Information about Wales

Summary

Wales is the third populous country in the United Kingdom after England (56.5 million) and Scotland (5.4 million), with a population of just over 3.1 million people as of the 2021 census. Below you can find demographic data for Wales as a whole, based on the 2021 census.

People

Gender

Gender
Male 1,521,053
Female 1,586,521
Total 3,107,574

Age Groups

Age Groups
0-4 155,180
5-9 175,814
10-14 182,655
15-19 175,731
20-24 187,764
25-29 186,434
30-34 196,283
35-39 186,183
40-44 175,459
45-49 185,997
50-54 215,673
55-59 222,635
60-64 199,634
65-69 177,586
70-74 181,259
75-79 131,494
80-84 89,029
85+ 82,617
Total 3,107,427

Relationship Status

Figures for relationship status do not include those aged under 16, or those family members aged 16-18 who are in full-time education. Following the Civil Partnership Act that came into force in 2019, census figures for 2021/2022 no longer categorise same sex relationships as a separate category. Civil partnerships are now included within the figures for the other categories (Married, Divorced and so forth).

Relationship Status
Single 951,661
Married 1,121,478
Separated 52,531
Divorced 252,682
Widowed 181,063
Total 2,559,415

Culture

Ethnic Group

Ethnic Group
White 2,915,940
Mixed Ethnicity 48,568
Indian 21,100
Pakistani 17,525
Bangladeshi 15,318
Chinese 14,491
Other Asian 20,729
Black African 19,878
Black Caribbean 3,708
Other Black/African/Caribbean 3,918
Arab 11,634
Other 14,843
Total 3,107,652

Country of Birth

Country of Birth
United Kingdom 2,892,027
European Union 91,507
Rest of Europe 8,663
Africa 28,695
Middle East and Asia 69,342
The Americas (North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean) 12,346
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 4,535
British Overseas Territories 312
Total 3,107,427

Length of Residence

The length of time a person has been resident in the UK has been calculated from the time a resident most recently arrived in the UK (excluding holidays/short stays outside the UK). However, residents that were born in the UK but emigrated and then later returned will still be counted as "Born in the United Kingdom".

Length of Residence
Born in The United Kingdom 2,892,027
10+ Years 126,133
5-10 Years 35,423
2-5 Years 26,720
Less Than 2 Years 27,203
Total 3,107,506

Passport(s) Held

Note that an individual may hold one or more passports, so this table does not include a total.

Passport(s) Held
None 583,194
United Kingdom 2,399,711
Republic of Ireland 9,810
European Union 73,219
Rest of Europe 2,963
African Countries 8,136
Middle East or Asia 23,933
North America or Caribbean 3,775
Central and South America 1,222
Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and nearby islands) 1,494
British Overseas Territories 12

Religion

Religion
No Religion 1,446,442
Christian 1,354,738
Buddhist 10,090
Hindu 12,242
Jewish 2,048
Muslim 66,952
Sikh 4,060
Other Religion 15,933
Not Stated 195,045
Total 3,107,550

Welsh Language

Figures for Welsh speaking and understanding are based on responses for all usual residents aged 3 years and over on census day 2021.

Welsh Speaking Ability
Can Speak Welsh 538,326
Cannot Speak Welsh 2,479,878
Welsh Understanding Ability
Can Understand Spoken Welsh 661,080
Cannot Understand Spoken Welsh 2,357,016