West Berkshire population, 2001–2024
West Berkshire has an estimated population of 165,112 (mid-2024), up 14.3% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the West Berkshire local authority area.
165,112
population, mid-2024
+14.3%
since 2001
+4.7%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (165,112)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 165,112 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 164,189 | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 162,484 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 161,864 | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 161,026 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 160,883 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 160,953 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 160,729 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 160,551 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 158,895 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 157,663 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 156,789 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 155,172 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 154,148 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 153,943 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 153,039 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 152,024 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 150,056 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 148,107 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 146,492 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 145,147 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 144,297 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 143,913 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 144,494 | — |
Food businesses
West Berkshire has 81 takeaways, 258 restaurants and cafés and 137 pubs and bars on the FSA's statutory register (as of July 2026) — 0.31 takeaways per restaurant against an English average of 0.49, and 4.9 takeaways per 10,000 residents. How that compares across England.
High street businesses
West Berkshire has 110 hairdressers and beauty salons, 70 pubs and bars, 65 licensed restaurants, 75 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 West Berkshire local authority area (code E06000037), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of West Berkshire?
165,112, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for the West Berkshire 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 West Berkshire growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 14.3% since 2001, from 144,494 to 165,112. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.