Overview
The majority of the boroughs residents (in the region of 142, 000 people) live in the towns of Blackburn and Darwen with the remaining residents living in the rural villages and hamlets (Hoddlesden, Edgworth, Belmont, Chapel Town and Tockholes) that surround the two major urban centres. Small area population figures can be used to estimate the population size of areas within the borough, with this it is suggested that c. 115,500 people live within Blackburn, c. 27,200 people live within the Darwen Town Council area and c.6,200 people live rurally.
The borough as a whole has a relatively young age profile. It has a higher than average proportion of young people (0-19) compared to the national figure and conversely, a smaller proportion of older people (65 and over). The latest population estimates and projections can also be downloaded online.
As a multicultural borough, the area is home to many people with diverse ethnicities and identities. Census 2011 suggested that within Blackburn with Darwen 66% of people identified themselves as White British, 28% as Asian / Asian British and 0.6% Black/African/Caribbean/Black British.
Within the majority of non – white residents, most people identified themselves as either; Asian/Asian British: Indian (13%) or Asian/ Asian British: Pakistani (12%). However, census data also shows that the borough is also home to people who identify as Bangladeshi, Chinese, African, Caribbean, Arab and people of multiple ethnicities.