Population in the largest city in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population in the largest city was 17.24 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
17.24
World rank
132nd
of 179 countries
All-time high
18.77
in 1950
All-time low
14.67
in 1985
Years of data
15
1950–2020
Population in the largest city in United Kingdom, 1950–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 17.24 for population in the largest city in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in United Kingdom peaked at 18.77 in 1950 and was at its lowest, 14.67, 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.
Population in the largest city in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.77 | — |
| 1955 | 18.24 | -2.8% |
| 1960 | 18.11 | -0.7% |
| 1965 | 17.26 | -4.7% |
| 1970 | 16.2 | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 15.44 | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 14.74 | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 14.67 | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 14.69 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 14.97 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 15.25 | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 15.4 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 15.97 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 16.55 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 17.24 | +4.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 17.24 is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.23, 59% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 17.24 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.13, 71% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.51 | 18.24 | 18.77 | 2 |
| 1960s | 17.69 | 17.26 | 18.11 | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.82 | 15.44 | 16.2 | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.71 | 14.67 | 14.74 | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.83 | 14.69 | 14.97 | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.33 | 15.25 | 15.4 | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.26 | 15.97 | 16.55 | 2 |
| 2020s | 17.24 | 17.24 | 17.24 | 1 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.184 (2100)
- Population density 307.14 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 3.21 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in United Kingdom?
- Population in the largest city in United Kingdom was 17.24 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 18.77 in 1950.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.67 in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population in the largest city?
- United Kingdom ranks 132nd out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Population in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).