North Yorkshire population summary
Source: data.gov.uk (2017-06-23)

North Yorkshire population summary. Overview of the most recent population estimates, projections Census information on the demographics of the County

Corporate Information Systems Team, Central Services, NYCC; September 2016 
Page 1 of 5 
Population Information for North Yorkshire 
 
Overview 
 
The population of the county has increased steadily from 570,100 in 2001 to 
602,300 in 2015, a growth of around 5.6%. Although there was a small 
reduction in the population 2013-14, largely due to a reduced military population 
in the county during that period, growth is expected to continue, reaching a 
projected population of 631,100 by 2039. It is driven largely by increases 
through migration rather than natural change. Deaths are expected to exceed 
births by an increasing amount through to 2039. 
 
The net migration gain has been largely due to in-migration from other parts of 
the UK but a significant amount has been due to population movements from 
overseas. The influx of economic migrants has been part of this. Registrations 
of workers arriving from the A8 EU countries peaked at around the end of 2006. 
The recent recession and poor exchange rates have led to a falling rate of new 
registrations of A8 economic migrants within the county. 
 
The ethnic diversity of the county’s population has increased since the 2001 
Census with the non-white proportion of the population having increased from 
1.1% to 2.7% in 2011 Census. 
 
The number of people in the older age groups within North Yorkshire is 
increasing. The proportion of people aged 65 and over in 2001 was 18.2% and 
had risen to 20.7% by 2011. During the same period the over 85 age group 
increased by 24.0%. By 2039 the proportion of the population aged 65 and over 
in the county is expected to reach 33.3%.   
 
Sources: ONS Mid-2001 & Mid-2015 Population Estimates; ONS 2014 Based Subnational Population Projections, 
2001 & 2011 Census; and the Workers Registration Scheme. 
 
District Population Breakdown 
 
District 
2011 
2015 
% Change 
 
Craven 
55,500 
55,800 
+0.6 
Hambleton 
89,600 
90,000 
+0.5 
Harrogate 
158,700 
157,000 -1.1 
Richmondshire 
53,300 
52,500 
-1.5 
Ryedale 
51,900 
53,100 
+2.2 
Scarborough 
108,700 
107,900 -0.8 
Selby 
83,500 
86,000 
+2.9 
  
North Yorkshire 
601,200 
602,300 +0.2 
 
Source: ONS Mid-2011 & Mid-2015 Population Estimates. Figures are rounded independently and may not sum. 
 
Population increase has been seen in most districts of North Yorkshire since 
2011 with the exception of Harrogate, Richmondshire and Scarborough which 
have seen a slight decline in residents. Growth has been highest in Selby 
district with an increase of 2.9% shown in the Mid-2015 Population Estimates, 
followed by Ryedale with a 2.2% increase.  
 
Information on population change at parish, ward and other level can be found 
at http://hub.datanorthyorkshire.org/dataset/population-estimates 

Corporate Information Systems Team, Central Services, NYCC; September 2016 
Page 2 of 5 
Gender Breakdown 
 
District 
Male  
Female 
 
Craven 
48.3% 
51.7% 
Hambleton 
49.2% 
50.8% 
Harrogate 
48.8% 
51.2% 
Richmondshire 
53.3% 
46.7% 
Ryedale 
49.0% 
51.0% 
Scarborough 
48.5% 
51.5% 
Selby 
49.0% 
51.0% 
  
North Yorkshire 
49.3% 
50.8% 
 
Source: ONS Mid-2015 Population Estimates. Figures are rounded independently and may not sum. 
 
At county level the proportion of females is slightly higher than that of males.  
This pattern is reflected across all districts with the exception of Richmondshire, 
where the large number of predominantly male military personnel have the 
effect of reversing the proportions. 
 
Age Breakdown 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
District 
Children 
Working age 
Older people 
 
 
 
Craven 
16.1% 
58.2% 
25.7% 
Hambleton 
16.4% 
59.0% 
24.6% 
Harrogate 
18.0% 
59.6% 
22.4% 
Richmondshire 
17.3% 
62.8% 
19.9% 
Ryedale 
15.7% 
58.3% 
25.9% 
Scarborough 
15.8% 
58.3% 
25.8% 
Selby 
18.3% 
62.3% 
19.4% 
  
 
 
 
North Yorkshire 
17.0% 
59.7% 
23.3% 
 
The definitions of the age groups are children (aged 0-15); working age (aged 16-64); older people (aged 65+). 
Source: ONS Mid-2015 Population Estimates. Figures are rounded independently and may not sum. 

Corporate Information Systems Team, Central Services, NYCC; September 2016 
Page 3 of 5 
 
While the proportion of children in the population is similar across all districts of 
North Yorkshire, the proportions of working age and older people vary 
considerably. Richmondshire has the greatest proportion of working age 
residents due to its substantial military population, resulting in a relatively small 
proportion of older people. Ryedale, Scarborough and Craven have the largest 
proportion of older people, reflecting their characters as desirable retirement 
locations. 
 
 
BME Population Breakdown 
 
Ethnicity 
Craven 
Hambleton 
Harrogate 
Richmondshire 
Ryedale 
Scarborough 
Selby 
North Yorkshire 
All ethnic 
groups 
55,400 
89,100 
157,900 
52,000 
51,800 
108,800 
83,400 
598,400 
White 
 
54,000 
87,600 
152,100 
49,600 
51,100 
106,100 
82,100 
582,500 
Mixed/ 
multiple 
400 
600 
1,800 
500 
300 
900 
600 
5,000 
 
Asian or 
Asian British 
1,000 
600 
2,400 
1,200 
300 
1,400 
500 
7,400 
 
Black/African
/Caribbean/ 
Black British 
100 
200 
1,100 
500 
100 
200 
200 
2,400 
 
Other ethnic 
group 
- 
100 
500 
200 
- 
200 
- 
1,100 
 
BME Group 
2.6% 
1.7% 
3.7% 
4.6% 
1.3% 
2.5% 
1.6% 
2.7% 
 
Source: 2011 Census, ONS. Figures are rounded independently & may not sum. 
 
 
The BME population within the county has seen a steady increase since 2001, 
in line with the UK as a whole. While the BME population remains smaller than 
the national average, significant variations do occur in the district level figures 
with Richmondshire having the highest proportion, reflecting the diverse nature 
of the military population within the district. Harrogate also has a substantial 
BME population, particularly the Chinese ethnic group. Craven also has a 
relatively large proportion of residents from BME groups, possibly linked to the 
close proximity of the West Yorkshire conurbation. The BME population is 
predominantly of working age, with a much small proportion of older people 
than in the overall population.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Corporate Information Systems Team, Central Services, NYCC; September 2016 
Page 4 of 5 
 
Religion in North Yorkshire 
 
Religion 
Craven 
Hambleton 
Harrogate 
Richmondshire 
Ryedale 
Scarborough 
Selby 
North Yorkshire 
Christian 
67.32% 
72.57% 
68.59% 
69.39% 
71.83% 
66.68% 
70.92% 
69.39% 
Buddhist 
0.24% 
0.15% 
0.26% 
0.72% 
0.24% 
0.27% 
0.16% 
0.27% 
Hindu 
0.12% 
0.10% 
0.15% 
0.99% 
0.04% 
0.15% 
0.10% 
0.20% 
Jewish 
0.03% 
0.05% 
0.21% 
0.05% 
0.03% 
0.06% 
0.07% 
0.09% 
Muslim 
0.91% 
0.26% 
0.36% 
0.25% 
0.11% 
0.51% 
0.11% 
0.36% 
Sikh 
0.06% 
0.01% 
0.05% 
0.01% 
0.01% 
0.01% 
0.06% 
0.03% 
Other 
religions 
0.34% 
0.25% 
0.34% 
0.30% 
0.35% 
0.37% 
0.25% 
0.32% 
No religion 
23.34% 
19.80% 
22.95% 
21.40% 
20.01% 
24.51% 
21.65% 
22.23% 
Religion not 
stated 
7.64% 
6.80% 
7.08% 
6.89% 
7.39% 
7.44% 
6.67% 
7.11% 
 
Source: 2011 Census, ONS. Figures are rounded independently & may not sum. 
 
The population of North Yorkshire is predominantly Christian. 69.4% of the 
population stated this as their religion in the 2011 Census. The Christian group 
has reduced from over 80% in 2001 but is still considerably higher than the 
national average of 59.4%. Non-Christian religious groups account for 1.3% of 
the population of North Yorkshire, equating to around 7,580 people. The largest 
non-Christian religious group in North Yorkshire are Muslim. Richmondshire 
district has the largest proportion of non-Christian residents in the county, 
predominantly the Buddhist and Hindu religious groups. This reflects the 
diverse nature of the large military population within the district. 
 
 
Limiting Long Term Illness & Disability 
 
District 
0-19 
20-49 
50-64 
65+ 
 
 
 
Craven 
3.0% 
7.5% 
17.1% 
45.5% 
Hambleton 
3.0% 
7.2% 
16.6% 
45.4% 
Harrogate 
3.0% 
6.5% 
15.8% 
43.8% 
Richmondshire 
3.0% 
7.7% 
17.7% 
46.0% 
Ryedale 
3.4% 
7.5% 
16.8% 
44.5% 
Scarborough 
4.1% 
11.0% 
24.2% 
51.8% 
Selby 
3.1% 
7.1% 
20.1% 
50.0% 
  
 
 
 
North Yorkshire 
3.2% 
7.7% 
18.5% 
46.8% 
 
Source: 2011 Census, ONS. Figures are rounded independently & may not sum. 
 
The 2011 Census found that around 1.9% of the population of North Yorkshire 
had their day-to-day activities limited by long term health problems or disability. 
This equates to around 11,300 people. The rate of people having their activities 
limited increases sharply with age, rising from 3.2% among 0-19 year old in 

Corporate Information Systems Team, Central Services, NYCC; September 2016 
Page 5 of 5 
North Yorkshire to 46.8% among those aged 65+. Levels of limited activity are 
fairly consistent throughout the County with the exception of Scarborough 
district which has the highest rates across all age bands. 
 
 
Population Projections 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Population projections from the Office for National Statistics, based on past 
trends and using the 2014 mid-year population estimates as their base, show 
the population of the county rising from around 601,500 to 631,100 by 2039 (a 
4.9% increase over the 25 year period). Growth is expected in all districts with 
the exception of Richmondshire where a fall in population is expected (-2.4%). 
The greatest increase is expected to occur in Selby (14.5%). The population is 
also projected to become substantially more aged as the pyramid charts above 
for 2014 and 2039 show. This is the result of both longer life expectancy and 
the progression of ‘baby boomers’ through the age cohorts. 
 
Source: ONS 2014 Based Subnational Population Projections. 
 
Further Information 
 
More information can be found on the Data North Yorkshire web site. It contains 
a wide range of demographic, economic and other statistics and can be 
accessed at www.DataNorthYorkshire.org. 
 
The Corporate Information Systems team are able to provide a range of 
additional data on the population of the County, including more detailed census, 
deprivation and lifestyle statistics. Please contact Colin Bainbridge on 
xx-xxxx-xxxx or email xxx@xxx.xx.