Barrow-in-Furness - Demographics

Demographics

Population
Barrow's population numbered in its low thousands at the turn of the 19th century and increased over the next century to over 60,000, peaking at almost 76,000 in the 1960's. Since the start of the 20th century the population of the town has gradually diminished to just under 60,000. The Barrow council district, which includes the surrounding area, has a population of 69,100 according to the most recent census. This is 4% less than the 2001 figure of 71,900, and the highest percentage population loss in the country between 2001 and 2011.

Barrow can be regarded as the largest town in Cumbria, Carlisle in the north of the county having city status. It is also the 15th largest settlement in North West England. People from Barrow are known as Barrovians.

Historical population of the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness

Year	1801	1811	1831	1851	1861	1871	1881	1891	1901	1911	1921	1931	1941	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011
Population	1,958	2,078	2,702	4,684	22,513	40,343	58,172	62,694	67,354	72,360	73,394	74,447	75,509	76,619	75,902	72,192	72,645	73,704	71,979	69,100

Ethnicity and country of birth
2009 estimates state 95.9% of Barrow's population as White British, and ethnic minority populations in Barrow stood at 4.1%. Other ethnic groups in Barrow include Other White 1.9%, South Asian 0.8%, Mixed Race 0.7%, Black 0.3%, Chinese 0.2% and all other ethnic groups represented 0.2% of the population. The first people to settle in what is now Barrow were the Celts and Scandinavians followed by the Cornish although in the late 19th century there was mass immigration from Scotland and other parts of England. Besides a sizeable South Asian community, Barrow is also home to significant Chinese, Filipino, Kosovar, Polish and South African populations.

The 2001 UK census states that 93.56% of the borough's population was born in England, 2.86% in Scotland, 0.63% in Wales, 0.68% in Northern Ireland, 0.32% in the Republic of Ireland and 0.06% in the Channel Islands. 1.96% of the town's 2001 population were born elsewhere in the world, 0.47% of which were born in the European Union, although numbers are likely to be currently much higher, due to significant immigration from Eastern Europe (in particular Poland) to Barrow. Barrow has the eighth fastest growing non-indigenous white community of any town or city in the country, at 15.9% growth between 2004 and 2005. Barrow has also seen a huge increase with other ethnic minority groups, and the growth rate for most groups is around 2 times faster than national average.

Religion

See also: List of places of worship in Barrow-in-Furness

In the 2001 census 81.02% of Barrow's population stated themselves as being Christian. People stating no religion or chose not to state totaled 18.38% combined. Other religious groups represented 0.60% of the population, with Islam and Buddhism prevailing as the first and second most common groups. Conishead Priory, the first Kadampa Buddhist centre in the west, is home to around 100 Buddhists and is located on the outskirts of Barrow within the South Lakeland district.

Other
Out of the 56,987 age 16 or over in 2001, 43.81% were married, 26.26% single, 9.57% widowed, 9.36% divorced, 8.98% re-married and 2.01% separated (but still legally married). The Total Fertility Rate of Barrow is 1.54, lower than North West England's rate (1.66) and England's (1.65). 162 Barrovians were working in the Armed Forces in 2001 Barrow has one of the highest percentages of people on benefits in the entire United Kingdom, at 23% of the working age, it is much higher than England's average of 14%.