| Historical populations
 |  
| Census
 | 
Pop.
 | 
%± |  
| 1801
 | 
114,452
 | — | 
 
| 1811
 | 
124,718
 | 9.0% | 
 
| 1821
 | 
144,930
 | 16.2% | 
 
| 1831
 | 
159,385
 | 10.0% | 
 
| 1841
 | 
175,274
 | 10.0% | 
 
| 1851
 | 
184,380
 | 5.2% | 
 
| 1861
 | 
189,015
 | 2.5% | 
 
| 1871
 | 
195,774
 | 3.6% | 
 
| 1881
 | 
191,028
 | −2.4% | 
 
| 1891an.
 | 
194,568
 | 1.9% | 
 
| 1891ad.
 | 
191,992
 | −1.3% | 
 
| 1901
 | 
200,311
 | 4.3% | 
 
| 1911
 | 
220,514
 | 10.1% | 
 
| 1921
 | 
224,731
 | 1.9% | 
 
| 1931
 | 
239,352
 | 6.5% | 
 Note: 1801-1891 Ancient county, 1891-1931 Administrative county Source: Histpop 1931 Census |  
 
In Dorset, as with the rest of England, census records that recorded the names of individuals begin in 1841 and every 10 years thereafter. 
 
- Main article: England Census
  
 
The earlier 1801 to 1831 census records were mainly statistical. The table shown on the right list the population of Dorset at each census.
 
| Links to Dorset-related articles | 
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