Chester in Context

Key figures for Chester District from the 2001 Census, including population, age structure, health, housing and so on.

Resident population

The usual resident population for Chester District in the 2001 Census was 118,210, which represents 17.5% of the Cheshire County total, 1.8% of the North West population and 0.2% of the England & Wales total. The gender split of approximately 48% males to 52% females is similar across all administrative levels.

Age Structure

Just over 8% of Chester's resident population are aged 75 years or over compared to 7.4% for the North West region. Chester also has a lower proportion of those aged between 0 and 29 years (35.5%) compared to a rate of almost 38% for England & Wales.

Ethnicity

Both Chester District and Cheshire County have low non-white populations (2% or less) compared with the North West (approximately 6%) and England & Wales (approximately 9%). Less than 1% of Chester's resident ethnic population are of Asian or Asian British origin compared with over 4% for England & Wales. The England & Wales Black / Black British population is 2% higher than that for Chester District.

Religion

This topic was introduced for the first time in the 2001 Census questionnaire for England & Wales, returning some 179 classifications. Over three-quarters (78%) of Chester residents described themselves as Christian compared with approximately 72% for England & Wales. Other major world religions recorded for Chester District accounted for less than 1% of the total population, contrasting with England & Wales where 3% of the population describe themselves as Muslim and 1.1% Hindu. The Muslim population for the North West region is also 3% compared with 0.5% for Chester District.

Health

Approximately one in five (18%) of both Chester District and England & Wales residents suffer from a limiting long-term illness. Approximately 21% of residents in the North West region suffer from a limiting long-term illness.

Economic Activity

Economic activity is measured among residents of working age (16-74 years). The 2:1 ratio of economically active to inactive is reflected across all geographic levels with approximately four in ten in full time employment. Chester District recorded the lowest unemployment figure at 2.4% compared to 3.6% for the North West. The District also enjoys a higher proportion of self-employed (9%) compared with 7% for the North West. In both areas, 4.7% of residents aged 16-74 years are economically inactive students. 

The proportion of those recorded as sick or disabled in the North West region is almost 8% compared with 5% in Chester District. The proportion of retired residents in Chester District (15.4%) is almost 2% higher than the rate for England & Wales.

Qualifications

Over three-quarters (76%) of Chester District residents aged 16-74 years are recorded as having qualifications. This is in contrast with 68% of working age residents with qualifications in the North West region and 71% for England & Wales. Almost one in three (32%) of working age residents in the North West region are recorded as having no qualifications. Please note that the definition for qualified resident was broadened in the 2001 Census to include school level certification.

Travel to Work

The travel to work question was answered by residents in employment. Driving by car remains the most popular mode of transport to and from work in the Chester District (over 60%) compared with just over 55% for England & Wales. The proportion of Chester District residents using the train as a means of transport to their place of work is 1.3% compared with over 4% in England & Wales. Similar proportions for Chester District and England & Wales are recorded for those who work mainly from home and those who walk to work (approximately 10%).

Housing Types

The distribution of housing types are expressed as a percentage of all household spaces in the administrative area (See Note 8 below). Semi-detached housing is the most common residential property type in Chester District (over 34%) followed closely by detached properties (approx. 29%). The proportion of detached properties in the North West region is less than 18% and less than 23% for England & Wales. Terraced housing accounts for almost one-third of property types (32%) in the North West region as compared with 23% in Chester District. Purpose built flats or tenements account for approximately 14% in England & Wales compared with just under 10% in Chester District.

Housing Tenure 

Almost three-quarters of households in the Chester District are owner occupied (73%) compared with 69% for England & Wales. Almost one in five (19.2%) of households in England & Wales are socially rented compared with just under 15% for Chester District. Less than 6% of households in Cheshire are in the private rented sector compared with approximately 9% in both Chester District and England & Wales.

Household Characteristics

The average household size ranges between 2.32 persons per household in Chester District to 2.37 for Cheshire County. Almost 8% of households in the North West region are lone parent with dependent children compared with just over 5% in Chester District.

Car ownership

Just over 28% of households in Chester District have 2 cars or vans compared with 21% in the North West region. Approximately 7% of households in the Chester District and 8% in Cheshire County have 3 or more cars or vans.

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Chester in Context - Census 2001 (208kb)