South Hams population, 2001–2024
South Hams has an estimated population of 92,148 (mid-2024), up 12.5% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the South Hams local authority area.
92,148
population, mid-2024
+12.5%
since 2001
+9.4%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (92,148)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 92,148 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 90,937 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 89,795 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 89,161 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 87,371 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 86,458 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 85,874 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 85,183 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 84,554 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 84,616 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 84,221 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 83,867 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 83,523 | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 83,563 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 83,516 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 83,368 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 83,516 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 83,363 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 82,985 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 82,489 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 82,085 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 81,994 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 82,058 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 81,929 | — |
Food businesses
South Hams has 53 takeaways, 231 restaurants and cafés and 132 pubs and bars on the FSA's statutory register (as of July 2026) — 0.23 takeaways per restaurant against an English average of 0.49, and 5.8 takeaways per 10,000 residents. How that compares across England.
High street businesses
South Hams has 55 hairdressers and beauty salons, 95 pubs and bars, 80 licensed restaurants, 45 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 South Hams local authority area (code E07000044), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of South Hams?
92,148, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for the South Hams 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 South Hams growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 12.5% since 2001, from 81,929 to 92,148. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.