Population in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population was 68.68 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Population in United Kingdom, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2023, population in United Kingdom stood at 68.68 million people. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in United Kingdom peaked at 68.68 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 50.12 million people, in 1950.
That places United Kingdom 21st out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 51.10 million people | 50.12 million people | 52.23 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 54.11 million people | 52.54 million people | 55.46 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 56.10 million people | 55.66 million people | 56.22 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 56.61 million people | 56.28 million people | 57.18 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 58.09 million people | 57.37 million people | 58.84 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 60.56 million people | 59.06 million people | 62.51 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 65.12 million people | 63.01 million people | 67.11 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.97 million people | 67.35 million people | 68.68 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 515,677 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.55 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in United Kingdom?
- Population in United Kingdom was 68.68 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 68.68 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.12 million people in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population?
- United Kingdom ranks 21st out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.