Central Bedfordshire: population and statistics
Central Bedfordshire has a population of 321,605 (2025) across 715.7 km², or 449 people per km². It ranks 51 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +18.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 321,605 residents
- 715.7 km²
- 449 people/km²
Central Bedfordshire in numbers
Population of Central Bedfordshire over time
Central Bedfordshire had 270,962 residents in 2015 and 321,605 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 289,105 |
| 2021 | 295,651 |
| 2022 | 302,158 |
| 2023 | 309,755 |
| 2024 | 316,062 |
| 2025 | 321,605 |
All indicators for Central Bedfordshire
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 | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 18.4% | 20.3% | 20.4% | ranked 243 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 19.7% | 18.4% | 17.4% | ranked 49 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 136,040 dwellings | 2,888,720 | 27,429,300 | ranked 47 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 17.3% | 23.4% | 31.6% | ranked 292 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 29.1% | 21.0% | 18.1% | ranked 16 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 120,754 households | 65,170 | 61,440 | ranked 49 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 87.1% | 81.7% | 84.7% | ranked 127 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 12.1% | 17.7% | 14.8% | ranked 198 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 72.9% | 66.1% | 67.3% | ranked 45 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 13.7% | 18.3% | 17.6% | ranked 286 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 13.3% | 15.5% | 14.3% | ranked 195 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £356,758 | £353,838 | £272,474 | ranked 94 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.2% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 221 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.2% | ranked 204 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 77.9% | 70.3% | 76.7% | ranked 136 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 6.8% | 9.5% | 7.8% | ranked 192 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 3.3% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 109 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 14,040 sites | 315,875 | 3,232,440 | ranked 55 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 43.7 per 1,000 | 47.8 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 192 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 12,710 businesses | 276,720 | 2,786,975 | ranked 50 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £43,645 | £41,339 | £38,490 | ranked 73 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 85.4% | 78.4% | 76.3% | ranked 13 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.6% | 3.3% | 3.2% | ranked 238 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Central Bedfordshire | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 11.3% | 16.9% | 18.5% | ranked 297 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 45 local authorities in East, Central Bedfordshire ranks 1 by population.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 85.4% in Central Bedfordshire, compared with an average of 78.4% in East and 75.6% across the UK.
Dwellings built since 2000: 29.1% in Central Bedfordshire, compared with an average of 21.0% in East and 18.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 19.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in East for “Population”.
- Number 1 in East for “Population change over 10 years”.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: higher than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built since 2000”: higher than in 95% of local authorities.
- “Households without a car or van”: lower than in 94% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 100,234 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Bedford, 12.2 km away.
Business sectors: Central Bedfordshire
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Construction19.3% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade14.3% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical13.8% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services8.1% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.3% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services5.4% ×0.8
- Manufacturing5.1% ×1.2
- Transport and storage5.0% ×1.2
Where is Central Bedfordshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Central Bedfordshire?
Central Bedfordshire has 321,605 residents (2025), ranking 51 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Central Bedfordshire?
Central Bedfordshire covers 715.7 km², with a density of 449 people per km².
Is the population of Central Bedfordshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Central Bedfordshire went from 270,962 to 321,605, a change of +18.7%.
Where is Central Bedfordshire?
Central Bedfordshire is in East (region). Latitude 52.026, longitude −0.491.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Central Bedfordshire?
In Central Bedfordshire, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 85.4% (2025-2026), ranking 13 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Dwellings built since 2000: what is the figure for Central Bedfordshire?
In Central Bedfordshire, “Dwellings built since 2000” stands at 29.1% (2026), ranking 16 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 18.1%.
Which local authorities border Central Bedfordshire?
The nearest to Central Bedfordshire are Bedford (12 km), Luton (16 km), Milton Keynes (19 km), North Hertfordshire (20 km), Stevenage (25 km).