The population of Oldham rose at a faster rate than the average for England as a whole in the 10 years up to last year's census.

An initial round of results were published this week, with other rounds still to come.

According to these results, the population of Oldham increased from an estimated 224,900 to 242,100 – a rise of 7.6 per cent.

This a faster rate than the average for England as a whole, where the population increased from an estimated 53,012,456 to 56,489,800 – a rise of 6.6 per cent.

The population of 242,100 means Oldham is now the 74th most populous of more than 300 authorities across the country, up one place on the previous census.

It is also 14th in terms of population density in the north west of England, with the equivalent of around 12 residents on each football pitch-sized area of land.

But this is next to nothing in comparison to Tower Hamlets in the capital, where there are the equivalent of around 112 residents on each football pitch-sized area of land.

Although the largest group in Oldham is people aged 10 to 14, the population is ageing, as some 16 per cent of people are over the age of 64, up a little more than one percentage point on the previous census.

But it is doing so slower than in England as a whole, where the largest group is people aged 30 to 34 and some 18.4 per cent of people are over the age of 64, up two percentage points on the previous census.

Responding to the results, Pete Benton, from the Office for National Statistics, said: “These census statistics begin to paint a rich and detailed snapshot of the nation and how we were living during the pandemic. 

"They show the population of England and Wales continued to grow across the decade, albeit at different rates across the regions.

"Ultimately, the full suite of census results, based on the information we all gave, will ensure decisions about how the billions of pounds we spend each year as a nation are made using the best possible evidence. 

"This includes planning our emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, buses, trains, trams, GPs and dentists’ services.”

Other rounds of results are to include data on areas like education, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and work.