Somerset population, 2001–2024
Somerset has an estimated population of 588,328 (mid-2024), up 18.0% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the Somerset local authority area.
588,328
population, mid-2024
+18.0%
since 2001
+8.1%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (588,328)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 588,328 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 582,962 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 577,349 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 573,100 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 566,310 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 564,987 | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 562,159 | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 558,895 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 554,806 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 548,792 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 544,312 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 539,465 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 535,842 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 531,581 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 528,609 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 526,592 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 525,668 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 522,150 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 517,252 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 514,338 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 510,659 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 506,790 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 503,132 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 498,707 | — |
High street businesses
Somerset has 290 hairdressers and beauty salons, 390 pubs and bars, 220 licensed restaurants, 295 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 Somerset local authority area (code E06000066), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of Somerset?
588,328, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for the Somerset 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 Somerset growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 18.0% since 2001, from 498,707 to 588,328. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.