Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population aged 15-24 years (thousands) was 8,166 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
8,166 thousands
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
30th
of 233 countries
All-time high
9,212 thousands
in 1985
All-time low
7,258 thousands
in 1999
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 15-24 years in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population aged 15-24 years in United Kingdom is 8,166 thousands, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 15-24 years in United Kingdom peaked at 9,212 thousands in 1985 and was at its lowest, 7,258 thousands, in 1999.
That places United Kingdom 30th 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 15-24 years (thousands) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,073 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 8,122 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 8,064 thousands | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 7,958 thousands | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 7,936 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1975 | 7,982 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 8,082 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 8,228 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 8,388 thousands | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 8,554 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 8,752 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 8,931 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 9,059 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 9,146 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 9,200 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 9,212 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 9,191 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 9,120 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 8,991 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 8,689 thousands | -3.4% |
| 1990 | 8,521 thousands | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 8,329 thousands | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 8,118 thousands | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 7,889 thousands | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 7,694 thousands | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 7,541 thousands | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 7,472 thousands | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 7,365 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 7,281 thousands | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 7,258 thousands | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 7,279 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 7,386 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 7,521 thousands | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 7,637 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 7,681 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 7,803 thousands | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 7,904 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 8,020 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 8,103 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 8,136 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8,161 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 8,175 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 8,191 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 8,172 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8,224 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 8,192 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 8,135 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 8,045 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 7,957 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 7,916 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 7,908 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 7,912 thousands | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 7,976 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 7,965 thousands | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 8,002 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 8,166 thousands | +2.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 8,166 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 295.36 thousands, 27.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 8,166 thousands is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 697.78 thousands, 11.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8,139 thousands | 7,936 thousands | 8,554 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,029 thousands | 8,689 thousands | 9,212 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,747 thousands | 7,258 thousands | 8,521 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,747 thousands | 7,279 thousands | 8,136 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,117 thousands | 7,916 thousands | 8,224 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,988 thousands | 7,908 thousands | 8,166 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 15-24 years in United Kingdom?
- Population aged 15-24 years in United Kingdom was 8,166 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 15-24 years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 9,212 thousands in 1985.
- What is the lowest population aged 15-24 years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,258 thousands in 1999.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population aged 15-24 years?
- United Kingdom ranks 30th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 15-24 years rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. 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 15-24 years (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