Index
This topic area covers statistics and information relating to population projections in Hull including local strategic need and service provision. Further information relating to current Population Estimates including Race and Ethnicity are given within Population, and information relating to Housing including household structure is given within Health and Wellbeing Influences.
Population projections are normally released by the Office for National Statistics every two years, but there is a delay following the 2021 Census. ONS ‘back-date’ their recent estimates of the resident population once more accurate Census data becomes available. Their revised estimates as well as the mid-year 2022 resident population estimates were published on the 23 November 2023 at local authority level, but have not yet been updated for lower geographies like wards. These releases have delayed the release of population projections. The national population projections were released on the 30 January 2024, but the population projections for local authorities and at other subnational levels are not due to be released until February or March 2025.
Headlines
- It is essential for planning to understand the current population and future population numbers. This is not only in planning health care for older people which we know are projected to increase over time, but also for planning for other health needs associated with infants, children, maternity services, etc. as well as broader needs such as those associated with pre-school, education, employment and housing.
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produce population projections every two years with the latest based on the mid-year population estimates for 2018. No new updates are available because new population estimates and other information from the 2021 Census are currently being processed by ONS Census. The next population projections at local authority level are due to be published in February or March 2025.
- Based on the mid-year 2018 population projections, it was projected that Hull’s population would increase very slightly from 260,600 in 2018 to 261,000 by 2028 (an increase of 0.15%), and to 262,100 by 2035 (an increase of 0.57%).
- This masked substantial differences across the age groups. It was projected that the number of people aged 0-9, 25-34 and 45-59 would decline in Hull between 2018 and 2028 with increases for all other age groups particularly among those aged 75-79 years where there would be an increase of around 30% (due to the post-World War II baby boom).
- Rising numbers of elderly and very elderly people will mean rising demand for a wide range of services which meet their needs. Not only are people living longer on average, but elderly people are living with an increasing number of chronic diseases which have implications for their health and care needs.
The Population Affected – Why Is It Important?
People at different ages and stages of their lives have different health needs. Thus in order to improve health and wellbeing, and reduce inequalities of the people living in Hull, it is essential to understand the population to determine current and future health needs so planning can take into account differences and changes over time. Those in the oldest age groups have the greatest health need and it is these age groups where it is projected that the largest relative increases will occur in the population due to advances in health care and people living longer.
The Hull Picture
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produce population projections every two years with the latest based on the mid-year population estimates for 2018. No new updates are available because new population estimates are currently being processed by ONS relating to the 2021 Census. The next population projections at local authority level are due to be published in February or March 2025.
Based on mid-year 2018 population projections, ONS estimated that there were 260,060 residents in Hull, and they projected that this would increase very slightly to 262,100 by 2028 (an increase of 0.15%) and to 262,100 by 2043 (an increase of 0.57%).
| Age | 2018 | 2023 | 2028 | 2033 | 2038 | 2043 |
| 0-4 | 17,200 | 15,700 | 15,300 | 15,400 | 16,000 | 16,500 |
| 5-9 | 17,200 | 16,400 | 15,000 | 14,600 | 14,800 | 15,300 |
| 10-14 | 14,900 | 16,500 | 15,700 | 14,400 | 14,000 | 14,200 |
| 15-19 | 14,000 | 15,600 | 17,200 | 16,500 | 15,200 | 14,800 |
| 20-24 | 21,800 | 21,100 | 22,900 | 24,800 | 24,000 | 22,300 |
| 25-29 | 23,000 | 23,000 | 18,800 | 20,200 | 21,900 | 21,300 |
| 30-34 | 20,000 | 21,400 | 18,900 | 17,600 | 19,000 | 20,500 |
| 35-39 | 16,900 | 18,200 | 19,300 | 17,300 | 16,100 | 17,300 |
| 40-44 | 14,500 | 15,400 | 16,600 | 17,600 | 15,800 | 14,600 |
| 45-49 | 16,100 | 13,500 | 14,300 | 15,300 | 16,200 | 14,600 |
| 50-54 | 16,800 | 15,300 | 12,800 | 13,600 | 14,600 | 15,400 |
| 55-59 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 14,700 | 12,300 | 13,100 | 14,000 |
| 60-64 | 13,300 | 14,900 | 15,000 | 13,800 | 11,700 | 12,400 |
| 65-69 | 11,700 | 12,100 | 13,700 | 13,800 | 12,800 | 10,800 |
| 70-74 | 10,300 | 10,300 | 10,800 | 12,200 | 12,400 | 11,600 |
| 75-79 | 6,900 | 8,700 | 8,800 | 9,200 | 10,500 | 10,800 |
| 80-84 | 5,400 | 5,200 | 6,700 | 6,800 | 7,200 | 8,400 |
| 85-89 | 3,100 | 3,200 | 3,200 | 4,200 | 4,300 | 4,700 |
| 90+ | 1,500 | 1,400 | 1,500 | 1,600 | 2,100 | 2,300 |
| All | 260,600 | 261,000 | 261,000 | 261,400 | 261,700 | 262,100 |
Over the shorter term to 2028, ONS project a small decrease of 0.15% among the 0-19 year age group, alongside decreases of 2.2% and 7.9% among those aged 20-39 years and 40-59 years respectively, and increases of 14.5% and 14.0% among those aged 60-79 years and 80+ years respectively. These mask relatively large individual changes within five year age groups such as an increases of 22.9%, 14.2%, 14.5%, 12.8%, 17.1%, 27.5% and 24.1% among those aged 15-19, 35-39, 40-44, 60-64, 65-69, 75-79 and 80-84 years respectively, and decreases of 11.0%, 12.8%, 18.3%, 11.2% and 23.8% among those aged 0-4, 5-9, 25-29, 45-49 and 50-54 years respectively.
Over the longer term to 2043, ONS project decreases of 3.9%, 0.4% and 7.6% among those aged 0-19, 20-39 and 40-59 years respectively, and increases of 8.1% and 54.0% among those aged 60-79 and 80+ years respectively.
Among those aged 65+ years, it is projected that Hull’s population will increase by 14.9% by 2028 (from 38,900 in 2018 to 44,700 in 2028) and by 24.9% by 2043 (to 48,600). Among those aged 85+ years, it is projected that the population will increase by 2.2% from 4,600 in 2018 to 4,700 in 2028, but by 52% to 7,000 in 2043.
Strategic Need and Service Provision
Rising numbers of elderly and very elderly people will mean rising demand for a wide range of services which meet the needs of elderly people. Not only are people living longer on average, but elderly people are living with an increasing number of chronic diseases which have implications for their health and care needs. In the absence of other changes, the 25% increase in over 65s in Hull over the next 25 years will mean a similar 25% increase in service demand.
Resources
ONS population projections: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections
Updates
This page was last updated / checked on 17 May 2024.
This page is due to be updated / checked in March 2025.