County Durham population, 2001–2024
County Durham has an estimated population of 538,011 (mid-2024), up 9.0% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the County Durham local authority area.
538,011
population, mid-2024
+9.0%
since 2001
+4.8%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (538,011)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 538,011 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 533,997 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 527,755 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 521,447 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 519,204 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 518,562 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 516,648 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 515,911 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 514,431 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 513,924 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 513,604 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 513,179 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 513,122 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 512,994 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 510,628 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 507,311 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 505,617 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 502,960 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 499,348 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 497,218 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 495,147 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 493,931 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 493,538 | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 493,678 | — |
High street businesses
County Durham has 365 hairdressers and beauty salons, 255 pubs and bars, 165 licensed restaurants, 410 takeaways on the ONS business register (2025). Compare across the UK.
Rounded to the nearest 5, which is how ONS protects individual businesses from being identified.
Figures are ONS mid-year population estimates for the County Durham local authority area (code E06000047), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of County Durham?
538,011, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for the County Durham local authority area. This page charts the full annual series back to 2001, so the figure sits in its twenty-year context rather than alone.
Is County Durham growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 9.0% since 2001, from 493,678 to 538,011. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.