THE number of people living in Essex has soared by more than 80,000 in the past decade.

The 2011 census data shows the population of the county has increased to 1,393,600 in 2011 compared to 1,310,836 in 2001, an increase of 82,764.

Peter Martin, leader of the county council, said: “Essex County Council is dedicated to improving Essex and the lives of our residents.   

"We have to carefully plan demand for our major services, and census data is an invaluable source to support our own research estimates and our commitment to the county and our priorities for change over the next five years.

“As one of the largest, most populous counties in the UK we have recognised that Essex has an ageing population and the census data confirms this both nationally and for our county.

"We have made a long-term commitment to Essex citizens and communities of all ages, and this will ensure we provide targeted services that deliver real value for money in the coming years.”

The Census is carried out once every ten years and it aims to give a clear picture of the people living in each area of the country.