Last updated: December 2025.
The ONS mid-2024 population estimate for Wakefield was 367,666 people.
This represents a 1.3% increase in the size of the population compared to mid-2023. This meant that Wakefield’s rate of population change places the district about average among local authorities in England and Wales.
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Estimate resident population
The size of the resident population of the Wakefield District is estimated to be 367,666, making the district the 28th largest local authority in England and Wales.
By age category, Wakefield’s population of 367,666 usual residents is made up of:
- 68,791 people aged 0 to 15 years, (18.7%)
- 228,654 people aged 16 to 64 years, (62.2%)
- 70,221 people aged 65 years and over, (19.1%)
Compared with England and Wales, Wakefield has a similar proportion of people in these age categories.
When compared to other local Health & Wellbeing Board areas, Wakefield’s age profile has smaller than average proportions of people in the late-teen, early 20’s age bands. This reflects the absence of any sizeable university presence within Wakefield District.
Projected resident population
When assessing the 2022-based population projections, there are expected to be shifts in the population structure in the medium-to-long term, as the proportion of the population aged over 60 increases.
In the 60-79 age range, the size of this population has been steadily increasing for the last decade and will continue to do so over the next few years, with the 2021 census figure of 71,717 expected to rise to 83,403 persons by 2031. After which, there is predicted to be continued rise, plateauing in 2035. An increase in the population size is also seen in the 80+ age range, which is predicted to steadily increase from 16,440 in 2021 to 23,007 in 2031. This increase will continue for the foreseeable future.
Implications of an ageing population are wide in terms of people living longer into older age, with an increased demand for health and well-being services, a reduced contribution to the economy and lower incomes, and increased human resources for care services (paid and unpaid carers).