New figures reveal how Norfolk population is growing, by district

South Norfolk saw the county’s second largest population increase, new figures have revealed.

And one Norfolk district – North Norfolk – is among only 12 areas in England and Wales with a declining population, new figures have revealed.

Every other council area in Norfolk saw its population grow, although West Norfolk saw the lowest rise of any area in England and Wales, with an increase of just 0.003 per cent, from 156,201 to 156,206.

The trends have emerged in demographic data released by the Office for National Statistics.

It shows that of 318 council areas in England and Wales, the population rose in 306 and fell in only 12.

Nationally, the biggest drop was on the Isles of Scilly (2.75 per cent), followed by the central London areas of Kensington and Chelsea (1.35 per cent), Lambeth (0.57) and Westminster (0.32 per cent)

North Norfolk, which saw its number of inhabitants fall by 0.06per cent, from 103,280 to 103,217 last year, is the oldest area in the country, with an average age of people living there of 50 years old.

About 35 per cent of its population are also aged 65 and over.

Falling population rates are causing concern in some communities, with several villages threatened by school closures in the county.

The number of children in Norfolk’s education system is expected to fall from a peak of nearly 10,000 in the current year eight to fewer than 7,000 in the 2027 reception intake.

Norfolk’s fastest growing population is in Broadland, where it rose by 1.59 per cent, from 138,157 to 156,657.

South Norfolk saw the county’s second largest increase, by 1.23 per cent, from 146,645 to 148,448.

It is the focus of housebuilding efforts, while talks are under way about building a new town in countryside in South Norfolk.

Breckland – where Thetford and Attleborough are undergoing significant expansions – went up by 1.16 per cent (144,934 to 146,620).

Great Yarmouth had a rise of 0.32 per cent (100,209 to 100,529) and Norwich by 0.53 per cent (146,404 to 147,182).

East Suffolk went up by 0.48 per cent, from 248,482 to 249,664.

Nationally, the City of London saw the biggest increase (11.06 per cent).

Mid Suffolk, which borders Norfolk and includes Eye, also had one of the largest rises, of 2.43 per cent.