North Somerset: population and statistics
North Somerset has a population of 227,160 (2025) across 374.7 km², or 606 people per km². It ranks 97 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +7.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 227,160 residents
- 374.7 km²
- 606 people/km²
North Somerset in numbers
Population of North Somerset over time
North Somerset had 210,553 residents in 2015 and 227,160 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 215,850 |
| 2021 | 217,385 |
| 2022 | 219,054 |
| 2023 | 222,108 |
| 2024 | 224,667 |
| 2025 | 227,160 |
All indicators for North Somerset
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 | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 24.3% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 84 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 17.1% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 202 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 102,800 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 85 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 25.2% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 225 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 20.9% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 104 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 94,648 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 86 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 78.3% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 221 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 20.5% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 102 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 72.3% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 60 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 18.4% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 132 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 9.2% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 301 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £313,638 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 138 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 3.8% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 100 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.0% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 204 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 76.7% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 154 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 7.6% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 164 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 3.3% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 109 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 10,065 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 91 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 44.3 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 183 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 8,680 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 92 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,969 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 139 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 79.9% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 77 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.5% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 260 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | North Somerset | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 15.0% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 210 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, North Somerset ranks 10 by population.
Households in social housing: 9.2% in North Somerset, compared with an average of 13.3% in South West and 17.1% across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 79.9% in North Somerset, compared with an average of 79.1% in South West and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.9% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Households in social housing”: lower than in 95% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 52,476 football pitches.
- 2.1 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Bristol, City of, 16.8 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Bristol, City of (495,260 residents), 17 km away.
Business sectors: North Somerset
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 trade14.9% ×0.9
- Construction14.0% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical13.6% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services8.2% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services7.2% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.0% ×1.0
- Health and social work6.0% ×1.1
- Transport and storage5.1% ×1.2
Where is North Somerset?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of North Somerset?
North Somerset has 227,160 residents (2025), ranking 97 of 361 local authorities.
How big is North Somerset?
North Somerset covers 374.7 km², with a density of 606 people per km².
Is the population of North Somerset growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of North Somerset went from 210,553 to 227,160, a change of +7.9%.
Where is North Somerset?
North Somerset is in South West (region). Latitude 51.383, longitude −2.800.
Households in social housing: what is the figure for North Somerset?
In North Somerset, “Households in social housing” stands at 9.2% (2021), ranking 301 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 14.3%.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for North Somerset?
In North Somerset, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 79.9% (2025-2026), ranking 77 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border North Somerset?
The nearest to North Somerset are Bristol, City of (17 km), Newport (27 km), Cardiff (29 km), South Gloucestershire (32 km), Somerset (32 km).