THE Vale of Glamorgan is larger and older than in 2011, according to the latest Census figures.

The Census produces comprehensive data on the UK population once every decade. In this latest set of statistics the Vale was, among other factors, less religious and slightly more diverse.

Between the last data releases (done in 2011 and 2021):

  • The population of the Vale increased by 4.4 per cent;
  • The median age increased by two years, from 42 to 44 years old;
  • The percentage of Welsh speakers was up from 10.8 per cent to 11.5 per cent;
  • 2.3 per cent of residents identified their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category, up from 1.3 per cent in 2011.

The population in the Vale has increased from around 126,300 in 2011 to around 131,900 in 2021.

Across Wales the population increased by 1.4 per cent, from 3,063,000 to 3,107,000.

Between the last two censuses, the median age (the age of the person in the middle of the group) of the county increased by two years, from 42 to 44.

The Vale had a higher median age than Cardiff (34 years) and a higher median age than Wales as a whole (42 years).

The number of people aged 65 to 74 years rose by just under 3,300 (an increase of 26.4 per cent), while the number of residents between 35 and 49 years fell by around 1,800, a fall of seven per cent.

Barry And District News: Data shows changes afoot in the ValeData shows changes afoot in the Vale (Image: Newsquest)

Residents identifying their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category was up making it a more diverse county.

In 2021, 94.6 per cent of people in the Vale identified their ethnic group within the "White" category (compared with 96.4 per cent in 2011), while 2.1 per cent identified their ethnic group within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category (compared with 1.6 per cent the previous decade).

The percentage of people who identified their ethnic group within the "Other" category ("Arab" or "Any other ethnic group") increased from 0.3 per cent in 2011 to 0.5 per cent in 2021.

Barry And District News: The Vale is older and less religious according to the latest Census dataThe Vale is older and less religious according to the latest Census data (Image: Census 2021)

We’re also far less religious. In 2021, 47.9 per cent of residents reported having "No religion", making it the most common response - up from 32.9 per cent in 2011.

How's the Vale changed for you over the past decade? Let us know in comments.