Unitary authorityCurrentE06000059
Dorset Council
Local authority area: Dorset
Dorset is an unitary authority, in the South West England region of England. It covers 2,491.3 km² and had 383,274 residents in 2022 — about 154 people per km².
People
Population
Estimates recorded for Dorset, 2015–2022.
Residents, 2022383,274+2.2% since 2015
Land area2,491.3km²961.9 sq mi
Density154/ km²people per square kilometre
Rank by population#43of 382 UK councils · #41 in England
Population estimates3 data points
375.2K376.5K383.3K
201520182022
History
How the council came to be
- —Predecessors
Dorset, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland
Same region, same type
All councils in South WestOther unitary authorities in South West
Elections
52 electoral wards
Census 2021: 378,520 residents in 168,810 households across the wards; 29.6% aged 65+, 70.4% of homes owned, 13.7% of households without a car.
1Gillingham6,963 households · 28.2% aged 65+15,5282Rodwell & Wyke6,318 households · 27.1% aged 65+13,9163Bridport6,819 households · 35.5% aged 65+13,7514Verwood5,809 households · 27.7% aged 65+13,7095Portland5,722 households · 22.6% aged 65+13,5586Lytchett Matravers & Upton5,336 households · 25.7% aged 65+12,536
Visit
Council offices
Offices, town halls and local council offices in the area.
CDorchester Social Care & HealthCouncil office · Dorchester DT1 1SHTWeymouth Old Town HallTown hall · Weymouth DT4 8JH · hours listedTStalbridge Town CouncilTown council · Sturminster Newton DT10 2RG · hours listedPAlderholt Parish CouncilParish council · Fordingbridge SP6 3RBPLytchett Matravers Parish CouncilParish council · Poole BH16 6DD · hours listedPMotcombe Parish CouncilParish council · Shaftesbury SP7 9PFPWool Parish CouncilParish council · Parish BH20 6DL
Westminster
Constituencies
Source: Wikidata Q55231693 (CC0)Figures as recorded with their reference year; boundaries may have changed since.