Mid-year population estimates
Key points for the Lancashire-12 area (Lancashire-14 figures in brackets)
- The population in Lancashire-12 in mid-2024 was estimated to be 1,294,914. In Lancashire-14, this was estimated to be 1,601,645.
- The median age was 42.3.
- In the year to mid-2024, in Lancashire-12 there were 2,447 more deaths than births (Lancashire-14 = 2,500).
- In Lancashire-12, the population grew by 1.55% between mid-2023 and mid-2024 (Lancashire-14 = 1.54%).
- In the 12 months to mid-2024 the fastest growing local authority in the Lancashire-14 area was Preston. The population of Preston is now greater than that of Blackburn with Darwen and has become the most populous district in the Lancashire-14 area. The population in Lancaster City district fell by 50 in the year to mid-2024.
- In Lancashire-12, the 65 and over age group saw a higher annual growth rate, 1.9% (Lancashire-14 = 1.8%), than the 0-15 group, 1.2% (Lancashire-14 = 1.3%) and the 16-64 group, 1.5% (Lancashire-14 = 1.5%).
- Areas with an above UK average median age recorded the largest reductions in population due to natural change. In Fylde and Wyre the median age was over 50, and in both areas deaths substantially exceeded births in the year to mid-2024 (566 in Fylde and 840 in Wyre), although the median age in Lancaster was near the average and still saw 490 more deaths than births.
- Net internal migration varied from +2,260 in Wyre to -647 in Lancaster.
- Net international migration in the the year to mid-2024 was 11,463 in Lancashire-12 (Lancashire-14 = 15,730), 4,249 in Preston and 133 in Ribble Valley.
We have provided additional analysis in the Microsoft Power BI report which has been updated and replaced below. This version is now showing single year of age as well as the figures broken down by 5 year and labour market age bands.
Mid-year population estimates, 2024
| Area name | Females | Males | Persons |
| Burnley | 49,923 | 49,310 | 99,233 |
| Chorley | 60,368 | 60,471 | 120,839 |
| Fylde | 43,671 | 41,776 | 85,447 |
| Hyndburn | 43,235 | 42,823 | 86,058 |
| Lancaster | 73,498 | 71,508 | 145,006 |
| Pendle | 50,044 | 49,733 | 99,777 |
| Preston | 81,114 | 81,750 | 162,864 |
| Ribble Valley | 33,568 | 32,226 | 65,794 |
| Rossendale | 37,086 | 35,959 | 73,045 |
| South Ribble | 59,269 | 56,844 | 116,113 |
| West Lancashire | 63,253 | 58,742 | 121,995 |
| Wyre | 60,768 | 57,975 | 118,743 |
| Lancashire-12 area | 655,797 | 639,117 | 1,294,914 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 81,460 | 81,080 | 162,540 |
| Blackpool | 72,451 | 71,740 | 144,191 |
| Lancashire-14 area | 809,708 | 791,937 | 1,601,645 |
| North West | 3,927,505 | 3,809,909 | 7,737,414 |
| England | 29,895,762 | 28,724,339 | 58,620,101 |
| England and Wales | 31,520,864 | 30,285,818 | 61,806,682 |
| United Kingdom | *69,138,192 |
Source: Office for National Statistics, mid-year populations for England and Wales, 2024
Page updated August 2025