11th July is designated by the United Nations as World Population Day. At the end of June, the UK Office for National Statistics published an analysis of 2021 census figures for English local authorities.
Here are some of the figures, but you can find out more by following these links:
World Population Dashboard Census 2021: How population changed in Horsham districtWorld Population
In 2011, the world reached a population of 7 billion. This year, 2022, the number will hit 8 billion.
It took hundreds of thousands of years for the world population to grow to 1 billion – then in just another 200 years or so, it grew sevenfold. In 2011, the global population reached the 7 billion mark, it stands at almost 7.9 billion in 2021, and it’s expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100. This is projected to be about the peak for global population.
The recent past has seen enormous changes in fertility rates and life expectancy. In the early 1970s, women had on average 4.5 children each; by 2015, total fertility for the world had fallen to below 2.5 children per woman. Meanwhile, average global lifespans have risen, from 64.6 years in the early 1990s to 72.6 years in 2019.
Horsham district population size and growth
In Horsham, the population size has increased by 11.8%, from around 131,300 in 2011 to 146,800 in 2021. This is higher than the overall increase for England (6.6%), where the population grew by nearly 3.5 million to 56,489,800.
The largest population increases in the South East have been seen in Dartford and Milton Keynes, where the populations have grown by 20.0% and 15.3%, respectively.
At 11.8%, Horsham’s population increase is higher than the increase for the South East (7.5%).
In 2021, Horsham ranked 148th for total population out of 309 local authority areas in England, moving up twelve places from 160th in 2011.
Horsham district population density
Population density varies from area to area. We can see the difference between local authority areas if we measure the land in football pitches and work out how many people there would be on each one.
There are three people for every football pitch-sized piece of land in England.
As of 2021, Horsham is the 14th least densely populated of the South East’s 64 local authority areas, with around two people living on each football pitch-sized area of land.
Horsham District Council Leader and Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Jonathan Chowen commented:
“Whilst these results show that Horsham District is a great place to live, it also highlights that we are building more houses than the national average.
This is unsustainable as it causes environmental and water stress issues, highlighted by both the Council and Natural England’s “pause” on all development currently until an answer to these climate change challenges can be found.
The results come as no surprise really as the area continues to be recognised as a great place to live, work and spend valuable leisure time, and is often voted as one of the best places to live in the UK.
But as a council we will strive to put the environment at the top of our agenda, whilst working with our communities and parishes to deliver excellent services in parks, recycling, sport, leisure and culture”.