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Community life in Portsmouth

How life feels in Portsmouth

Do people feel they belong? Can they have a say? These survey answers add residents’ experiences to the facts about homes and services.

Survey estimates Portsmouth · people aged 16 and over · 2025/26 release.

● Local estimate   ■ England estimate. Lines show the range of uncertainty, not changes over time. Small differences alone do not establish a meaningful gap.

Community and belonging

Often or always lonely

7.0%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 6.7%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: How often do you feel lonely?
Answer counted: Often/Always

95% confidence interval: 4.7%–10.2%. Sample: 527 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table C3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Feel they belong in their neighbourhood

57.6%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 61.2%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: How strongly do you feel you belong to your immediate neighbourhood?
Answer counted: GROUPED: Very/Fairly strongly

95% confidence interval: 52.0%–62.9%. Sample: 474 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table D3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Proud to live in their area

51.5%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 61.6%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - I am proud to live in my local area
Answer counted: GROUPED: Agree

95% confidence interval: 45.5%–57.5%. Sample: 493 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table E3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Would recommend their area

57.5%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 65.1%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? - I would recommend my local area to others as a good place to live
Answer counted: GROUPED: Agree

95% confidence interval: 51.0%–63.8%. Sample: 448 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table E7, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Satisfied with their area

69.2%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 72.6%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: Satisfaction with your local area as a place to live
Answer counted: GROUPED: Satisfied

95% confidence interval: 63.9%–74.1%. Sample: 503 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table E13, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Satisfied with local green spaces

67.2%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 75.9%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the green and natural spaces in your local area?
Answer counted: GROUPED: Satisfied

95% confidence interval: 61.3%–72.7%. Sample: 447 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table E16, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Having a say

Feel able to influence local decisions

24.9%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 26.4%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: To what extent do you agree or disagree that you personally can influence decisions affecting your local area?
Answer counted: GROUPED: Agree

95% confidence interval: 20.6%–29.8%. Sample: 503 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table B3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Volunteer through a group at least monthly

18.1%

October 2025–March 2026

0%50%100%

England: 18.2%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · October 2025–March 2026.

Question: Formal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months
Answer counted: Total (yes)

95% confidence interval: 14.1%–23.0%. Sample: 503 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES community pathway, CLS methodology. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count.

Original table G3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Culture and libraries

Attend or take part in arts in person

89.0%

April 2025–March 2026 · experiences in the previous 12 months

0%50%100%

England: 83.4%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · April 2025–March 2026. Answers refer to the previous 12 months.

Question: Engaged with the arts in person in the last 12 months
Answer counted: Total

95% confidence interval: 85.4%–91.8%. Sample: 549 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES engagement pathway. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count. Engagement pathway; check questionnaire and method before joining to Participation history.

Original table I3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Visit heritage places in person

64.7%

April 2025–March 2026 · experiences in the previous 12 months

0%50%100%

England: 62.4%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · April 2025–March 2026. Answers refer to the previous 12 months.

Question: Visited a heritage site in person at least once in the last 12 months
Answer counted: Any type of heritage in Table J1 rows 19 to 28

95% confidence interval: 59.4%–69.6%. Sample: 549 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES engagement pathway. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count. Engagement pathway; check questionnaire and method before joining to Participation history.

Original table J3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Use library services in person

41.1%

April 2025–March 2026 · experiences in the previous 12 months

0%50%100%

England: 30.9%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · April 2025–March 2026. Answers refer to the previous 12 months.

Question: Visited a public library building or mobile library in person at least once [Note 11]
Answer counted: Visited a public library building or mobile library in-person in my leisure time Visited by a home library service Used another library outreach services

95% confidence interval: 35.7%–46.8%. Sample: 512 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES engagement pathway. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count. Engagement pathway; check questionnaire and method before joining to Participation history. Library questions were omitted from the community paper questionnaire in 2025/26; the sample base is smaller. Includes home and outreach library services, not just building visits.

Original table K3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Visit museums or galleries in person

47.1%

April 2025–March 2026 · experiences in the previous 12 months

0%50%100%

England: 41.9%

How this was measured

Community and Engagement Survey · People aged 16 and over · April 2025–March 2026. Answers refer to the previous 12 months.

Question: Visited a museum or gallery in person at least once in the last 12 months
Answer counted: Visited during leisure time

95% confidence interval: 42.1%–52.3%. Sample: 549 people answering this question. This is a sample count, not a count of residents with this experience.

CES engagement pathway. Weighted survey estimate. Base is unweighted; respondent count is not a population count. Engagement pathway; check questionnaire and method before joining to Participation history.

Original table M3, cell D196 ↗ · Publication and methods ↗

Source release: 2026-07-31. Checked 2026-10-16. Agent source and calculation checks; independent review outstanding.

Compare all three areas and England → · Download figures and uncertainty (CSV) · Shared evidence file

Being active

Adult and children’s activity use different definitions. Explore Sport England’s published results ↗. We have not republished these tables or neighbourhood models while their file-reuse terms remain unresolved.

People and organisations working locally

Team Portsmouth

The local partnership behind the city vision; published commitments need clear owners and outcomes.

Find out more ↗

Local Plan examination

Read the current hearing programme, evidence and inspector questions.

Find out more ↗

Safer Portsmouth Partnership

The local partnership coordinating community safety priorities.

Find out more ↗

Pompey Link

Check the pilot’s service zones and booking arrangements.

Find out more ↗