Rochdale: population and statistics
Rochdale has a population of 237,641 (2025) across 158.1 km², or 1,503 people per km². It ranks 92 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +10.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 237,641 residents
- 158.1 km²
- 1,503 people/km²
Rochdale in numbers
Population of Rochdale over time
Rochdale had 214,560 residents in 2015 and 237,641 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 223,024 |
| 2021 | 224,127 |
| 2022 | 227,532 |
| 2023 | 230,729 |
| 2024 | 234,919 |
| 2025 | 237,641 |
All indicators for Rochdale
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 | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.5% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 289 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 21.5% | 18.3% | 17.4% | ranked 13 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 98,510 dwellings | 3,492,580 | 27,429,300 | ranked 89 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 36.9% | 39.3% | 31.6% | ranked 105 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 12.6% | 16.5% | 18.1% | ranked 269 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 90,222 households | 116,581 | 61,440 | ranked 91 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 87.0% | 83.7% | 84.7% | ranked 128 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 12.8% | 16.0% | 14.8% | ranked 180 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 60.6% | 62.7% | 67.3% | ranked 240 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 18.3% | 19.4% | 17.6% | ranked 135 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 20.9% | 17.8% | 14.3% | ranked 55 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £209,389 | £227,208 | £272,474 | ranked 270 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.5% | 4.7% | 2.2% | ranked 80 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | ranked 133 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 81.5% | 78.6% | 76.7% | ranked 58 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 5.6% | 7.4% | 7.8% | ranked 236 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.3% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 199 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 8,360 sites | 319,350 | 3,232,440 | ranked 143 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 35.2 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 291 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 7,215 businesses | 272,085 | 2,786,975 | ranked 139 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,660 | £37,482 | £38,490 | ranked 303 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 67.1% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 327 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 6.0% | 4.1% | 3.2% | ranked 20 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Rochdale | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 26.3% | 24.9% | 18.5% | ranked 66 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in North West, Rochdale ranks 15 by population.
Share of residents aged under 16: 21.5% in Rochdale, compared with an average of 18.3% in North West and 17.7% across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 67.1% in Rochdale, compared with an average of 73.9% in North West and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 21.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: higher than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: lower than in 95% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 22,146 football pitches.
- 5.3 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Oldham, 8.7 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Manchester (588,256 residents), 23 km away.
Business sectors: Rochdale
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 trade21.3% ×1.3
- Construction13.6% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.3% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services7.8% ×1.0
- Health and social work7.8% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services6.9% ×1.0
- Manufacturing6.2% ×1.5
- Transport and storage6.1% ×1.5
Where is Rochdale?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rochdale?
Rochdale has 237,641 residents (2025), ranking 92 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Rochdale?
Rochdale covers 158.1 km², with a density of 1,503 people per km².
Is the population of Rochdale growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Rochdale went from 214,560 to 237,641, a change of +10.8%.
Where is Rochdale?
Rochdale is in North West (region). Latitude 53.617, longitude −2.157.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Rochdale?
In Rochdale, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 21.5% (2025), ranking 13 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Rochdale?
In Rochdale, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 67.1% (2025-2026), ranking 327 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border Rochdale?
The nearest to Rochdale are Oldham (8.7 km), Rossendale (9.6 km), Bury (9.7 km), Tameside (15 km), Salford (17 km).