Welwyn Hatfield: population and statistics
Welwyn Hatfield has a population of 121,748 (2025) across 129.5 km², or 940 people per km². It ranks 242 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +6.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 121,748 residents
- 129.5 km²
- 940 people/km²
Welwyn Hatfield in numbers
Population of Welwyn Hatfield over time
Welwyn Hatfield had 113,972 residents in 2015 and 121,748 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 119,806 |
| 2021 | 119,747 |
| 2022 | 120,571 |
| 2023 | 122,047 |
| 2024 | 123,051 |
| 2025 | 121,748 |
All indicators for Welwyn Hatfield
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 | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.7% | 20.3% | 20.4% | ranked 286 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.2% | 18.4% | 17.4% | ranked 135 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 50,720 dwellings | 2,888,720 | 27,429,300 | ranked 237 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 16.7% | 23.4% | 31.6% | ranked 296 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 20.5% | 21.0% | 18.1% | ranked 111 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 46,209 households | 65,170 | 61,440 | ranked 234 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 76.4% | 81.7% | 84.7% | ranked 239 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 23.4% | 17.7% | 14.8% | ranked 79 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 58.0% | 66.1% | 67.3% | ranked 259 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 16.4% | 18.3% | 17.6% | ranked 192 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 25.4% | 15.5% | 14.3% | ranked 25 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £448,681 | £353,838 | £272,474 | ranked 55 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 3.0% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 134 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.2% | ranked 242 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 78.8% | 70.3% | 76.7% | ranked 115 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.5% | 9.5% | 7.8% | ranked 126 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.9% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 159 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,075 sites | 315,875 | 3,232,440 | ranked 207 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 49.9 per 1,000 | 47.8 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 109 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,235 businesses | 276,720 | 2,786,975 | ranked 205 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £45,145 | £41,339 | £38,490 | ranked 48 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.7% | 78.4% | 76.3% | ranked 166 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.2% | ranked 169 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Welwyn Hatfield | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 17.6% | 16.9% | 18.5% | ranked 170 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 45 local authorities in East, Welwyn Hatfield ranks 28 by population.
Dwellings built before 1940: 16.7% in Welwyn Hatfield, compared with an average of 23.4% in East and 34.9% across the UK.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): £45,145 in Welwyn Hatfield, compared with an average of £41,339 in East and £39,498 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 15.5% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
Business sectors: Welwyn Hatfield
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Construction15.5% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade15.0% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical14.9% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services8.9% ×1.1
- Information and communication7.7% ×1.2
- Real estate5.6% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services5.5% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.2% ×0.9
Where is Welwyn Hatfield?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Welwyn Hatfield?
Welwyn Hatfield has 121,748 residents (2025), ranking 242 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Welwyn Hatfield?
Welwyn Hatfield covers 129.5 km², with a density of 940 people per km².
Is the population of Welwyn Hatfield growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Welwyn Hatfield went from 113,972 to 121,748, a change of +6.8%.
Where is Welwyn Hatfield?
Welwyn Hatfield is in East (region). Latitude 51.767, longitude −0.192.
Dwellings built before 1940: what is the figure for Welwyn Hatfield?
In Welwyn Hatfield, “Dwellings built before 1940” stands at 16.7% (2026), ranking 296 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 31.6%.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): what is the figure for Welwyn Hatfield?
In Welwyn Hatfield, “Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross)” stands at £45,145 (2025), ranking 48 of 348 local authorities; the UK median is £38,490.
Which local authorities border Welwyn Hatfield?
The nearest to Welwyn Hatfield are St Albans (9.9 km), Broxbourne (11 km), Hertsmere (13 km), Enfield (15 km), Stevenage (15 km).