West Lancashire: population and statistics
West Lancashire has a population of 123,564 (2025) across 346.6 km², or 356 people per km². It ranks 238 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.8% between 2015 and 2025.
- 123,564 residents
- 346.6 km²
- 356 people/km²
West Lancashire in numbers
Population of West Lancashire over time
West Lancashire had 113,536 residents in 2015 and 123,564 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 116,198 |
| 2021 | 117,099 |
| 2022 | 119,436 |
| 2023 | 120,263 |
| 2024 | 122,054 |
| 2025 | 123,564 |
All indicators for West Lancashire
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 | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.8% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 116 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.1% | 18.3% | 17.4% | ranked 262 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 52,970 dwellings | 3,492,580 | 27,429,300 | ranked 225 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 22.6% | 39.3% | 31.6% | ranked 252 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 17.1% | 16.5% | 18.1% | ranked 178 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 48,534 households | 116,581 | 61,440 | ranked 225 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 89.1% | 83.7% | 84.7% | ranked 75 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 9.7% | 16.0% | 14.8% | ranked 253 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 71.6% | 62.7% | 67.3% | ranked 77 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 13.9% | 19.4% | 17.6% | ranked 280 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 14.3% | 17.8% | 14.3% | ranked 157 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £236,194 | £227,208 | £272,474 | ranked 218 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 5.2% | 4.7% | 2.2% | ranked 60 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.9% | 1.5% | 1.2% | ranked 242 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 78.4% | 78.6% | 76.7% | ranked 125 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 4.5% | 7.4% | 7.8% | ranked 272 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 3.3% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 109 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 5,135 sites | 319,350 | 3,232,440 | ranked 249 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 41.6 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 213 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 4,540 businesses | 272,085 | 2,786,975 | ranked 244 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,102 | £37,482 | £38,490 | ranked 186 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 81.0% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 57 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.8% | 4.1% | 3.2% | ranked 216 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | West Lancashire | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 18.0% | 24.9% | 18.5% | ranked 168 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in North West, West Lancashire ranks 26 by population.
Households renting privately: 13.9% in West Lancashire, compared with an average of 19.4% in North West and 20.4% across the UK.
Households heated by electricity only: 4.5% in West Lancashire, compared with an average of 7.4% in North West and 8.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.4% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 48,548 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is St. Helens, 13.1 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is St. Helens (189,890 residents), 13 km away.
Business sectors: West Lancashire
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 trade17.4% ×1.1
- Construction12.8% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical11.2% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services8.2% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.6% ×1.7
- Manufacturing6.5% ×1.5
- Transport and storage5.7% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services5.7% ×0.8
Where is West Lancashire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of West Lancashire?
West Lancashire has 123,564 residents (2025), ranking 238 of 361 local authorities.
How big is West Lancashire?
West Lancashire covers 346.6 km², with a density of 356 people per km².
Is the population of West Lancashire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of West Lancashire went from 113,536 to 123,564, a change of +8.8%.
Where is West Lancashire?
West Lancashire is in North West (region). Latitude 53.562, longitude −2.827.
Households renting privately: what is the figure for West Lancashire?
In West Lancashire, “Households renting privately” stands at 13.9% (2021), ranking 280 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 17.6%.
Households heated by electricity only: what is the figure for West Lancashire?
In West Lancashire, “Households heated by electricity only” stands at 4.5% (2021), ranking 272 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 7.8%.
Which local authorities border West Lancashire?
The nearest to West Lancashire are St. Helens (13 km), Knowsley (14 km), Wigan (14 km), Chorley (16 km), Liverpool (17 km).