Public Health Liverpool

Our city

Liverpool is a vibrant city with a growing population and is a great place to live, work and socialise.  Like all cities, Liverpool faces many challenges and the aim of the JSNA is to highlight the key health and wellbeing issues affecting our residents so that the health and social care system can help address them.

Key facts

  • Liverpool is home to 496,770 residents (ONS, 2024), and of these 51.1% are female and 48.9% are male.
  • The median age in the city is 35.4 years compared to 40.5 years for England.
  • There are 54,910 more people living in Liverpool than in 2001, which is a 12.4% increase.
  • Population projections suggest the increase will continue in the coming years, with the number of residents rising to 541,000 (+44,200) by 2034, potentially impacting on the provision of health services within primary and secondary care.
  • While the city has a relatively young population, particularly in the 20-29 age group, the Office for National Statistics project a substantial increase in the number of children and older people in Liverpool over the coming decade.
  • The biggest change in population in Liverpool will be the increase in those aged 65 and over. It is estimated that the number of people in this age group will increase to 93,200 by 2034, up from 75,800 (+17,400). It is likely that the increasing numbers of older residents will impact greatly on NHS services and adult social care. However, if older people can stay healthy for longer, they can have a positive impact on the local and national economy as well as remaining engaged members of society.
  • According to the 2021 Census some 22.7% of our residents class themselves as part of an ethnic minority group, equating to 112,800 residents, while 47,700 Liverpool residents report their main language is not English (9.6%).
  • Two in five (40%) residents (ages 15+) have at least one morbidity, 21% have at least two morbidities, and 11% have three or more.
  • At the age of 50 years, seven in every ten adults in Liverpool (69%) have at least one morbidity, and by age 65 years, 65% are multimorbid.
  • The early onset of multimorbidity in our working age population will not only impact on services but also on productivity and the economy as well, as many of these people will not be able to work and contribute to economy and this perpetuates the circle of poor health and unemployment.
  • There is a strong correlation between deprivation and poor health. According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019, Liverpool is the 3rd most deprived local authority in the country. Around 63% of residents live in areas ranked among the most deprived quintile in England while ten percent of areas are among the most one percent deprived.
  • Almost 6 in every 10 (58.7%) residents live in areas (LSOAs) which score in the poorest performing 20% on the healthy neighbourhoods (AHAH) index, the highest in the North West.
  • Employment is worse than the England average with 69.4% of the working age population in employment compared to 75.7% nationally.

Liverpool information

Key demographics

Liverpool ward profiles

Liverpool City Council electoral ward profiles

Office for National Statistics

Office for Health Improvement and Disparities profiles

LG Inform reports