Total population (thousands) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Total population (thousands) was 69,353 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
69,353 thousands
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
22nd
of 233 countries
All-time high
69,353 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
55,552 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total population in United Kingdom is 69,353 thousands, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in United Kingdom peaked at 69,353 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 55,552 thousands, in 1970.
That places United Kingdom 22nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 55,552 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 55,775 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 56,006 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 56,153 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 56,225 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 56,224 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 56,216 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 56,186 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 56,165 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 56,186 thousands | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 56,252 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 56,313 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 56,296 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 56,289 thousands | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 56,375 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 56,528 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 56,685 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 56,818 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 56,954 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 57,100 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 57,265 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 57,471 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 57,639 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 57,799 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 57,923 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 58,084 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 58,226 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 58,371 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 58,523 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 58,731 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 58,946 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 59,168 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 59,408 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 59,674 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 59,967 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 60,373 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 60,820 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 61,283 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 61,789 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 62,266 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 62,747 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 63,266 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 63,752 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 64,168 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 64,610 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 65,122 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 65,643 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 66,144 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 66,565 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 66,940 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 67,282 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 67,422 thousands | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 67,916 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 68,443 thousands | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 68,923 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 69,353 thousands | +0.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 69,353 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 22.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 69,353 thousands is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,353 thousands, 10.9× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 56,069 thousands | 55,552 thousands | 56,225 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 56,561 thousands | 56,252 thousands | 57,100 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 58,003 thousands | 57,265 thousands | 58,731 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 60,369 thousands | 58,946 thousands | 62,266 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 64,896 thousands | 62,747 thousands | 66,940 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 68,223 thousands | 67,282 thousands | 69,353 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 total population in United Kingdom?
- Total population in United Kingdom was 69,353 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 69,353 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 55,552 thousands in 1970.
- How does United Kingdom rank for total population?
- United Kingdom ranks 22nd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (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