Rotherham: population and statistics
Rotherham has a population of 279,161 (2025) across 286.5 km², or 974 people per km². It ranks 72 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +6.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 279,161 residents
- 286.5 km²
- 974 people/km²
Rotherham in numbers
Population of Rotherham over time
Rotherham had 262,063 residents in 2015 and 279,161 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 265,593 |
| 2021 | 266,173 |
| 2022 | 268,599 |
| 2023 | 272,516 |
| 2024 | 276,332 |
| 2025 | 279,161 |
All indicators for Rotherham
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 | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 19.9% | 19.7% | 20.4% | ranked 204 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.7% | 18.0% | 17.4% | ranked 106 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 123,190 dwellings | 2,563,580 | 27,429,300 | ranked 62 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 29.0% | 36.9% | 31.6% | ranked 184 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 15.6% | 17.3% | 18.1% | ranked 210 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 113,926 households | 193,754 | 61,440 | ranked 59 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 89.7% | 85.3% | 84.7% | ranked 63 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 10.3% | 14.5% | 14.8% | ranked 238 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 64.0% | 63.1% | 67.3% | ranked 209 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 15.0% | 19.5% | 17.6% | ranked 245 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 20.7% | 17.3% | 14.3% | ranked 58 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £191,496 | £212,777 | £272,474 | ranked 301 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.7% | 3.6% | 2.2% | ranked 198 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | ranked 273 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 82.8% | 77.6% | 76.7% | ranked 33 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 3.3% | 6.5% | 7.8% | ranked 306 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.5% | 2.2% | 0.9% | ranked 177 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 9,325 sites | 229,245 | 3,232,440 | ranked 113 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 33.4 per 1,000 | 40.4 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 314 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 7,755 businesses | 194,060 | 2,786,975 | ranked 127 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,713 | £35,917 | £38,490 | ranked 301 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 70.2% | 73.4% | 76.3% | ranked 299 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.6% | 4.1% | 3.2% | ranked 120 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Rotherham | Yorkshire and The Humber | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 23.0% | 24.3% | 18.5% | ranked 97 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 15 local authorities in Yorkshire and The Humber, Rotherham ranks 9 by population.
Households heated by electricity only: 3.3% in Rotherham, compared with an average of 6.5% in Yorkshire and The Humber and 8.6% across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 33.4 per 1,000 in Rotherham, compared with an average of 40.4 per 1,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber and 46.5 per 1,000 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 19.5% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
Business sectors: Rotherham
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 trade19.5% ×1.2
- Construction16.0% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical8.7% ×0.6
- Manufacturing7.1% ×1.7
- Accommodation and food services6.9% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services6.8% ×0.8
- Transport and storage6.6% ×1.6
- Health and social work6.3% ×1.1
Where is Rotherham?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rotherham?
Rotherham has 279,161 residents (2025), ranking 72 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Rotherham?
Rotherham covers 286.5 km², with a density of 974 people per km².
Is the population of Rotherham growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Rotherham went from 262,063 to 279,161, a change of +6.5%.
Where is Rotherham?
Rotherham is in Yorkshire and The Humber (region). Latitude 53.431, longitude −1.355.
Households heated by electricity only: what is the figure for Rotherham?
In Rotherham, “Households heated by electricity only” stands at 3.3% (2021), ranking 306 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 7.8%.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for Rotherham?
In Rotherham, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 33.4 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 314 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border Rotherham?
The nearest to Rotherham are Sheffield (9.8 km), Barnsley (15 km), Doncaster (18 km), Chesterfield (20 km), Bolsover (21 km).