Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) was 11,846 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
11,846 thousands
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
36th
of 233 countries
All-time high
13,464 thousands
in 1972
All-time low
10,736 thousands
in 1988
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 14 years or younger in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 14 years or younger in United Kingdom is 11,846 thousands, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 14 years or younger in United Kingdom peaked at 13,464 thousands in 1972 and was at its lowest, 10,736 thousands, in 1988.
That places United Kingdom 36th out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13,354 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 13,423 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 13,464 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 13,453 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1974 | 13,365 thousands | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 13,201 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 12,984 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1977 | 12,718 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 12,431 thousands | -2.3% |
| 1979 | 12,164 thousands | -2.1% |
| 1980 | 11,918 thousands | -2.0% |
| 1981 | 11,694 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 11,463 thousands | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 11,245 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1984 | 11,081 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 10,949 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1986 | 10,855 thousands | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 10,782 thousands | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 10,736 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 10,863 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 10,934 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 11,034 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 11,160 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 11,266 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 11,334 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 11,349 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 11,323 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 11,314 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 11,299 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 11,291 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 11,245 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 11,120 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 11,031 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 10,991 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 11,048 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 11,026 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 11,004 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 10,997 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 11,026 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 11,085 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 11,152 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 11,226 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 11,313 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 11,413 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 11,513 thousands | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 11,625 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 11,757 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 11,899 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 12,016 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 12,084 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 12,106 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 12,096 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 12,041 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 11,998 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 11,917 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 11,846 thousands | -0.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 11,846 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 416.88 thousands, 28.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 11,846 thousands is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 963.67 thousands, 12.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13,056 thousands | 12,164 thousands | 13,464 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,159 thousands | 10,736 thousands | 11,918 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 11,230 thousands | 10,934 thousands | 11,349 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,057 thousands | 10,991 thousands | 11,245 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,600 thousands | 11,152 thousands | 12,084 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,001 thousands | 11,846 thousands | 12,106 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 71,685 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 14 years or younger in United Kingdom?
- Population aged 14 years or younger in United Kingdom was 11,846 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 13,464 thousands in 1972.
- What is the lowest population aged 14 years or younger recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,736 thousands in 1988.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population aged 14 years or younger?
- United Kingdom ranks 36th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 14 years or younger rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 14 years or younger (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release