Mid-year 2025
Trafford’s population growth was higher than England
ONS has published the Mid-year 2025 population estimates and revised estimates for mid_year 2022, 2023 and 2024. These revisions account for updated international migration data for England and Wales. The final section of this report provides more detailed information about the revisions.
In mid-2025, the estimated population of Trafford was 240,981, a 1,363 increase from the population in mid-2024. The 95% research based confidence interval for this population estimate ranges from 236,056 to 245,906
From mid-2024 to mid-2025, Trafford experienced a population growth of 0.6%, which is the same growth rate than Greater Manchester (GM) and 0.2% higher than England’s growth rate of 0.4%. Trafford has the fourth lowest growth among to the 10 GM authorities and the seventh lowest growth among the 15 similar local authorities (Similar Authorities).
The median age in Trafford was 41.1 years, a slight increase of 0.1 years compared to the median age in mid-2024 (41). Trafford ranks third in median age among GM authorities. GM’s median age is 37.2 years while England’s median age is 40.6 years.
Considering the trend in population growth from 2011, Trafford experienced the lowest or second lowest growth between mid-2015 and mid-2024 among GMs authorities, except for mid-2017 when it had the third lowest growth. In 2021 and 2022, Trafford’s population decreased whilst GM and England saw population increases. In mid-2025, Trafford became the fourth lowest growing authority, approaching the mid-position among GM authorities. Manchester is now the lowest growing authority, with a reduction in population of 0.07%
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2024 to 2025
2011 to 2025
From 2021 to 2025, 75 to 79 years old had the largest increase in growth
Comparing the change from Mid-2024 to Mid-2025, males aged 90+ saw the largest growth at 5.7%, while the 15-19 group saw the largest increase in numbers with 207 more males. Females aged 25-29 experienced the largest growth and increase in numbers at 4.7% growth and 310 more females.
From mid-2024 to mid-2025, males aged 85 to 89 experienced the largest decline in growth at -4.7%, while males aged 35 to 39 saw the largest reduction in numbers with 176 fewer males. For females, the age group 30 to 34 had the largest decline in growth at -2.6% and the largest reduction in numbers with 191 fewer females.
From mid-2024 to mid-2025, the female population grew 0.57%, whilst the male population grew 0.56%.
From mid-2021 to mid-2025, the population of children under 5 years old, the 30 to 39 age group, the 50 to 59 age group, and the 70 to 74 age group experienced a reduction in population. In contrast, the populations of children over 5, the young adults, the 40 to 49 age group, the 60 to 69 age group, as well as older adults aged over 75 saw an increase in population.
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2024 to 2025
2021 to 2025
Other age groups
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2024 to 2025
2021 to 2025
Population under 16 is decreasing in Trafford but less than in GM.
Trafford’s under-5 population declined by 2.4% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, and by 9.2% between mid-2021 and mid-2025. In contrast, GM’s under-5 population experienced a slower decline of 1.3% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, and 0.3% between mid-2021 and mid-2025. England also saw a more gradual decrease, with a 1.6% decline between mid-2024 and mid-2025, and a 1.8% decline between mid-2021 and mid-2025.
Another notable difference in age group growth that is consistent in both periods: from mid-2021 to mid-2025 and from mid-2024 to mid-2025 is a decrease in the 35 to 39 age group whilst in GM, England, and Similar authorities this age group is experiencing an increase.
From 2024 to 2025, Trafford’s population under 16 decreased by 0.4%, while GM and England experienced larger declines of 0.6% and 0.9% respectively. The 16 to 64 age group saw a 0.7% increase, mirroring GM’s growth but surpassing England’s 0.3% increase. The 65+ age group in Trafford increased by 1.3%, while GM and England experienced larger increases at 1.5% and 2% respectively.
Between mid-2021 and mid-2025, Trafford’s under-16 population increased by 1.1%, while Greater Manchester (GM) had a higher growth rate of 1.9%, and England experienced a lower growth rate of 0.7%. However, England’s 16 to 64 and 65+ age groups grew at a higher rate than Trafford’s. Overall, GM’s population grew faster than Trafford’s across all age groups, especially the 16 to 64 age group, which grew by 2.1% in Trafford and 6.3% in GM.
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2024 to 2025
2021 to 2025
The number of births and deaths is nearly equal.
From Mid-year 2024 to Mid-year 2025, there were 2,129 estimated births and 2,081 estimated deaths, with a surplus of births over deaths of 48. This marks the second consecutive year of a positive natural change, following a negative change in 2023
The Internal Migration inflow, people moving from within the country, was 16,132 and the Internal Migration outflow, people moving to other parts of the country, was 15,309, with a positive net Internal Migration of 823. This represents the highest Net Internal Migration since 2013 after several years of negative numbers starting from 2019 to 2023.
The International Migration inflow was 2,259 and the International Migration outflow was 1,783, with a net International Migration of 476.
Net Internal Migration is the largest component of population growth for the first year since 2013, the previous three years saw a large number of Net Intentional Migration.
Revisions to mid-2022 to mid-2024
Revisions have been made to mid-2022, mid-2023, and mid-2024 population estimates to incorporate improved international migration data.