Biggest cities and towns in the UK by population

London

HR software provider Ciphr compiled a list of the UK's 100 biggest cities and towns (by population) as part of its research into the best towns and cities for job opportunities. 

The figures included in this infographic are based on UK census data (from 2021 and 2022) for towns and cities and the mid-2024 population estimates for local authority areas in the UK, published in September 2025 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

According to the latest ONS data, the UK has a population of over 69.2 million people (about 35.3 million females and 33.9 million males).

Of those, around 62.8% (or 43,523,647 people) are aged 16 to 64 years old (which is usually considered to be of ‘working age’).

The average (median) age of UK residents is now 40.5 years old.

 

Which UK towns and cities have the biggest populations?

  • London is the most populous city in the UK, with an estimated (regional) population of 8.8 million (8,799,800) people
  • The second largest city, by population, is Birmingham. Over 1.1 million (1,121,375) people live in the city's boundaries
  • Glasgow is the third biggest city in the UK, and Scotland's most populous council area, with a local population of 620,700 
  • Leeds is the fourth biggest city, with a population of 536,280 
  • Edinburgh is the UK's fifth biggest city. Its council area is home to 512,700 people
  • Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol, and Leicester also rank among the 10 largest cities in the UK (by population)

 

Ciphr used the latest census population estimates to compile its list of the 30 biggest cities and towns in the UK.

↓↓↓ Scroll down to see the full results ↓↓↓  

The 30 biggest towns and cities in the UK, by population


 

Where are the UK's largest and smallest working populations?

Based on the ONS' 2024 mid-year population estimates, the town with the largest proportion of people that are of 'working age' is Cambridge. Nearly three-quarters (73.7%) of Cambridge's residents are ages 16 to 64 years.

Other towns and cities with large working-age populations (a higher-than-average share of 16-64 year-olds living there) include Oxford and Brighton and Hove (72.4% and 71.5% respectively), and Glasgow and Manchester (both 70.8%).

Some of the towns and cities with the fewest working-age residents include Lowestoft (just over half, 55.6%, of its population is 16-64 years old), Chichester (56.8%), Dover (57.8%), Shrewsbury (57.9%), and Weston-super-Mare (58.5%).

Which towns and cities have the youngest populations in the UK?

The metropolitan district of Manchester has the lowest reported average (median) age of all the local authorities in the UK, at 30.4 years old. The next lowest is the London borough of Tower Hamlets at 30.6 years old, followed by Nottingham (31.3), Newham (31.4), Cambridge (31.5), and Oxford (31.8).

Which local authorities have the oldest populations in the UK?

The coastal district of North Norfolk has the highest reported average (median) age of all the local authorities in the UK, at 56 years old. The next highest is East Lindsey at 54.1 years old, followed by Rother (53.7), Derbyshire Dales (53.2), West Devon (52.7), Torridge (52.5), New Forest (52.4) and Dorset (52.2).

Towns with 'older' populations (than the UK average) include Lewes (the median age of people living there is 48.8 years), Chichester (48.6), King's Lynn (48.1), Stratford-on-Avon and Fareham (both 47.7), Stroud (46.7), Horsham (45.7) and Eastbourne (45.3).

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London and Birmingham are the largest cities in the UK, with the biggest populations. The estimated number of residents living within their 'official' boundaries, however, does tend to differ depending on how their geographical boundary areas are defined.

Local administrative boundaries may include a town or city's wider surroundings, for example, and are often different from the built-up area (BUA) boundaries, or settlement boundaries, used in urban planning (or some statistical analysis). People may also perceive some town or city boundary lines to be in different places.

Ciphr used the latest census population estimates to compile its list of the 100 largest towns and cities in the UK. The chart below also references recent (mid-2024) population estimates, based on local authority area boundaries.  

 

↓↓↓ Scroll down to see the full results ↓↓↓  

The 100 most populous towns and cities in the UK


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Notes

UK census data

Census 2021 took place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in March 2021: 

Scotland's census took place in March 2022: 

 

Mid-year population estimates

All working age population estimates quoted are for local authority (LA) areas. LA boundaries may be different from town or city boundaries, or BUA (Built-up Area) boundaries, and could include their wider surroundings. For more details on LA boundaries, please refer to this ONS map.


Working-age population estimates (for people aged 16 to 64 years), and the proportion of working age people (as a share of a location's total population), were calculated by Ciphr in November 2025. 

 

This infographic was published in November 2025, using new data. It replaced an earlier version published in October 2024. 

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