West Berkshire: population and statistics
West Berkshire has a population of 165,523 (2025) across 704.2 km², or 235 people per km². It ranks 149 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +4.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 165,523 residents
- 704.2 km²
- 235 people/km²
West Berkshire in numbers
Population of West Berkshire over time
West Berkshire had 158,895 residents in 2015 and 165,523 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 161,026 |
| 2021 | 161,864 |
| 2022 | 162,376 |
| 2023 | 164,121 |
| 2024 | 164,918 |
| 2025 | 165,523 |
All indicators for West Berkshire
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 Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.8% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 173 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.2% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 135 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | West Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 72,710 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 139 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 19.4% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 279 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 20.5% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 111 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 66,658 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 136 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 82.6% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 175 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 16.3% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 147 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 68.9% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 120 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 17.1% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 177 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 14.0% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 171 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £403,682 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 76 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 0.4% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 251 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | West Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 204 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 61.2% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 283 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 12.0% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 36 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 12.0% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 36 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | West Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 9,355 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 111 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 56.5 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 57 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 8,140 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 114 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £44,887 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 50 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | West Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 81.5% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 50 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.4% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 278 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | West Berkshire | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 12.1% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 275 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, West Berkshire ranks 17 by population.
Households heated by mains gas only: 61.2% in West Berkshire, compared with an average of 74.6% in South East and 73.9% across the UK.
Dwellings built before 1940: 19.4% in West Berkshire, compared with an average of 28.0% in South East and 34.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 17.0% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South East for “Households heated by oil only”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 98,625 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Basingstoke and Deane, 21.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Southampton (259,230 residents), 54 km away.
Business sectors: West Berkshire
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Professional, scientific and technical17.0% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade13.6% ×0.8
- Construction12.8% ×1.0
- Information and communication9.1% ×1.5
- Administrative and support services9.0% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services5.3% ×0.8
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.3% ×1.4
- Health and social work4.2% ×0.7
Where is West Berkshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of West Berkshire?
West Berkshire has 165,523 residents (2025), ranking 149 of 361 local authorities.
How big is West Berkshire?
West Berkshire covers 704.2 km², with a density of 235 people per km².
Is the population of West Berkshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of West Berkshire went from 158,895 to 165,523, a change of +4.2%.
Where is West Berkshire?
West Berkshire is in South East (region). Latitude 51.401, longitude −1.323.
Households heated by mains gas only: what is the figure for West Berkshire?
In West Berkshire, “Households heated by mains gas only” stands at 61.2% (2021), ranking 283 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 76.7%.
Dwellings built before 1940: what is the figure for West Berkshire?
In West Berkshire, “Dwellings built before 1940” stands at 19.4% (2026), ranking 279 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 31.6%.
Which local authorities border West Berkshire?
The nearest to West Berkshire are Basingstoke and Deane (22 km), Reading (25 km), Vale of White Horse (25 km), Test Valley (31 km), South Oxfordshire (34 km).