Middlesbrough saw the North’s greatest percentage decline in its population, official statistics have revealed.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the Teesside town underwent a 1.2 per cent fall in population, in a 12-month period from mid-2024 to mid-2025.
Most areas in the north saw their population rise in the year-long window, with Hartlepool witnessing a 1.8 per cent growth in population. UK-wide, the population is estimated to have increased by 0.3 per cent to 69.5m, in the year to mid-2025.
Middlesbrough saw its population fall from 154,700 in the middle of 2024 to 152,795 by mid-2025. This translates to a decrease of 1.2 per cent, or 1,905 people.
Teesside’s other councils both saw increases in their populations over the same period. The number of residents in the Stockton Council area went up by 1,140 people to an overall total of 207,158. Meanwhile Redcar and Cleveland’s figure went up by 0.5 per cent, resulting in a new population of 139,541.
Out of all 12 local authorities in the North East, Middlesbrough was the only one to see its population decline. The council area is both geographically the smallest and the most densely populated in the North East.
When asked what he would attribute the decline to, the town’s Labour Mayor Chris Cooke pondered the impact of housing and potential changes to university rules.
Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke. Credit: Chris Cooke's office. Free for LDRS use
While he didn’t have access to neighbouring authorities’ figures at the time, he said the change could be down to either Teesside University or one of the town’s other institutions, if other areas hadn’t seen the same drop.
He added: “I think if we get the housing schemes off the ground, we’ll soon go back up.” The mayor highlighted the “now complete” 260-home development at Grove Hill, adding: “We need more [developments], so if we get the Middlehaven site off the ground, that would be a boost.”
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Ambitious plans for thousands of homes over the border in the far north of the town were announced last year, with concept art released a few months back.
Residents’ views were sought by the council and social impact developer Capital & Centric regarding a 462 home plan back in September.
Mayor Cooke expects that planning papers for Middlehaven will be lodged before the end of the year.