Mendip's population has become gradually more diverse over the past two decades, according to the latest census data from 2021.

Figures show that 3.9% of people living in the district — which includes Wells, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and Street — were born outside the UK, up from earlier counts in previous censuses.

The information forms part of a national project mapping demographic change in all 7,000‑plus neighbourhoods across England and Wales, based on data from the 2001, 2011 and 2021 Censuses.

While Mendip remains less diverse than many large urban areas, the steady increase in the proportion of foreign‑born residents reflects wider regional and national trends.

Across England and Wales, the proportion of neighbourhoods where more than half of residents were born abroad rose from 0.6% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2021.

A new postcode tool published with the figures allows residents to explore changes in their own area, including shifts in national identity and languages spoken at home.

Nationally, the percentage of neighbourhoods where English is not the main language for most residents remains low and has decreased slightly since 2011.

The 2001 Census did not include questions on national identity or language use, limiting direct comparisons with earlier years.

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Mendip's figure of 3.9% born abroad places the area below national averages but shows gradual demographic change consistent with broader patterns.

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Wells | Shepton Mallet | Glastonbury