% | ranked 291 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £242,834 | £243,499 | £272,474 | ranked 208 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.2% | ranked 158 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.7% | 1.1% | 1.2% | ranked 296 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 67.4% | 76.4% | 76.7% | ranked 251 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 5.3% | 6.4% | 7.8% | ranked 245 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 12.8% | 3.8% | 0.9% | ranked 31 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 4,885 sites | 213,055 | 3,232,440 | ranked 264 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 39.6 per 1,000 | 41.9 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 243 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 4,180 businesses | 183,730 | 2,786,975 | ranked 266 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £37,305 | £36,281 | £38,490 | ranked 214 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.5% | 75.6% | 76.3% | ranked 170 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.1% | 3.4% | 3.2% | ranked 316 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | North Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 11.4% | 19.4% | 18.5% | ranked 292 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in East Midlands, North Kesteven ranks 14 by population.
Households living in a house or bungalow: 94.8% in North Kesteven, compared with an average of 87.9% in East Midlands and 77.6% across the UK.
Households without central heating: 0.7% in North Kesteven, compared with an average of 1.1% in East Midlands and 1.5% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 16.5% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in East Midlands for “Households living in a house or bungalow”.
- “Households living in a house or bungalow”: higher than in 100% of local authorities.
- “Households without central heating”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Households without a car or van”: lower than in 93% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 129,197 football pitches.
- 2.1 times less dense than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Lincoln, 8.7 km away.
Business sectors: North Kesteven
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Construction16.5% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade15.4% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical11.4% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.7% ×2.2
- Administrative and support services7.0% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services6.2% ×0.9
- Health and social work5.5% ×1.0
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.2
Where is North Kesteven?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of North Kesteven?
North Kesteven has 123,267 residents (2025), ranking 239 of 361 local authorities.
How big is North Kesteven?
North Kesteven covers 922.5 km², with a density of 134 people per km².
Is the population of North Kesteven growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of North Kesteven went from 111,665 to 123,267, a change of +10.4%.
Where is North Kesteven?
North Kesteven is in East Midlands (region). Latitude 53.150, longitude −0.500.
Households living in a house or bungalow: what is the figure for North Kesteven?
In North Kesteven, “Households living in a house or bungalow” stands at 94.8% (2021), ranking 1 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 84.7%.
Households without central heating: what is the figure for North Kesteven?
In North Kesteven, “Households without central heating” stands at 0.7% (2021), ranking 296 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 1.2%.
Which local authorities border North Kesteven?
The nearest to North Kesteven are Lincoln (8.7 km), West Lindsey (23 km), Newark and Sherwood (31 km), East Lindsey (32 km), Boston (37 km).