Herefordshire is a large, mostly rural county. Many people live far apart, and buses and transport can be limited. This means it can be harder for some people to travel to services or get support quickly. These characteristics reinforce the need for community‑based, preventative and home‑first approaches that reduce reliance on reactive or centralised models of support.

Key facts	Source
Population 191,000	Mid‑2024 population estimates. (ONS, 2025)
51,500 people aged 65 and over	Mid‑2024 population estimates. (ONS, 2025)
8.9% ethnic minority population	Census 2021. (ONS, 2025)
The scale and age profile of the population highlights the importance of commissioning that supports independence for longer and responds to increasing complexity rather than volume alone.
Estimated median local household income £34,526 per annum	Income estimates for small areas, England and Wales. (ONS, 2025)
Employment rate 78.2%	Oct 2024–Sep 2025, (ONS, annual population survey)
83.6 years life expectancy for women; 80.0 for men	In 2021-23. (ONS, Dec 2024)
4,290 requests for adult social care support	Adult social care activity report, 2024 to 2025. (DHSC, 2025)
792 adults receiving care at home commissioned by the council.	As of Feb 2026. (HC Performance Team)
The growth in home care is primarily driven by increasing complexity and package size, underlining the importance of skilled, stable care teams and outcomes‑focused commissioning.
725 older people living in care homes commissioned by the council.	As of Feb 2026. (HC Performance Team)
This reinforces the need for planned residential and nursing care pathways, delivered through partnership‑based approaches rather than crisis‑led placements.
Around 16,600 informal carers	Census 2021. (ONS, 2025) Note: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have influenced how people perceived and undertook their provision of unpaid care
Sustaining unpaid carers through early help, information and flexible support is essential to preventing crisis and avoiding avoidable demand on formal care services.

The county has an older population, and many people live with long‑term health conditions. About 1 in 5 residents has an illness that affects their daily life. In some areas, especially the more deprived parts of the towns, people live shorter lives and have poorer health. Cold homes, low incomes, and isolation can make these problems worse. However, Herefordshire also has strong, caring communities and a healthy natural environment, which helps protect people's wellbeing.

Working age adults

• Many adults live in cold homes or on low incomes, especially in rural areas. This can affect their physical and mental health
• Around 12% of adults are digitally excluded, meaning they struggle to use online services
• 1 in 6 working‑age adults has a long‑term condition that affects daily life
• Domestic abuse affects around 8,000 people each year
• Unpaid carers play a huge role, with 1 in 5 adults providing care, often for very long hours
• More people are out of work due to long‑term illness than due to unemployment

These factors highlight the importance of community‑based support, prevention and housing‑linked solutions that reduce isolation and sustain independence.

Older people

• Over a quarter of Herefordshire's population is aged 65 or over, and this number is rising
• Many older people have more than one long‑term health condition or dementia
• By 2031, even more older people are expected to have conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and COPD
• Rural isolation, lack of transport, and unsuitable housing make it harder for older people to stay well and independent

Taken together, these facts and figures provide a clear rationale for prioritising prevention, reablement, workforce stability and planned pathways, which underpin the Working Age Adults, Services in Your Home and Care Home Partnership approaches set out in the following sections.