Folkestone and Hythe: population and statistics
Folkestone and Hythe has a population of 112,163 (2025) across 356.9 km², or 314 people per km². It ranks 270 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +3.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 112,163 residents
- 356.9 km²
- 314 people/km²
Folkestone and Hythe in numbers
Population of Folkestone and Hythe over time
Folkestone and Hythe had 108,327 residents in 2015 and 112,163 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 109,587 |
| 2021 | 110,040 |
| 2022 | 110,179 |
| 2023 | 111,188 |
| 2024 | 111,908 |
| 2025 | 112,163 |
All indicators for Folkestone and Hythe
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 | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 26.4% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 50 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.1% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 262 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 54,110 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 220 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 40.5% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 82 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 15.6% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 210 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 48,337 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 228 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 75.0% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 249 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 24.5% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 72 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 66.6% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 173 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 22.5% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 69 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 10.9% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 270 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £303,296 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 149 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 0.9% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 232 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 99 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 72.9% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 208 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.3% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 132 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 4.8% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 90 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 4,485 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 287 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 40.0 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 238 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,860 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 281 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,864 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 165 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 70.6% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 296 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 107 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Folkestone and Hythe | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 20.5% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 125 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, Folkestone and Hythe ranks 48 by population.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 26.4% in Folkestone and Hythe, compared with an average of 20.2% in South East and 19.4% across the UK.
Households in social housing: 10.9% in Folkestone and Hythe, compared with an average of 13.7% in South East and 17.1% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.1% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
Business sectors: Folkestone and Hythe
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 trade16.1% ×1.0
- Construction13.3% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical13.1% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services9.9% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services7.6% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.4% ×1.1
- Information and communication5.2% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing4.1% ×0.9
Where is Folkestone and Hythe?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Folkestone and Hythe?
Folkestone and Hythe has 112,163 residents (2025), ranking 270 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Folkestone and Hythe?
Folkestone and Hythe covers 356.9 km², with a density of 314 people per km².
Is the population of Folkestone and Hythe growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Folkestone and Hythe went from 108,327 to 112,163, a change of +3.5%.
Where is Folkestone and Hythe?
Folkestone and Hythe is in South East (region). Latitude 51.079, longitude 1.175.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Folkestone and Hythe?
In Folkestone and Hythe, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 26.4% (2025), ranking 50 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Households in social housing: what is the figure for Folkestone and Hythe?
In Folkestone and Hythe, “Households in social housing” stands at 10.9% (2021), ranking 270 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 14.3%.
Which local authorities border Folkestone and Hythe?
The nearest to Folkestone and Hythe are Dover (11 km), Ashford (23 km), Canterbury (23 km), Thanet (36 km), Swale (42 km).