Dereham, also known historically as East Dereham, is a town and civil parish in the Breckland District of the English county of Norfolk. It is situated on the A47 road, about 15 miles west of the city of Norwich and 25 miles east of King's Lynn. The civil parish has an area of 8.31 sq mi and, in the 2001 census, had a population of 15,659 in 6,941 households; it increased to 18,609 by the 2011 census. Dereham falls within, and is the centre of administration for, Breckland District Council.