Number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 57.95 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom is 57.95 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom peaked at 57.95 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 40.25 million people, in 1950.
That places United Kingdom 16th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 40.74 million people | 40.25 million people | 41.14 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 42.05 million people | 41.27 million people | 42.69 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.50 million people | 42.82 million people | 44.11 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.39 million people | 44.22 million people | 44.68 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.71 million people | 44.81 million people | 46.85 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.68 million people | 47.14 million people | 50.55 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.26 million people | 51.03 million people | 55.48 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.88 million people | 55.83 million people | 57.95 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 13 Germany 69.06 million people compare
- 14 Philippines 65.14 million people compare
- 15 Bangladesh 58.40 million people compare
- 17 France 52.55 million people compare
- 18 Democratic Republic of Congo 50.90 million people compare
- 19 Egypt 50.78 million people compare
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in United Kingdom was 57.95 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 57.95 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.25 million people in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.