Urban and rural population in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Urban and rural population was 57.95 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
57.95 million
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
16th
of 236 countries
All-time high
57.95 million
in 2025
All-time low
40.25 million
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in United Kingdom, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in United Kingdom is 57.95 million, 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, urban and rural population in United Kingdom peaked at 57.95 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 40.25 million, 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.
Urban and rural population in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40.25 million | — |
| 1951 | 40.43 million | +0.5% |
| 1952 | 40.52 million | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 40.65 million | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 40.74 million | +0.2% |
| 1955 | 40.81 million | +0.2% |
| 1956 | 40.87 million | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 40.94 million | +0.2% |
| 1958 | 41.03 million | +0.2% |
| 1959 | 41.14 million | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 41.27 million | +0.3% |
| 1961 | 41.44 million | +0.4% |
| 1962 | 41.65 million | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 41.85 million | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 42.02 million | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 42.18 million | +0.4% |
| 1966 | 42.32 million | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 42.46 million | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 42.59 million | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 42.69 million | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 42.82 million | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 42.98 million | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 43.16 million | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 43.33 million | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 43.47 million | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 43.60 million | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 43.73 million | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 43.85 million | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 43.97 million | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 44.11 million | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 44.22 million | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 44.25 million | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 44.23 million | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 44.24 million | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 44.30 million | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 44.38 million | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 44.46 million | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 44.52 million | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 44.59 million | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 44.68 million | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 44.81 million | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 44.95 million | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 45.11 million | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 45.29 million | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 45.50 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 45.74 million | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 46.00 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 46.26 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 46.54 million | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 46.85 million | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 47.14 million | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 47.42 million | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 47.70 million | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 48.00 million | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 48.34 million | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 48.75 million | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 49.17 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 49.63 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 50.09 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 50.55 million | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 51.03 million | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 51.53 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 51.99 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 52.45 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 52.95 million | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 53.50 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 54.05 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 54.56 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 55.04 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 55.48 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 55.83 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 56.16 million | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 56.64 million | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 57.12 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 57.55 million | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 57.95 million | +0.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 57.95 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 26.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 57.95 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.89 million, 14.9× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 40.74 million | 40.25 million | 41.14 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 42.05 million | 41.27 million | 42.69 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 43.50 million | 42.82 million | 44.11 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 44.39 million | 44.22 million | 44.68 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 45.71 million | 44.81 million | 46.85 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 48.68 million | 47.14 million | 50.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.26 million | 51.03 million | 55.48 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.88 million | 55.83 million | 57.95 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 13 Germany 69.06 million compare
- 14 Philippines 65.14 million compare
- 15 Bangladesh 58.40 million compare
- 17 France 52.55 million compare
- 18 Democratic Republic of Congo 50.90 million compare
- 19 Egypt 50.78 million compare
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 urban and rural population in United Kingdom?
- Urban and rural population in United Kingdom was 57.95 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 57.95 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.25 million in 1950.
- How does United Kingdom rank for urban and rural population?
- United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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