Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 17.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Kingdom, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 17.2% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Kingdom peaked at 18.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 14.7%, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom 132nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.5% | 18.2% | 18.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.7% | 17.3% | 18.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.8% | 15.4% | 16.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.8% | 14.7% | 15.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.3% | 15.3% | 15.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.3% | 16.0% | 16.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 515,677 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.55 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Kingdom?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in United Kingdom was 17.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.7% in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- United Kingdom ranks 132nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.