Reviewed: 19/02/2025
- Bolton’s population currently stands at 302,000 (mid 2023 population estimate)
- The borough has a higher proportion of young people aged under 18 and older people (65 years plus) than Greater Manchester as a whole, although Bolton's older population is relatively smaller than seen across the whole of England and Wales.
- Around half of Bolton’s residents are aged under 40
- Bolton is a richly diverse, while the proportion of residents who would describe themselves as being from a ‘White’ ethnic background has dropped 10 percentage points between 2011 and 2021 to 72%, 91% of Bolton’s population identify with at least 1 UK national language and 96% speak English as their main language or are proficient in speaking English. The most common ethnic backgrounds of our non-White British residents are Asian Pakistani and Asian Indian (census 2021)
- As with many local authorities in the north of England, the health of people in Bolton is generally worse over a range of measures than the average for England
- 45% of the Bolton population live in an area that is among the 20% most deprived nationally (IMD 2019) and 45% of children (33,000 individuals) live in poverty (End Child Poverty)
- Life expectancy varies by 14.9 years for males and 9.9 years for females between small areas (MSOAs) in the borough (2016-20). Life expectancy for Bolton as a whole for males is 76.7, 2 years younger than England; and for females 81.3, also 2 years younger than England (2021-23).
- There are many other variations between different parts of Bolton. Neighbourhood working can make sure we take these into account.
- Bolton also has many assets, making the most of these can help develop solutions to address communities' needs.
- 26.7% of Bolton adults are classed as physically inactive (2022/23), doing less than the equivalent of half an hour's brisk walk a week. This is significantly worse than seen in England as a whole.
- In Year 6 (age 10-11), 38% of children are classified as above a healthy weight (2023/24), similar to than seen in England as a whole. Child excess weight worsened during Covid but has since returned to levels similar to pre-Covid, however, along with England as a whole, on a generally increasing trend.
- Percentage of 5 year olds with experience of visually obvious dental decay, hospital admissions for asthma, and breastfeeding rate are worse than the England average (Child and maternal health profile)
- Bolton Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. This has a number of potential implications that directly impact on population health, and the borough has now developed a strategy to address these.
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