Chapter One – The people who live in the borough

Statistics and data

Statistics and data about the borough are being continually updated. This web page presents data available at the time of writing, July 2010. For the most current information, please use the links presented alongside the information.

If you can’t find the information you need, please contact research@blackburn.gov.uk 

All data presented is covered by crown copyright. Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).

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Summary

The estimated population of Blackburn with Darwen borough in 2009 was 139,900. Blackburn with Darwen has the highest proportion of young people aged 0-19 years compared to England and Wales local authorities, 42,400 residents fall into this age group, this represents thirty percent of all residents. Around a fifth of the borough’s residents are from an Asian heritage background, with the majority from a White ethnic group. Both birth and death rates for the borough are above the national average.

Between 2008 and 2033 the population of the borough is projected to grow by 7,100 (4.7%) to 146,500. This growth will be driven by an ageing population.

Blackburn with Darwen continues to experience a greater number of births than deaths, between 2007 and 2008 the net difference in births and deaths was 1,070.

Population size

The 2009 mid year population estimates put the population of Blackburn with Darwen borough at 139,900.

At the time of the 2001 census the population of the borough was 137,470, since then it is estimated to have seen a slight increase of 1.8%, compared to 2.1% for the North West.

Population estimates for the two main towns of the borough can be calculated by combining population estimates for smaller areas. Using the Office for National Statistics experimental small area population estimates for 2008, the populations for Blackburn and Darwen can be estimated as follows:

Blackburn*, comprising the wards north of the M65 motorway, has an estimated population of around 107,616.
Darwen*, has an estimated population of around 26,948. The rural areas surrounding Darwen, made up of the wards of East Rural and North Turton with Tockholes has a population of 6,109.

* Blackburn is made up of the wards of:

  • Audley
  • Bastwell 
  • Beardwood with Lammack 
  • Corporation Park
  • Ewood 
  • Fernhurst
  • Higher Croft 
  • Little Harwood
  • Livesey with Pleasington
  • Meadowhead
  • Mill Hill
  • Queen's Park
  • Roe Lee
  • Shadsworth with Whitebirk
  • Shear Brow
  • Wensley Fold

* Darwen is made up of the wards of:

  • Sudell
  • Sunnyhurst
  • Whitehall
  • Marsh House
  • Earcroft

The two remaining wards of East Rural and North Turton with Tockholes are classified as rural.

Population statistics
This link takes you to all 'population estimate data' produced by the ONS (Office for National Statistics) 

Mid year estimates for UK, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
This link will take you to the ONS site were you can access the borough level data. 

Experimental Statistics
This link takes you to the ONS experimental data, including ward and lower super output area level estimates.

Population Projections

Population projections aim to give an indication of what the population of an area will be, if current trends in births, deaths and migration remain the same. The borough is projected to see a gradual growth in the coming years. The borough is projected to see a gradual growth in the coming years. Between 2008 and 2033 the population of the borough is projected to see a growth of 4.7%. Increasing from 139,900 to 146,500.

Population projections
This link takes you to the population projections produced by ONS, it aims to give an indication of future population trends.

Age Profile

Compared to other local authorities in England and Wales, the population of Blackburn with Darwen has a relatively young age profile. Data from the 2007 mid year population estimates highlight that 30.5% of the borough’s residents are aged 19 and under, this is the highest percentage of the local authorities in England and Wales.

Age profile
This link takes you to data produced by ONS, relating to the age profile of the borough which can be obtained from the mid year population estimates.

Ethnicity

The key source of information about the ethnic groups of residents living in Blackburn with Darwen remains from the 2001 Census. However, as this data source is now a little dated the Office for National Statistics have produced some experimental statistics with the aim of providing more recent estimates of the ethnic make up of areas.

Within Blackburn with Darwen the majority of residents living in the borough are from a White ethnic group. The ONS experimental statistics estimate that for the mid year 2007, of a population of 140,900 people, 77.0% were from a White ethnic group. This suggests proportionally, virtually no change from the 2001 Census where 77.9% of respondents stated they were from a White ethnic group.
The data for 2007 estimates that 20.4% of residents were from an Asian ethnic group, again suggesting little change from the 2001 Census, where 20.7% of residents stated they were from an Asian ethnic group.

Experimental Statistics
This link takes you to the ONS experimental data, including ethnic group population estimates

Ethnic group data
This link will allow you to download ethnic group data from the 2001 Census from the (ONS) Neighbourhood Statistics website.

Births and deaths

Both birth and death rates for Blackburn with Darwen local authority are higher than the regional figures.

In 2007 there were 2,338 live births in the borough.
Within Blackburn with Darwen there were 80 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, compared to 62 births per thousand for the North West as a whole. At the 2007 birth levels, women in Blackburn with Darwen would be expected to have on average 2.48 children in their lifetimes, compared to 1.91 in the North West.

There were 1,368 deaths in the borough in 2007.
The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) for the borough is 121. This highlights that there were 21% more deaths than would be expected if the borough had the same age and sex mortality rates of England and Wales (the SMR for England and Wales is 100).

Births and deaths
This link will take you to the most up to date information on births and deaths in the borough, see the Key Population and Vital Statistics data from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) site.