Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 286.37 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
286.37 people per sq. km of land area
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
44th
of 216 countries
All-time high
286.37 people per sq. km of land area
in 2024
All-time low
218.25 people per sq. km of land area
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population density in United Kingdom, 1961–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population density in United Kingdom is 286.37 people per sq. km of land area, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in United Kingdom peaked at 286.37 people per sq. km of land area in 2024 and was at its lowest, 218.25 people per sq. km of land area, in 1961.
United Kingdom ranks 44th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 218.25 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1962 | 220.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 221.76 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 223.21 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 224.64 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 225.89 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 227.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 1968 | 228.21 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 229.16 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 230.08 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 1971 | 231.04 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 231.83 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 232.28 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 232.42 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 232.41 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 232.35 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1977 | 232.27 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 232.28 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 232.49 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 232.77 people per sq. km of land area | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 232.85 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 232.77 people per sq. km of land area | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 232.85 people per sq. km of land area | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 233.22 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 233.75 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 234.29 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 234.79 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 235.31 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 235.92 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 236.63 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 237.36 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 238 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 238.58 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 239.18 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 239.82 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 240.43 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 241.05 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 241.75 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 242.56 people per sq. km of land area | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 243.43 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 244.37 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 245.4 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 246.55 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 247.96 people per sq. km of land area | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 249.66 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 251.51 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 253.47 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 255.47 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 257.41 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 259.44 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 261.48 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 263.35 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 265.11 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 267.1 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 269.03 people per sq. km of land area | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 271.18 people per sq. km of land area | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 272.66 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 273.99 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 275.4 people per sq. km of land area | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 275.87 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 276.85 people per sq. km of land area | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 279.57 people per sq. km of land area | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 283.25 people per sq. km of land area | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 286.37 people per sq. km of land area | +1.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 286.37 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for high income countries, which is 147 people per sq. km of land area, 1.9× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 286.37 people per sq. km of land area is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 85.13 people per sq. km of land area, 3.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 224.26 people per sq. km of land area | 218.25 people per sq. km of land area | 229.16 people per sq. km of land area | 9 |
| 1970s | 231.95 people per sq. km of land area | 230.08 people per sq. km of land area | 232.49 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1980s | 233.85 people per sq. km of land area | 232.77 people per sq. km of land area | 235.92 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 1990s | 239.54 people per sq. km of land area | 236.63 people per sq. km of land area | 242.56 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2000s | 249.52 people per sq. km of land area | 243.43 people per sq. km of land area | 257.41 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 267.87 people per sq. km of land area | 259.44 people per sq. km of land area | 275.4 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 280.38 people per sq. km of land area | 275.87 people per sq. km of land area | 286.37 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 41 El Salvador 305.9 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 42 United States Virgin Islands 299.93 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 43 Saint Lucia 294.66 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 45 Kuwait 274.82 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 46 Gambia 272.73 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 47 Trinidad and Tobago 266.84 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for United Kingdom
- Population in the largest city 17.0% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 9.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.2742 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 19.05 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 0.8373 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 77.42 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 9.84 million (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 995.65 Hectares (2020)
- Establishments, bedrooms and bed-places in tourist accommodation, by 84,579 Number (2016)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in United Kingdom?
- Population density in United Kingdom was 286.37 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 286.37 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 218.25 people per sq. km of land area in 1961.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population density?
- United Kingdom ranks 44th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.