Local considerations
Urban-Rural Somerset
Somerset Council serves over 570,000 residents and 250,000 households in areas which range from remote rural dwellings to urban town, and small city, centres.
Somerset – Ethnicity
At the time of the 2021 Census, 96.3% of Somerset’s residents identify themselves as belonging to a white ethnicity group and, approximately 3.7%, identifying as non-white ethnicities. Despite non-white ethnicities constituting a small proportion of Somerset’s residents, ethnic diversity is increasing in Somerset (from 2% in the 2011 Census).
|
Race and Ethnicity Category: |
Count of Usual Residents |
Percentage of Usual Residents |
|
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh |
8658 |
1.51% |
|
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African |
2436 |
0.43% |
|
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups |
7137 |
1.25% |
|
Other ethnic group |
2469 |
0.43% |
|
White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British |
521833 |
91.30% |
|
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller, Roma or Other White |
26387 |
4.62% |
|
White: Irish |
2630 |
0.46% |
|
Grand Total |
571550 |
100.00% |
Figure 2: 2021 Census: Race and Ethnicity Status by Number of Individuals
Somerset – Religious and Spiritual Beliefs
Somerset’s religious and spiritual beliefs are predominantly Christian (50.1%), followed by no religion (41.5%). Hinduism (0.19%), Judaism (0.08%), Buddhism (0.34%), Sikhism (0.03%) and Islam (0.45%), constitute 1.09% of Somerset residents religious and spiritual belief. 0.69% of Somerset’s population also describe themselves as following other religions.
|
Religion Status: |
Count of Usual Residents |
Percentage of Usual Residents |
|
Buddhist |
1930 |
0.34% |
|
Christian |
286672 |
50.16% |
|
Hindu |
1104 |
0.19% |
|
Jewish |
451 |
0.08% |
|
Muslim |
2598 |
0.45% |
|
No religion |
237262 |
41.51% |
|
Not answered |
37379 |
6.54% |
|
Other religion |
3962 |
0.69% |
|
Sikh |
190 |
0.03% |
|
Grand Total |
571548 |
100.00% |
Figure 3: 2021 Census: Religion Status by Number of Individuals
Somerset – English as a First Spoken Language
Over 99% of Somerset’s population speak English either as their main language, or to a good level as a secondary language. At the time of the 2021 census there were 515 Somerset residents aged over 3 who could not speak English, with a further 3244 who reported not being able to speak English well.
Somerset – Older Aged Adults with a Learning Disability Or Autism Spectrum Disorder
The number of adults with a learning disability over the age of 65 is predicted to increase within the next five years, in particular the number of people over the age of 85 with learning disabilities is forecast to increase by more than 10% 2027.
|
Demographic |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|
People aged 65-74 predicted to have a learning disability |
1,638 |
1,648 |
1,668 |
1,698 |
1,733 |
|
People aged 75-84 predicted to have a learning disability |
1,121 |
1,166 |
1,205 |
1,246 |
1,271 |
|
People aged 85 and over predicted to have a learning disability |
409 |
419 |
430 |
437 |
453 |
|
Total population aged 65 and over predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
3,168 |
3,233 |
3,303 |
3,381 |
3,457 |
Figure 6: POPPI: Population Projections for number of adults (aged 65+) with learning disabilities
The number of adults with autism spectrum disorders over the age of 65 is predicted to increase within the next five years, again the larger increase can be seen with adults over the age of 75, as more adults with autism progress into old age.
|
Demographic |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|
People aged 65-74 predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
736 |
741 |
751 |
765 |
783 |
|
People aged 75 and over predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
697 |
725 |
747 |
771 |
789 |
|
Total population aged 65 and over predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
1,433 |
1,465 |
1,497 |
1,536 |
1,572 |
Figure 7: POPPI: Population Projections for number of adults (aged 65+) with autism spectrum disorders
Somerset – Older Aged Adults Who Need Help with Self-Care or Domestic Tasks
The number of adults aged 65+ who require support with at least one self-care activity, or at least one domestic task is projected to increase by ~10% respectively between 2023–2027.
|
Demographic: |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
|
Total population aged 65 and over who need help with at least one self-care activity |
43,636 |
44,716 |
45,793 |
47,030 |
48,356 |
|
Total population aged 65 and over who need help with at least one domestic task |
44,155 |
45,276 |
46,384 |
47,635 |
48,979 |
Figure 8: POPPI: Population Projections for number of adults who need help with at least one self-care activity, or domestic task.