SWINDON is continuing to expand quickly according to figures from the 2001 census.

But the pace of growth has slowed considerably since the boom days of the 1970s and 1980s.

The census records Swindon's population as 180,061, an increase of more than 9,211 since the last official census was carried out in 1991.

The 5.4 per cent population rise is considerably lower than the 8.9 per cent between 1971 and 1981 and the 12.4 per cent hike between 1981 and 1991.

The latest population figure compares with 170,850 in 1991, 152,000 in 1981 and 139,606 in 1971.

The borough has a comparatively young population with more 25 to 44-year-olds than the national average.

And the balance of men to women is almost exactly even with 89,559 men to 90,502 women.

The total UK population is now 58,789,194, an increase of 17 per cent since 1951.

Swindon, by contrast, has seen a doubling of its population in the same time.

The borough council estimates that the population of the borough will pass 200,000 by 2009.

Government targets say some 7,465 new homes must be built in the borough by 2011.

Many of these will be in the Front Garden development between Swindon and the M4.

Some 5,000 homes are expected to be built there between 2006 and 2022.

Council spokeswoman Lynda Fleming said: "Most of the population increase is a result of people moving in from other areas, particularly from the south east of England.

"Initially this was part of the London overspill situation but latterly many migrants have been attracted to jobs in the expanding industries of the town."

The total population of England is nearly one million lower than statisticians had predicted.

They have blamed the discrepancy on an unexpected increase in the number of young men deciding to leave the country to seek work abroad.

The full results of the 2001 census, with a breakdown of the all the questions asked on the census form, is expected to be released in February.