Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: population and statistics
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has a population of 405,829 (2025) across 162.1 km², or 2,504 people per km². It ranks 21 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +3.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 405,829 residents
- 162.1 km²
- 2,504 people/km²
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in numbers
Population of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over time
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had 392,499 residents in 2015 and 405,829 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 399,564 |
| 2021 | 400,155 |
| 2022 | 403,014 |
| 2023 | 406,976 |
| 2024 | 408,009 |
| 2025 | 405,829 |
All indicators for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.3% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 129 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.8% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 282 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 190,550 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 16 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 35.7% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 119 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 15.7% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 206 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 173,842 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 16 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 62.8% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 290 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 36.9% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 30 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 63.5% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 212 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 25.4% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 52 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 11.0% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 267 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £310,094 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 144 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −1.9% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 319 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 99 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 77.2% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 143 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 11.6% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 43 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.1% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 246 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 18,475 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 27 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 45.5 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 158 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 15,800 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 28 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £37,493 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 208 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 77.4% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 150 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 156 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 19.4% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 143 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ranks 5 by population.
Households heated by oil only: 0.1% in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, compared with an average of 7.0% in South West and 3.4% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South West for “Households living in a flat or maisonette”.
- “Households heated by oil only”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)”: higher than in 95% of local authorities.
- “Business sites (local units)”: higher than in 93% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 22,700 football pitches.
- 8.8 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is New Forest, 24.6 km away.
Business sectors: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 trade16.3% ×1.0
- Construction15.6% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical13.0% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services7.9% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services7.2% ×1.0
- Health and social work6.7% ×1.2
- Information and communication5.9% ×1.0
- Real estate5.6% ×1.3
Where is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has 405,829 residents (2025), ranking 21 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole covers 162.1 km², with a density of 2,504 people per km².
Is the population of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole went from 392,499 to 405,829, a change of +3.4%.
Where is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is in South West (region). Latitude 50.723, longitude −1.882.
Households heated by oil only: what is the figure for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, “Households heated by oil only” stands at 0.1% (2021), ranking 246 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 0.9%.
Dwellings (Council Tax stock): what is the figure for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)” stands at 190,550 dwellings (2026), ranking 16 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 67,955 dwellings.
Which local authorities border Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole?
The nearest to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are New Forest (25 km), Dorset (31 km), Isle of Wight (41 km), Southampton (41 km), Eastleigh (48 km).