Census 2021: Eden in Cumbria revealed as the most sparsely populated place in England and Wales

Less than an 90 minutes from the heart of Lancashire is Eden in Cumbria, which has been revealed as the most sparsely populated place in England and Wales.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

According to the 2021 census data, there are only 26 people per square kilometre in Eden.

Its population of 54,700 is the smallest of the six local authorities in the rural county of Cumbria.

Powys in mid-Wales has the same population density.

An area of EdenAn area of Eden
An area of Eden
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They are two of only eight local authority areas in England and Wales to have fewer than 50 inhabitants per square kilometre on census day last year.

For those wanting a slightly increased likelihood of bumping into a neighbour, Ryedale in north Yorkshire has 36 usual residents per square kilometre.

Read More
Top 40 UK staycations to enjoy before you're 40

The others are Richmondshire and Craven (38 and 48, both also in north Yorkshire), Welsh areas Ceredigion (40) and Gwynedd (46), and West Devon (49).

Almost all of the most densely populated areas are in London, with 15,695 residents per square kilometre in Tower Hamlets.

Outside of London, there is a higher concentration of people in Luton (5,197), Portsmouth (5,153) and Leicester (5,026) than anywhere else.

Population density was calculated using figures rounded to the nearest hundred.