Sheffield Population and Age: Reading the Census 2021 Evidence
A district-level Census 2021 baseline for Sheffield, explaining its age profile, household measures and differences between published population figures.
Published
Sheffield’s Census 2021 residence-type table records 556,521 usual residents on 21 March 2021. Its age table gives a slightly different total of 556,525. Both describe the Sheffield local authority district, and each provides a useful baseline, provided you keep its population total attached to the figures you calculate from it.[1][2][4][5]
Which Sheffield Do These Figures Describe?
The geography code is E08000019. Both tables identify Sheffield using the boundary classification “2022 local authorities: districts”, while their observations refer to Census Day in 2021. These are district-wide figures. They cannot establish the population or age profile of the city centre or an individual neighbourhood.[1][2][4][5]
Why Do the Population Totals Differ?
Sheffield City Council’s Demography and Migration Topic Summary gives a Census 2021 population of 556,221. That is 300 fewer people than the residence-type table, TS001. Both figures are printed as whole-person counts, so ordinary rounding does not reconcile them. The council summary gives no explanation for that discrepancy.[3][4]
A separate, much smaller difference appears between the detailed tables themselves. TS007A, which groups residents by age, has four more people in its total than TS001. Nomis, the official census and labour market statistics service publishing these tables, explains that Census disclosure control can introduce small differences between tables by changing some counts to protect individuals.[1][4][5]
That warning describes a general feature of the data. It does not establish the cause of Sheffield’s particular differences, especially the larger gap in the council headline. For calculations below, residence-type figures use the TS001 total and age figures use the TS007A total. Neither table has been adjusted to make the totals match.[1][3][4][5]
Sheffield’s Age Profile in Five Broad Groups
The following table combines the age bands in TS007A into five non-overlapping groups for Sheffield district on 21 March 2021. The groups cover different numbers of years, so their sizes should be read alongside their age ranges.[2][5]
| Age Group | Usual Residents | Share of TS007A Total |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 14 | 94,246 | 16.93% |
| 15 to 24 | 88,327 | 15.87% |
| 25 to 44 | 146,580 | 26.34% |
| 45 to 64 | 132,553 | 23.82% |
| 65 and over | 94,819 | 17.04% |
Children aged under 15 and residents aged 65 and over were close in number, with the older group larger by 573 people. Each accounted for about 17% of the district’s usual residents. This comparison gives a broader picture than concentrating on young adults alone.[5]
Among the original five-year bands, ages 20 to 24 formed the largest group, with 50,872 residents. Ages 25 to 29 followed with 40,536. Those are age counts, so they cannot tell you how many people were students, employed or looking for work.[2][5]
Household Residents and Households Are Different Measures
In TS001, 535,893 Sheffield residents lived in households and 20,628 lived in communal establishments on Census Day. Those categories add to the table’s total of 556,521 usual residents. The unit throughout is people.[1][4]
The distinction matters when reading a housing statistic. A figure of 535,893 household residents tells you how many people lived in that residence category. It does not mean Sheffield had that many households. The council’s summary separately reports 231,950 households in 2021.[1][3][4]
Choose the measure that answers your question. To describe where residents lived, use the two TS001 residence categories. To quote the number of households, use a household count. Neither TS001 nor the age table breaks down how many people lived alone or how households were composed.[1][2][3]
Methods for Reusing the Age Figures
The age table above was calculated by adding the original, mutually exclusive bands within each displayed range. For example, the under-15 count is 30,179 + 32,018 + 32,049 = 94,246. Each percentage is its group count divided by the TS007A total of 556,525, multiplied by 100 and rounded to two decimal places. The original age-band counts also sum to 556,525.[2][5]
These observations describe Sheffield district on 21 March 2021. When comparing a particular neighbourhood with the district, use that neighbourhood’s own age bands and population denominator, keeping the observation date consistent.[1][2][4][5]
Sources and checks
These sources were used for this article. Availability, prices and service details can change after the stated check date.
- TS001 - Number of usual residents in households and communal establishments - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
Checked 20 October 2026.
TS001 classifies usual residents by residence in households or communal establishments. The observation date is 21 March 2021. Census disclosure control includes changes to counts that can produce small differences between tables. TS001 measures residents by residence category rather than counting households or describing household composition.
- TS007A - Age by five-year age bands - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics
Checked 20 October 2026.
TS007A classifies usual residents by age bands. The age observations refer to 21 March 2021. The age classification alone does not identify student status, employment status or household composition.
- https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-09/demography-migration-topic-summary.pdf
Checked 20 October 2026.
The council summary prints a Sheffield Census 2021 population of 556,221. The council headline is 300 below the TS001 total of 556,521. The council summary reports 231,950 Sheffield households in 2021. The council passage does not explain its population discrepancy with TS001.
- TS001
Checked 20 October 2026.
The records identify Sheffield district as E08000019 using the 2022 local-authority district classification. TS001 records 556,521 usual residents for Sheffield in 2021. Of those residents, 535,893 lived in households and 20,628 in communal establishments. The two residence categories sum to 556,521. The TS001 total is 300 above the council headline and four below the TS007A total.
- TS007A
Checked 20 October 2026.
TS007A records 556,525 usual residents for Sheffield district, E08000019, in 2021. The original age-band counts sum to the published total of 556,525. Ages 0 to 14 total 94,246, calculated as 30,179 + 32,018 + 32,049. Ages 15 to 24 total 88,327, calculated as 37,455 + 50,872. Ages 25 to 44 total 146,580, calculated as 40,536 + 38,867 + 35,034 + 32,143. Ages 45 to 64 total 132,553, calculated as 32,238 + 36,319 + 34,488 + 29,508. Ages 65 and over total 94,819, calculated as 24,795 + 24,618 + 18,881 + 13,749 + 12,776. Dividing each grouped count by 556,525 and multiplying by 100 gives shares of 16.93%, 15.87%, 26.34%, 23.82% and 17.04%, rounded to two decimal places. Residents aged 65 and over outnumbered residents under 15 by 573. Ages 20 to 24 formed the largest original five-year band, with 50,872 residents, followed by ages 25 to 29 with 40,536.