Chelmsford population, 2001–2024
Chelmsford has an estimated population of 188,803 (mid-2024), up 20.1% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the Chelmsford local authority area.
188,803
population, mid-2024
+20.1%
since 2001
+9.7%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (188,803)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 188,803 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 186,060 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 183,471 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 181,827 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 180,488 | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 179,882 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 178,017 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 177,102 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 175,137 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 173,397 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 172,128 | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 170,481 | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 169,301 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 168,491 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 167,441 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 166,208 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 165,047 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 164,381 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 163,879 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 163,570 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 162,505 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 160,360 | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 158,686 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 157,269 | — |
Food businesses
Chelmsford has 111 takeaways, 388 restaurants and cafés and 115 pubs and bars on the FSA's statutory register (as of July 2026) — 0.29 takeaways per restaurant against an English average of 0.49, and 5.9 takeaways per 10,000 residents. How that compares across England.
Figures are ONS mid-year population estimates for the Chelmsford local authority area (code E07000070), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.