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UK population trends, 2001–2025

How the population of every UK local authority has changed over 24 years of official mid-year estimates. Updated each year when new figures are published. Great Britain now runs to mid-2025; Northern Ireland's councils end at mid-2024, because NISRA publishes on its own schedule. Each row shows the year of its own figure rather than borrowing another nation's.

The same councils ranked by size, largest first, are on UK local authorities by population.

By James Burfield, SEO consultant, Bath · Page updated 25 October 2026 · ONS mid-year estimates

Fastest growing

Work out a rate yourself with the population growth calculator. More on these: the fastest growing places in the UK, and why growth does not mean thriving on the coast.

#	Local authority	Nation	2001	Latest	Change
1	City of London	England	7,359	15,631 2025	+112.4%
2	Tower Hamlets	England	201,090	334,240 2025	+66.2%
3	Newham	England	249,411	376,542 2025	+51.0%
4	Dartford	England	85,956	126,297 2025	+46.9%
5	South Derbyshire	England	81,738	119,441 2025	+46.1%
6	Milton Keynes	England	212,707	308,866 2025	+45.2%
7	Barking and Dagenham	England	165,654	238,295 2025	+43.9%
8	Rugby	England	87,520	125,594 2025	+43.5%
9	Peterborough	England	157,439	224,757 2025	+42.8%
10	Uttlesford	England	68,969	96,762 2025	+40.3%
11	Manchester	England	422,915	588,256 2025	+39.1%
12	Slough	England	120,577	167,450 2025	+38.9%
13	Harborough	England	76,818	106,577 2025	+38.7%
14	Hounslow	England	215,976	299,486 2025	+38.7%
15	Greenwich	England	217,460	301,225 2025	+38.5%
16	Ashford	England	103,024	142,523 2025	+38.3%
17	Maidstone	England	139,116	191,415 2025	+37.6%
18	Central Bedfordshire	England	234,006	321,605 2025	+37.4%
19	Salford	England	216,978	297,004 2025	+36.9%
20	Cambridge	England	109,941	149,872 2025	+36.3%

Shrinking

We wrote about these in more depth: the ten places in Britain that are shrinking.

Only 10 of 361 UK local authorities have fewer residents than in 2001.

#	Local authority	Nation	2001	Latest	Change
1	Kensington and Chelsea	England	162,199	145,734 2025	-10.2%
2	Inverclyde	Scotland	84,150	78,550 2025	-6.7%
3	West Dunbartonshire	Scotland	93,320	88,340 2025	-5.3%
4	Argyll and Bute	Scotland	91,300	87,310 2025	-4.4%
5	Ceredigion	Wales	75,417	72,696 2025	-3.6%
6	Blaenau Gwent	Wales	70,000	67,593 2025	-3.4%
7	Na h-Eileanan Siar	Scotland	26,450	25,770 2025	-2.6%
8	North Ayrshire	Scotland	135,820	133,660 2025	-1.6%
9	Dumfries and Galloway	Scotland	147,780	145,490 2025	-1.5%
10	South Tyneside	England	152,793	151,255 2025	-1.0%

Every local authority

15,631 · +112.4%

334,240 · +66.2%

376,542 · +51.0%

126,297 · +46.9%

South Derbyshire

119,441 · +46.1%

308,866 · +45.2%

Barking and Dagenham

238,295 · +43.9%

125,594 · +43.5%

224,757 · +42.8%

96,762 · +40.3%

588,256 · +39.1%

167,450 · +38.9%

106,577 · +38.7%

299,486 · +38.7%

301,225 · +38.5%

142,523 · +38.3%

191,415 · +37.6%

Central Bedfordshire

321,605 · +37.4%

297,004 · +36.9%

149,872 · +36.3%

245,286 · +36.2%

150,396 · +35.7%

103,753 · +35.6%

383,116 · +35.5%

107,658 · +33.9%

South Cambridgeshire

174,641 · +33.8%

Stratford-on-Avon

148,772 · +33.4%

North Northamptonshire

379,569 · +33.1%

321,829 · +33.0%

326,671 · +33.0%

196,398 · +32.6%

North West Leicestershire

113,263 · +32.2%

Vale of White Horse

152,217 · +31.5%

100,758 · +31.3%

352,201 · +30.6%

123,267 · +30.6%

160,671 · +30.5%

172,178 · +30.4%

113,047 · +29.9%

272,612 · +29.8%

72,092 · +29.2%

116,460 · +29.1%

201,163 · +28.9%

East Cambridgeshire

94,599 · +28.9%

266,241 · +28.5%

West Northamptonshire

444,218 · +28.4%

163,566 · +28.4%

152,718 · +28.2%

Tonbridge and Malling

137,913 · +28.0%

283,713 · +27.8%

408,087 · +27.7%

136,856 · +27.6%

236,380 · +27.2%

183,762 · +27.0%

159,637 · +27.0%

Bristol, City of

495,260 · +27.0%

Basingstoke and Deane

194,037 · +26.9%

West Oxfordshire

121,412 · +26.9%

181,664 · +26.8%

105,930 · +26.6%

East Staffordshire

131,541 · +26.6%

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon

222,511 · +26.4%

164,498 · +26.2%

138,565 · +26.0%

387,072 · +26.0%

Reigate and Banstead

159,413 · +25.9%

189,024 · +25.7%

Telford and Wrekin

199,378 · +25.7%

166,471 · +25.7%

South Gloucestershire

308,787 · +25.5%

157,925 · +25.2%

99,716 · +25.2%

224,551 · +25.2%

339,859 · +25.1%

98,543 · +25.1%

280,787 · +25.0%

Welwyn Hatfield

121,748 · +24.8%

152,016 · +24.3%

Epsom and Ewell

83,370 · +24.3%

137,894 · +24.0%

100,390 · +24.0%

352,918 · +24.0%

124,462 · +23.9%

66,938 · +23.8%

103,335 · +23.6%

143,710 · +23.6%

189,718 · +23.6%

135,698 · +23.4%

South Oxfordshire

158,084 · +23.2%

139,175 · +23.1%

381,516 · +23.0%

189,407 · +22.6%

168,584 · +22.5%

85,593 · +22.5%

165,940 · +22.5%

410,085 · +22.4%

East Hertfordshire

158,033 · +22.4%

130,224 · +22.3%

172,326 · +22.2%

Huntingdonshire

191,941 · +22.1%

Buckinghamshire

584,296 · +21.9%

148,095 · +21.8%

Lisburn and Castlereagh

151,669 · +21.7%

312,366 · +21.7%

113,270 · +21.5%

526,392 · +21.4%

190,570 · +21.2%

121,814 · +21.1%

325,765 · +21.1%

Newark and Sherwood

128,684 · +21.0%

127,857 · +20.9%

425,459 · +20.8%

Nuneaton and Bedworth

144,042 · +20.8%

103,351 · +20.8%

58,980 · +20.6%

Bracknell Forest

132,145 · +20.5%

Newcastle upon Tyne

320,838 · +20.5%

364,766 · +20.5%

266,218 · +20.3%

41,629 · +20.3%

227,160 · +20.3%

162,612 · +20.1%

168,308 · +20.1%

108,423 · +20.0%

Windsor and Maidenhead

159,776 · +19.6%

1,176,960 · +19.5%

130,599 · +19.4%

275,344 · +19.3%

93,013 · +19.2%

Newry, Mourne and Down

183,115 · +19.1%

145,676 · +19.0%

139,457 · +19.0%

70,378 · +19.0%

329,400 · +18.8%

Bath and North East Somerset

200,898 · +18.8%

137,218 · +18.6%

148,069 · +18.6%

107,188 · +18.6%

309,732 · +18.5%

590,972 · +18.5%

557,758 · +18.5%

95,094 · +18.4%

142,903 · +18.4%

301,037 · +18.4%

City of Edinburgh

531,370 · +18.3%

Blackburn with Darwen

163,801 · +18.3%

103,130 · +18.3%

281,434 · +18.2%

86,689 · +18.2%

106,197 · +18.1%

259,230 · +18.1%

Hinckley and Bosworth

118,240 · +18.0%

213,972 · +17.9%

70,196 · +17.8%

162,316 · +17.8%

187,240 · +17.7%

333,162 · +17.6%

139,652 · +17.5%

257,103 · +17.5%

840,550 · +17.5%

84,397 · +17.4%

North Hertfordshire

137,365 · +17.4%

126,454 · +17.3%

152,148 · +17.2%

292,697 · +17.2%

369,450 · +17.1%

130,581 · +17.1%

97,833 · +17.1%

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

405,829 · +17.0%

126,418 · +17.0%

584,782 · +17.0%

80,104 · +17.0%

84,380 · +16.9%

106,185 · +16.8%

295,722 · +16.7%

150,757 · +16.7%

110,242 · +16.7%

193,489 · +16.6%

264,640 · +16.6%

113,844 · +16.6%

Folkestone and Hythe

112,163 · +16.4%

142,484 · +16.1%

111,221 · +16.1%

Cheshire West and Chester

373,951 · +16.1%

101,973 · +16.0%

113,682 · +15.9%

Kingston upon Thames

172,761 · +15.9%

252,784 · +15.9%

96,068 · +15.9%

113,402 · +15.8%

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

156,943 · +15.8%

121,055 · +15.7%

103,894 · +15.6%

101,281 · +15.5%

Southend-on-Sea

185,214 · +15.5%

Tunbridge Wells

120,098 · +15.4%

92,081 · +15.4%

90,760 · +15.4%

209,118 · +15.3%

251,915 · +15.3%

347,089 · +15.1%

237,641 · +15.1%

Antrim and Newtownabbey

148,100 · +15.0%

314,298 · +15.0%

507,915 · +14.9%

Perth and Kinross

154,930 · +14.8%

240,981 · +14.7%

445,832 · +14.6%

159,060 · +14.6%

165,523 · +14.6%

106,954 · +14.5%

218,891 · +14.5%

East Riding of Yorkshire

360,334 · +14.4%

138,394 · +14.4%

138,607 · +14.4%

54,694 · +14.2%

146,986 · +14.2%

21,920 · +14.0%

120,528 · +13.9%

West Lancashire

123,564 · +13.9%

91,563 · +13.9%

90,322 · +13.9%

93,171 · +13.7%

Brighton and Hove

284,170 · +13.7%

237,260 · +13.6%

Vale of Glamorgan

135,362 · +13.5%

336,048 · +13.4%

143,618 · +13.3%

272,282 · +13.3%

104,299 · +13.2%

131,894 · +13.2%

117,554 · +13.1%

654,330 · +13.1%

240,822 · +13.0%

579,517 · +12.9%

Richmond upon Thames

196,713 · +12.9%

391,036 · +12.8%

100,946 · +12.8%

123,183 · +12.8%

Stockton-on-Tees

207,158 · +12.7%

215,425 · +12.7%

271,361 · +12.6%

90,157 · +12.6%

323,016 · +12.6%

96,150 · +12.5%

211,475 · +12.5%

279,161 · +12.4%

146,756 · +12.3%

Hammersmith and Fulham

190,216 · +12.3%

73,688 · +12.2%

100,203 · +12.2%

215,401 · +12.2%

95,329 · +12.2%

North Yorkshire

639,133 · +12.1%

North Lincolnshire

171,421 · +12.1%

East Renfrewshire

99,840 · +11.7%

249,429 · +11.6%

125,849 · +11.3%

North East Derbyshire

107,888 · +11.3%

Fermanagh and Omagh

117,687 · +11.3%

102,648 · +11.3%

131,912 · +11.3%

87,548 · +11.1%

100,957 · +11.0%

221,449 · +11.0%

88,808 · +10.6%

Ards and North Down

165,415 · +10.6%

South Lanarkshire

334,330 · +10.6%

99,656 · +10.5%

121,452 · +10.4%

199,271 · +10.3%

160,230 · +10.3%

Oadby and Wigston

61,533 · +10.3%

Herefordshire, County of

192,539 · +10.1%

250,106 · +9.8%

Mid and East Antrim

139,913 · +9.8%

North Warwickshire

67,688 · +9.5%

210,734 · +9.5%

189,270 · +9.5%

333,941 · +9.5%

Carmarthenshire

190,037 · +9.4%

Kingston upon Hull, City of

273,257 · +9.3%

539,146 · +9.2%

Scottish Borders

116,800 · +9.2%

81,392 · +9.1%

94,040 · +9.1%

127,362 · +9.0%

94,730 · +8.9%

333,975 · +8.7%

230,180 · +8.6%

64,802 · +8.5%

South Staffordshire

114,811 · +8.4%

145,237 · +8.3%

121,105 · +8.3%

163,723 · +8.3%

152,795 · +8.2%

Causeway Coast and Glens

141,954 · +8.1%

82,618 · +7.7%

106,419 · +7.7%

104,179 · +7.5%

Isles of Scilly

189,890 · +7.4%

Clackmannanshire

51,610 · +7.4%

137,977 · +7.3%

139,486 · +7.3%

352,390 · +7.2%

304,879 · +7.1%

282,343 · +7.1%

North Lanarkshire

343,930 · +7.1%

216,658 · +7.0%

373,990 · +6.9%

134,843 · +6.7%

115,373 · +6.7%

86,908 · +6.6%

90,855 · +6.4%

113,963 · +6.0%

Derry City and Strabane

152,383 · +6.0%

202,509 · +5.9%

140,777 · +5.9%

114,610 · +5.8%

Neath Port Talbot

142,028 · +5.7%

98,247 · +5.6%

103,708 · +5.3%

Newcastle-under-Lyme

128,093 · +5.0%

155,954 · +4.9%

329,896 · +4.7%

90,613 · +4.5%

212,367 · +4.4%

114,421 · +4.3%

Rhondda Cynon Taf

241,015 · +3.9%

176,078 · +3.9%

58,362 · +3.8%

175,930 · +3.8%

Derbyshire Dales

72,028 · +3.8%

Shetland Islands

22,710 · +3.4%

93,973 · +3.4%

Westmorland and Furness

231,307 · +3.2%

113,474 · +3.0%

120,295 · +3.0%

91,676 · +2.5%

Staffordshire Moorlands

96,764 · +2.3%

148,390 · +2.0%

287,583 · +1.7%

North East Lincolnshire

160,101 · +1.4%

East Dunbartonshire

109,550 · +1.2%

Isle of Anglesey

68,607 · +1.2%

287,070 · +0.9%

121,350 · +0.9%

143,492 · +0.9%

Redcar and Cleveland

139,541 · +0.3%

112,280 · +0.1%

151,255 · -1.0%

Dumfries and Galloway

145,490 · -1.5%

133,660 · -1.6%

Na h-Eileanan Siar

25,770 · -2.6%

67,593 · -3.4%

72,696 · -3.6%

Argyll and Bute

87,310 · -4.4%

West Dunbartonshire

88,340 · -5.3%

78,550 · -6.7%

Kensington and Chelsea

145,734 · -10.2%