Swansea population, 2001–2024
Swansea has an estimated population of 251,304 (mid-2024), up 12.5% since 2001. Official ONS mid-year estimates for the Swansea local authority area.
251,304
population, mid-2024
+12.5%
since 2001
+5.0%
last 10 years
2024
peak year (251,304)
Year by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 251,304 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 248,959 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 242,812 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 237,897 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 238,992 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 238,707 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 239,184 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 239,266 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 239,300 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 239,354 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 239,228 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 239,237 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 239,197 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 238,691 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 237,311 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 235,601 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 234,139 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 232,460 | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 230,793 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 229,347 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 228,176 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 226,350 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 224,755 | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 223,463 | — |
High street businesses
Swansea has 220 hairdressers and beauty salons, 120 pubs and bars, 145 licensed restaurants, 190 takeaways on the ONS business register (2025). Compare across the UK.
Rounded to the nearest 5, which is how ONS protects individual businesses from being identified.
Figures are ONS mid-year population estimates for the Swansea local authority area (code W06000011), which can differ from the population of a town of the same name. Sources & method.
Common questions
What is the population of Swansea?
251,304, on the ONS mid-2024 estimate for the Swansea local authority area. This page charts the full annual series back to 2001, so the figure sits in its twenty-year context rather than alone.
Is Swansea growing or shrinking?
Growing: up 12.5% since 2001, from 223,463 to 251,304. The peak year in the series so far is 2024. Year-by-year figures and the chart are on this page.