How many people live in Swindon?
The 2021 Census counted around 233,400 residents in the Swindon local authority area. The Office for National Statistics reports that this was an increase of 11.6% from around 209,200 in 2011.
Those are rounded census figures for the local authority area. They answer a different question from a count of the built-up town alone.
Why do population figures differ?
A population number only makes sense alongside its boundary and date. Swindon Borough includes more than the central built-up area, and a settlement boundary can include a different set of neighbourhoods. Do not compare two figures until you have checked that they describe the same geography and use the same method.
The census is a count at a particular point in time, not a live estimate. For a newer estimate, check the latest Office for National Statistics release and make sure it uses the Swindon local authority boundary.
What does the growth tell us?
The increase between the 2011 and 2021 censuses shows that the local authority area grew over that decade. It does not, by itself, explain why people moved, where growth happened, or what services are needed. Those questions require more detailed data than one headline population total.