Our Borough

Children and Young People

The borough has excellent activities and facilities for local children and is rated as no.1 in the country for childcare per head of the population. 

• Around 45,600 (25%) of our population are age 0-18
• 3,200 (8%) of children under 16 live in low-income households
• 15% of children have special educational needs (including Education Health and Care Plans)
• 94% of local schools are rated good or outstanding
• Currently 118 different main languages are spoken by children going to school in Wokingham

Community

Our communities are vibrant and welcoming.

• 15% increase in population since the last census with 177,500 people now living in Wokingham Borough
• Ranked as the 2nd least deprived borough in the country.
• 24% population growth among those aged 65+ since the last census

However, national measures of deprivation mask those individuals and families living in hardship.

Places

The borough has plenty of green spaces and benefits from thriving town and village centres. 

• 3 Country Parks and 31 Natures Reserves covering an area of over 600 hectares alongside more than 300 hectares of more formal public open spaces, equivalent to 5% of the borough
• 16 larger public parks and over 100 children's play areas
• 9,500 new homes built with 3,300 affordable homes including social housing regeneration
• 60 new businesses and over 1000 new jobs created since 2020

Adults

Most adults live healthy and fulfilling lives, in independence and choice.

• 439 (91%) of adults with learning disabilities live in their own home or with their family
• 71% of adults are physically active
• 78% of working age population are employed
• 65% of adults are considered overweight or obese

On average, males will live for 83 years and females for 86. Males will spend 70 of these years in good health, females 71. However, in our more deprived neighbourhoods, life expectancy is shortened by 4 years for males and 5 years for females.

More information about our borough can be found on the Wokingham Borough Observatory.