Population

Historically, local authorities have always analysed data to determine their commissioning priorities based on the needs of the local population. This section exposes much of that data to allow anyone to interrogate and analyse it.

Population data in this section comes from the Office for National Statistics for ages 15 and above and from published external research. It is anticipated that data from local systems will be integrated in due course to provide additional local prevalence rates.

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The Gateshead Population

Gateshead is a Metropolitan District in the North East region. In 2022, the total population of Gateshead was 197,722 people. This is a decrease of -2% (-2,577) since 2013. Gateshead is ranked 4 (out of 5 Metropolitan Districts in the North East region) in terms of total population (with 1 being the largest).

Of the 197,722 people in Gateshead, 19.9 percent (39,319) are children aged under 18, 59.7 percent (118,043) are adults aged 18 to 64 and 20.4 percent (40,360) are aged 65 and over. 2.7 percent (5,366) of the resident population are 85 and over. Gateshead has an old age dependency ratio (working age population: over 65 population) of 32.9 per 100 working age population which is the 4^th lowest out of 5 Metropolitan Districts in the North East region.

Mid-year population estimates by ethnicity have not been produced since 2009, therefore the latest data available is from the 2021 Census that showed that 6.5 per cent of the resident population are non-White and 93.5 percent are white (based on each person’s perceived ethnic group and cultural background). The predominate ethnic group in Gateshead is residents who are White, followed by residents who are Asian/Asian British, representing 93.5 and 2.5 percent of the population, respectively.

The predominant religion in Gateshead is 1) % Christian religion 50.8%, followed by 2) % No religion 40.1%. The Borough is also home to the third largest Orthodox (Charedi) Jewish Community in the UK, comprising of circa 620 families/3500-4000 people, with hundreds of international scholars attending the Yeshiva (Talmudical College).

As at the 2021 Census, in Gateshead, 1.0% of all residents self-reported that they could not speak English well or at all, which equates to 1,961 residents. Nationally, the proportion of people who cannot speak English is 1.9%.

Gateshead is unique and different to many other places in the United Kingdom. We are a borough of contrasts, we’re two thirds rural and have large expanses of green space. We then have densely populated urban areas and towns. Home to globally recognised icons, such as the Angel of the North, and proud birthplace to the first domestic property in the world to be illuminated by electric light bulb.

We also have different levels of health inequality with life expectancy varying depending upon where you live in the borough. Lives in Gateshead are being cut short. In our poorest areas people’s lives are up to 10 years shorter than in our better-off areas. This can be as much as 15 years shorter than the wealthiest parts of England. People in poorer areas also live more of their lives in bad health, and the Council recognises that this is not right, nor should it be acceptable.

Link to Census Census 2021 first release summary briefing – Gateshead Council

and JSNA Joint Strategic Needs Assessment – Gateshead JSNA

Adult Social Care Population

Between April to December 2023 adult social care supported 3937 people. Of those people supported 25.58% (1007) were aged 18-64, 11.94% (470) aged 65-74, 25.93% (1021) aged 75-84 and 36.55% (1439) were aged over 85.

97.26% of people supported are white, 1.37% are from a non-white background, 1.37% ethnicity was either not recorded or obtained.

47.80% (1882) people supported had a Primary Support Reason of Physical Support – Personal Care Support, 14.63% (576) have a Learning Disability Support, 12.50 % (492) have Support with Memory and Cognition, 12.01% (473) have Mental Health Support, 10.29% (405) Physical Support – Access and Mobility Only and 0.69% (27) Social Care – Support to Carer, the remaining 2.06% is made up of various Sensory and Social Support reasons.

Last updated 3rd June 2024

The Hartlepool population of people over 65 is expected to rise between 2020 and 2035 by approximately 35%, while the number of 18-64 year olds will reduce by approximately 7%. The biggest increase is within people aged 90+, which is predicted to increase significantly by approximately 63%.

Within the over 65 population, it is anticipated there will be increases in the number of people with depression (from 1,500 to 2,000 people), people living with dementia (from 1,200 to 1,800) and hospital admissions due to falls (from 600 to 8) during the same period.

Hartlepool has a relatively small number of residents from black and minority ethnic groups, around 2% of the population.

Within the Hartlepool area, there are significant numbers of people with a long term illness or disability that are well above national averages.

To give an overview of Hartlepool, please take a look at the diagram of “If Hartlepool was a village of 100 people” (PDF – opens in a new window).

Data in this section comes from the Office for National Statistics and from published external research. It is anticipated that data from local systems will be integrated in due course to provide additional local prevalence rates.