Share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of population living in the capital city was 14.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 14.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 15.8% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 12.4%, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 97th out of 170 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.
Share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 15.8% | — |
| 1955 | 15.4% | -2.7% |
| 1960 | 15.3% | -0.5% |
| 1965 | 14.6% | -4.3% |
| 1970 | 13.8% | -6.0% |
| 1975 | 13.1% | -4.7% |
| 1980 | 12.5% | -4.8% |
| 1985 | 12.4% | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 12.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 12.7% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 13.0% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 13.1% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 14.2% | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | +4.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15.6% | 15.4% | 15.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 15.0% | 14.6% | 15.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 13.4% | 13.1% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 12.5% | 12.4% | 12.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.6% | 12.4% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 13.0% | 13.0% | 13.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.9% | 13.6% | 14.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 14.8% | 14.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More population data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Share of population living in the capital city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 14.8% 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 population living in the capital city recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.8% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.4% in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 97th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.