The population of Worcester increased by about 200 over the course of a year, figures show.

Experimental data published by the Office for National Statistics shows estimated changes in population size from mid-2021 to mid-2022.

According to the data, Worcester’s population increased from 103,602 in the middle of 2021 to 103,805 a year later.

That’s an increase of 203, or 0.20 per cent.

The population of neighbouring Malvern Hills increased by 806, or 1.01 per cent, from 79,996 in mid-2021 to 80,803 in mid-2022.

READ MORE: Full Census 2021 data for Worcester published

There was a similar increase in Wychavon, according to the data. Its population went from 133,071 to 134,601, a jump of  1,530 or 1.15%.

Population levels are estimated to have jumped by at least 2% in some of the most built-up areas of England and Wales in the year to June 2022.

Experts say this suggests people returning to towns and cities following the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

London boroughs saw the biggest increases, though many places that typically attract a large number of students – such as Manchester, Salford and Newcastle – were close behind.

Worcester News: London boroughs showed the biggest increases in populationLondon boroughs showed the biggest increases in population (Image: PA)

A handful of locations are estimated to have seen a drop in population over the same period, many of them rural or coastal areas such as North Norfolk, Hastings in East Sussex and Scarborough in North Yorkshire.

The provisional figures have been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and are based on a new method for calculating the population, meaning they cannot be compared with other measures such as the 2021 census.

The estimates suggest the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets (up 4.8%), Westminster (3.5%) and Newham (3%) saw the largest increases in population between mid-2021 and mid-2022.

Jen Woolford, ONS director of population statistics, said the estimates “give a timely indicator of population change”.

“They show that the population of England and Wales has increased by 1.0% between 2021 and 2022,” she added.

“The largest growth has been seen in some London authorities, which is in line with our expectations as people returned to cities following the pandemic.”