Towns and cities in East Lothian by population
All 19 populated places in East Lothian, ranked by current population. The largest is Musselburgh, with 23,620 people.
Every place in East Lothian, ranked
Do not add these figures together to get East Lothian's population. Settlement boundaries overlap, so the rows below sum to more than the area actually holds: 94,256 against an official 115,180. The ONS figure above is the one to quote. Why figures differ.
| # | Place | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Musselburgh | 23,620 |
| 2 | Tranent | 11,910 |
| 3 | Dunbar | 10,270 |
| 4 | Prestonpans | 9,490 |
| 5 | Haddington | 9,020 |
| 6 | North Berwick | 7,840 |
| 7 | Cockenzie | 5,660 |
| 8 | Gullane | 2,570 |
| 9 | Longniddry | 2,430 |
| 10 | Ormiston | 2,040 |
| 11 | East Linton | 1,700 |
| 12 | Pencaitland | 1,480 |
| 13 | Macmerry | 1,350 |
| 14 | Whitecraig | 1,200 |
| 15 | Aberlady | 1,180 |
| 16 | Gifford | 780 |
| 17 | West Barns | 680 |
| 18 | Elphinstone | 540 |
| 19 | Dirleton | 496 |
Common questions
What is the population of East Lothian?
115,180, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for East Lothian. The individual towns listed on this page sum to more than that, because settlement boundaries overlap; the ONS figure is the one to quote for the area as a whole.
What is the largest town in East Lothian?
Musselburgh, with 23,620 residents on current figures. This page ranks all 19 recorded places in East Lothian by population, each linking to its own page with sources and, where held, a 2005 comparison.