How life has changed on the Isle of Anglesey: Census 2021

The Isle of Anglesey's population decreased

Between the last two censuses (held in 2011 and 2021), the population of the Isle of Anglesey fell by 1.3%, from just under 69,800 in 2011 to around 68,900 in 2021.

This means the Isle of Anglesey was one of seven local authority areas in Wales to see its population decline. The population of Wales increased by 1.4%, from 3,063,000 to 3,107,000.

In 2021, the Isle of Anglesey was home to around 0.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This area was the sixth-least densely populated out of all 22 local authority areas across Wales.

This article generally uses percentages to enable comparisons over time and between areas. The percentage point change is also used to show the difference between the 2011 and 2021 percentages.

The population of the Isle of Anglesey decreased by around 1.3%

Percentage population change, Isle of Anglesey and surrounding areas, 2011 Census to Census 2021

An older Isle of Anglesey

Between the last two censuses, the average (median) age of the Isle of Anglesey increased by three years, from 45 to 48 years of age.

This area had a slightly lower average (median) age than nearby Conwy (49 years) and a higher average (median) age than Wales as a whole (42 years).

The median age is the age of the person in the middle of the group, meaning that one half of the group is younger than that person and the other half is older.

The number of people aged 65 to 74 years rose by around 1,200 (an increase of 14.2%), while the number of residents between 35 and 49 years fell by around 2,300 (17.2% decrease).

The share of residents aged between 65 and 74 years increased by 1.9 percentage points between 2011 and 2021

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The percentage of Welsh speakers on the Isle of Anglesey fell from 57.2% in 2011 to 55.8% in 2021.

In 2021, there were just under 1,200 fewer Welsh-speaking the Isle of Anglesey residents (over the age of three years) compared with 2011. The number of people who did not speak Welsh increased by 850.

In nearby Conwy, 25.9% of people over the age of three years could speak Welsh, down from 27.4% at the 2011 Census. Across Wales, the percentage of Welsh speakers fell from 19.0% to 17.8%.

The percentage of people who could speak Welsh on the Isle of Anglesey decreased by 1.5 percentage points

National identity on the Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey saw Wales' largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of people who identified as "Welsh only" (from 54.7% in 2011 to 55.6% in 2021).

Denbighshire saw the country's next largest increase in the percentage of people who identified as "Welsh only" (from 44.1% in 2011 to 44.7% in 2021).

In 2021, the Isle of Anglesey was ranked 11th-highest out of the 22 Welsh local authority areas for the percentage of people who identified as "Welsh only". In 2011, it was ranked 13th-lowest.

In Census 2021, “British” was moved to the top response option and this may have influenced how people described their national identity. For further information, please see our quality report.

The percentage of people who identified as "Welsh only" on the Isle of Anglesey increased by 0.9 percentage points

Change in housing on the Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey saw Wales' largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of households in the social rented sector (from 14.7% in 2011 to 15.6% in 2021).

Merthyr Tydfil saw the country's next largest increase in the percentage of households in the social rented sector (from 21.1% in 2011 to 21.8% in 2021).

In 2021, the Isle of Anglesey was ranked 12th-highest out of the 22 Welsh local authority areas for the percentage of social renting. In 2011, it was ranked 14th-lowest.

The rate of social renting on the Isle of Anglesey increased by 1.0 percentage points

Unpaid care on the Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 4.5% of Isle of Anglesey residents (aged five years and over) reported providing up to 19 hours of unpaid care each week. This figure decreased from 6.9% in 2011. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

In 2021, just over 1 in 50 people (2.1%) reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.7% in 2011. The proportion of the Isle of Anglesey residents (aged five years and over) that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 3.1% to 3.3%.

The decrease in the proportion of people (aged five years and over) providing up to 19 hours of weekly unpaid care on the Isle of Anglesey (2.4 percentage points) was similar to the decrease in nearby Conwy (2.4 percentage points). In nearby Conwy, the proportion fell from 7.0% in 2011 to 4.6% in 2021, while across Wales, the proportion fell from 7.4% to 4.7%.

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and managed their provision of unpaid care, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of people (aged five years and over) providing up to 19 hours of weekly unpaid care on the Isle of Anglesey decreased by 2.4 percentage points

More lone parents

The Isle of Anglesey saw Wales' third-largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of lone-parent households (from 9.8% in 2011 to 11.2% in 2021).

Wales' largest increases in the percentage of lone-parent households occurred in Neath Port Talbot (from 12.2% to 13.9%) followed by Wrexham (from 11.3% to 12.8%).

In 2021, the Isle of Anglesey was ranked 15th-highest out of the 22 Welsh local authority areas for the percentage of lone-parent households. In 2011, it was ranked 17th-lowest.

The percentage of households including a lone parent on the Isle of Anglesey increased by 1.4 percentage points

Changing relationships on the Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey saw Wales' joint third-largest percentage-point rise (alongside Flintshire and Powys) in the proportion of people aged 16 years and over who had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership (from 9.8% in 2011 to 10.4% in 2021).

Wales' largest increases in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over who had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership occurred in Ceredigion (from 8.5% to 9.3%) and Monmouthshire (from 9.4% to 10.2%).

During this period, the Isle of Anglesey overtook Vale of Glamorgan and Caerphilly to become the Welsh local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of adults who had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership.

These figures include same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships in 2021, neither of which were legally recognised in England and Wales in 2011. Same-sex marriages have been legally recognised in England and Wales since 2014 and opposite-sex civil partnerships have been recognised since 2019.

The percentage of adults who had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership on the Isle of Anglesey increased by 0.6 percentage points

Religion on the Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 40.7% of Isle of Anglesey residents reported having "No religion", up from 25.5% in 2011. The rise of 15.2 percentage points was the largest increase of all broad religious groups in the Isle of Anglesey. Because the census question about religious affiliation is voluntary and has varying response rates, caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

Across Wales, the percentage of residents who described themselves as having "No religion" increased from 32.1% to 46.5%.

In 2021, 51.5% of people on the Isle of Anglesey described themselves as Christian (down from 65.1%), while 6.5% did not state their religion (down from 8.2% the decade before).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as a changing age structure or residents relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses. Religious affiliation is the religion with which someone connects or identifies, rather than their beliefs or religious practice.

In 2021, 40.7% of usual residents on the Isle of Anglesey reported having "No religion"

Isle of Anglesey residents' country of birth

In the latest census, around 45,900 Isle of Anglesey residents said they were born in Wales. This represented 66.6% of the local population. The figure has decreased from around 46,300 in 2011, which at the time represented 66.4% of the Isle of Anglesey's population.

England was the next most represented, with just over 19,900 Isle of Anglesey residents reporting this country of birth (29.0%). This figure was down from just under 20,100 in 2011, which at the time represented 28.8% of the population of the Isle of Anglesey.

The number of Isle of Anglesey residents born in Scotland fell from around 700 in 2011 (1.0% of the local population) to around 600 in 2021 (0.9%).

In 2021, 66.6% of the Isle of Anglesey residents reported their country of birth as Wales

Ethnic groups on the Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 0.9% of the Isle of Anglesey residents identified their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category, up from 0.7% in 2011. The 0.2 percentage-point change was the largest increase among high-level ethnic groups in this area.

Across Wales, the percentage of people from "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" increased from 1.0% to 1.6%.

In 2021, 98.1% of people on the Isle of Anglesey identified their ethnic group within the "White" category (compared with 98.2% in 2011), while 0.6% identified their ethnic group within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category (compared with 0.7% the previous decade).

The percentage of people who identified their ethnic group within the "Other" category ("Arab" or "Any other ethnic group") decreased from 0.3% in 2011 to 0.2% in 2021.

There are many factors that may be contributing to the changing ethnic composition of England and Wales, such as differing patterns of ageing, fertility, mortality, and migration. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses.

In 2021, 0.9% of usual residents on the Isle of Anglesey identified their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category

Fall in employment

Of Isle of Anglesey residents aged 16 years and over, 49.9% said they were employed (excluding full-time students) in 2021, down from 51.3% in 2011.

In 2021, just over 1 in 40 people (2.6%) said they were unemployed, compared with 4.1% in 2011. The percentage of retired the Isle of Anglesey residents increased from 28.6% to 30.5%.

The decrease in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over (excluding full-time students) who were employed on the Isle of Anglesey (1.4 percentage points) was similar to the decrease in nearby Conwy (1.4 percentage points). In nearby Conwy, the percentage fell from 50.7% in 2011 to 49.4% in 2021, while across Wales, the percentage fell from 52.5% to 51.9%.

Census 2021 took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a period of rapid and unparalleled change; the national lockdown, associated guidance and furlough measures will have affected the labour market and our ability to measure it.

The percentage of people aged 16 years and over who were employed (excluding full-time students) on the Isle of Anglesey decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Working hours on the Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 9.3% of Isle of Anglesey residents aged 16 years and over and in employment said they worked 15 hours or less per week. This figure was the same in 2011.

In 2021, just under one in eight people (11.8%) said they worked over 49 hours per week, compared with 12.8% in 2011. The percentage of adults in employment working 31 to 48 hours per week decreased from 56.9% to 56.5%.

The percentage of people aged 16 years and over and in employment who said they usually worked 15 hours or less per week increased from 9.5% to 9.9% in nearby Conwy. Across Wales, the percentage fell from 9.3% to 9.0%.

Working hours may have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2021, 9.3% of usual residents aged 16 years and over and in employment said they worked 15 hours or less per week on the Isle of Anglesey

Disability on the Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 8.5% of Isle of Anglesey residents were identified as being disabled and limited a lot. This figure decreased from 10.4% in 2011. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

In 2021, just under one in nine people (10.6%) were identified as being disabled and limited a little, compared with 10.8% in 2011. The proportion of the Isle of Anglesey residents who were not disabled increased from 78.7% to 81.0%.

The decrease in the proportion of residents who were identified as being disabled and limited a lot was greater on the Isle of Anglesey (1.9 percentage points) than in nearby Conwy (1.2 percentage points). In nearby Conwy, the proportion fell from 10.4% in 2011 to 9.2% in 2021, while across Wales, the proportion fell from 12.3% to 10.0%.

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived their health status and activity limitations, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of people who were identified as being disabled and limited a lot on the Isle of Anglesey decreased by 1.9 percentage points

Health on Isle of Anglesey

In 2021, 50.7% of Isle of Anglesey residents described their health as "very good", increasing from 49.9% in 2011. Those describing their health as "good" rose from 30.3% to 31.2%. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

The proportion of Isle of Anglesey residents describing their health as "very bad" was 1.1% (similar to 2011), while those describing their health as "bad" fell from 4.5% to 3.9%.

These data reflect people’s own opinions in describing their overall health on a five point scale, from very good to very bad.

Census 2021 was conducted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and rated their health, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

The percentage of people in very good health on the Isle of Anglesey increased by 0.8 percentage points

About the data

Census data are adjusted to reflect estimated non-response so that the published results relate to the entire usually resident population as it was on Census Day (21 March 2021).

Those respondents who were on furlough because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were asked to classify themselves as "temporarily away from work" to ensure they remained in the economically active population.

Students are counted as usually resident at their term-time address even if they were not physically present there on Census Day.

The questions relating to disability differed slightly between 2011 and 2021 to ensure that data were more closely aligned with the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010). There was also a change to question wording for unpaid care, for more information read the health, disability and unpaid care quality information.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout the health, disability and unpaid care sections. They allow for fairer comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure. The 2013 European Standard Population is used to standardise proportions.

Percentages and percentage point changes have been individually rounded to one decimal place. This means they may not sum exactly.

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About these articles

There is an article like this for every local authority district in England and Wales. The articles have been written and semi-automated by our data journalists and are a new publishing format for the Office for National Statistics.

Topics are chosen and ordered automatically based on how relevant they are for each area, however all data are checked before publishing.

We have not included topics that were new for Census 2021 or where there is no comparability with the 2011 Census. Read about how we developed and tested the questions for Census 2021.

These articles were first published on 8 December 2022 covering topics such as demography, country of birth, ethnic groups, religion, national identity and economic activity status. They were updated on 19 January 2023 following the release of more data from Census 2021 and now include housing tenure, general health, disability and unpaid care.

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