South Kesteven: population and statistics
South Kesteven has a population of 148,069 (2025) across 942.6 km², or 157 people per km². It ranks 185 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +6.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 148,069 residents
- 942.6 km²
- 157 people/km²
South Kesteven in numbers
Population of South Kesteven over time
South Kesteven had 138,915 residents in 2015 and 148,069 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 142,869 |
| 2021 | 143,751 |
| 2022 | 144,295 |
| 2023 | 146,145 |
| 2024 | 147,049 |
| 2025 | 148,069 |
All indicators for South 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 | South 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) | 17.0% | 17.6% | 17.4% | ranked 209 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | South Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 68,150 dwellings | 2,253,470 | 27,429,300 | ranked 157 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 20.3% | 29.8% | 31.6% | ranked 274 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 23.5% | 20.8% | 18.1% | ranked 62 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 62,847 households | 80,736 | 61,440 | ranked 151 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 90.1% | 87.9% | 84.7% | ranked 56 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 8.7% | 11.6% | 14.8% | ranked 278 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 69.3% | 66.0% | 67.3% | ranked 113 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 18.0% | 18.9% | 17.6% | ranked 144 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 12.5% | 15.0% | 14.3% | ranked 233 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £260,359 | £243,499 | £272,474 | ranked 191 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.2% | ranked 128 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | South Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.2% | ranked 204 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 68.1% | 76.4% | 76.7% | ranked 247 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 7.5% | 6.4% | 7.8% | ranked 166 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 10.2% | 3.8% | 0.9% | ranked 47 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | South Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,915 sites | 213,055 | 3,232,440 | ranked 178 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 46.7 per 1,000 | 41.9 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 149 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,995 businesses | 183,730 | 2,786,975 | ranked 173 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,922 | £36,281 | £38,490 | ranked 289 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | South Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 77.3% | 75.6% | 76.3% | ranked 152 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.8% | 3.4% | 3.2% | ranked 216 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | South Kesteven | East Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 14.6% | 19.4% | 18.5% | ranked 221 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in East Midlands, South Kesteven ranks 7 by population.
Households living in a flat or maisonette: 8.7% in South Kesteven, compared with an average of 11.6% in East Midlands and 22.0% across the UK.
Households heated by oil only: 10.2% in South Kesteven, compared with an average of 3.8% in East Midlands and 3.4% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.2% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 132,014 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Rutland, 18.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Peterborough (224,757 residents), 26 km away.
Business sectors: South Kesteven
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade17.2% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical14.5% ×1.0
- Construction13.0% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services7.2% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.5% ×1.5
- Accommodation and food services6.1% ×0.9
- Health and social work5.6% ×1.0
- Manufacturing5.1% ×1.2
Where is South Kesteven?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Kesteven?
South Kesteven has 148,069 residents (2025), ranking 185 of 361 local authorities.
How big is South Kesteven?
South Kesteven covers 942.6 km², with a density of 157 people per km².
Is the population of South Kesteven growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of South Kesteven went from 138,915 to 148,069, a change of +6.6%.
Where is South Kesteven?
South Kesteven is in East Midlands (region). Latitude 52.800, longitude −0.500.
Households living in a flat or maisonette: what is the figure for South Kesteven?
In South Kesteven, “Households living in a flat or maisonette” stands at 8.7% (2021), ranking 278 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 14.8%.
Households heated by oil only: what is the figure for South Kesteven?
In South Kesteven, “Households heated by oil only” stands at 10.2% (2021), ranking 47 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 0.9%.
Which local authorities border South Kesteven?
The nearest to South Kesteven are Rutland (19 km), Melton (20 km), South Holland (24 km), Peterborough (26 km), Boston (37 km).