THE first results of the 2021 census are in – and they show Test Valley has seen its population swell over the last decade.

The census takes place every 10 years, with every household in the UK required to take part.

The latest snapshot of England and Wales was captured on March 21 2021.

Now the first results have been released – and there’s been a large rise in the number of people living in Test Valley.

On census day, 130,500 people were living in the area – up 12 per cent from 116,398 in 2011, when the last census was carried out.

This also means the population density has grown to 208 usual residents per square kilometre, up from 185 in 2011.

The census is crucial for the UK’s statisticians to understand how our population is changing, and plays a vital role in how our public services and government operate.

It shows the balance of men and women in the area has changed – Test Valley’s population is now 49 per cent male and 51 per cent female, meaning there is now a slightly higher proportion of men in the area than 10 years ago.

READ MORE: Census 2021: First results show Winchester’s population has grown over past decade

In 2011, people living in Test Valley were 48.9 per cent male and 51.1 per cent female.

It also shows the area is aging – a decade ago the population was made up of 11.4 per cent under-10s and 18.4 per cent over-65s, but this had changed to 11.3 per cent and 21.2 per cent respectively by 2021.

Across England and Wales, the total population grew 6.3 per cent over the past decade, from 56,075,912 in 2011 to 59,597,300 last year.

This included a 7.5 per cent increase in the South East, where the population rose to 9,278,100 from 8,634,750 in 2011.

There were 24.8 million households in England and Wales on census day 2021, up from 23.4 million in 2011, with an average of 2.4 people in each household – the same as in 2011.

Historic populations of Test Valley:

1981: 90,182

1991: 101,428

2001: 109,801

2011: 116,398

2021: 130,500

Historic populations of the South East:

1981: 7,029,809

1991: 7,500,054

2001: 8,000,645

2011: 8,634,750

2021: 9,278,100

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