Census Information

General facts and figures about Solihull

The Census is a count of all people and households and is the most complete source of information about the population that we have. The latest Census was held on Sunday 29 April 2001.

Includes

• General figures concerning Population, Housing and Employment and Business taken from the 2001 Census and other official sources.
• A Did you know section contains some general facts about the area
• Key Statistics from 2001 Census and information about access to previous Censuses back to 1841.

Are you looking for figures which aren't listed here? email: sustainabledevelopment@solihull.gov.uk to let us know. We will try to help you find the information you require. We may like to include your query on the website in the future - please indicate if you would object to this.

You can also search our website for information.

Anchor Point:DidYouKnowDid you know?

• Solihull is approximately 69 square miles, 70% of which is designated green belt.
• Solihull has 1300 acres of parks and open spaces.
• The ecologically significant rivers Blythe and Cole meander through Solihull.
• The once industrially important Grand Union canal and the Stratford canal pass through the borough.
• In 1997/8 the Solihull Way opened, a seventeen and a half mile walk from Earlswood lakes to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.
• Solihull has more than 4000 businesses which are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT). 27% of which operate within the administration and service sectors.
• Birmingham International Airport is the 5th largest in the UK. 2nd largest regional for passenger through put. In 2005 it is estimated that passenger levels exceed 9 million.
• The first trains to pass through Solihull rattled through from 1838 between Birmingham and London. A station at Solihull was opened following the advent of the Great Western line in 1852.

Anchor Point:PopulationPopulation

• The 2001 Census gives a total population for Solihull of 199,517
• The population of Solihull is currently around 200,400 (2004 mid year estimate). In 1981 the population was 197,933.
• The area of the Borough is 17,832 hectares
• About a quarter of the population is aged between 0 and 20, and nearly a quarter is aged over 60.
• Over the next twenty years Solihull's overall population is likely to remain stable but the composition will change considerably. In particular, it is predicted that there will be greater numbers of people aged 60+ .
• Between 1951 and 2001 the number of households tripled, although the population did not increase to the same extent, mainly due to a trend towards smaller households.

Population and Household data by Ward (2001)

Population figures are reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office from the 2001 Census, Key Statistics.
© Crown Copyright

Further details can be found on the National Statistics website - 2001 Census

Population statistics

As well as Census data, details of Borough Population Projections and Mid-Year Estimates are available from the Council's Forward Planning Team. For further information, call 0121 704 6394 or email sustainabledevelopment@solihull.gov.uk

Anchor Point:HousingHousing

• There are about 83,440 dwellings in the Borough (2001 Census)
• 78% of all households now own or are buying their homes, compared to 67% in 1981.
• About 29% of their houses are detached and 39% are semi-detached.
• 13.5% of households rent their home from the local authority compared to 26% in 1981.

Anchor Point:EmploymentBusinessEmployment and Business

• The biggest proportion of people are employed in public administration, education and health.
• About 2% work in agriculture.
• About 11,000 people at Solihull are self-employed.
• The Borough has low unemployment: unemployment: 2.4% of the potential workforce (November 2003).
• Solihull has more than 4,000 businesses which are registered for value added tax (VAT). The biggest proportion (about 1,150 businesses or 27.4%) are in the administration and service sectors.
• About 15% of businesses are in construction, 13% in finance and related work and 12% in retail.

Over 60 businesses employ 200 or more people. More than half the businesses employ four or fewer.

Contact Details

For more information please contact the Forward Planning Team

Telephone: 0121 704 6394

Email: sustainabledevelopment@solihull.gov.uk