Population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population in the largest city was 17.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
17.0%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
128th
of 153 countries
All-time high
19.9%
in 1960
All-time low
15.1%
in 1981
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
In 2025, population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 17.0%.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 19.9% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 15.1%, in 1981.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 128th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 19.9% | — |
| 1961 | 19.7% | -0.9% |
| 1962 | 19.4% | -1.5% |
| 1963 | 19.2% | -1.4% |
| 1964 | 18.9% | -1.3% |
| 1965 | 18.7% | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 18.4% | -1.2% |
| 1967 | 18.2% | -1.2% |
| 1968 | 18.0% | -1.2% |
| 1969 | 17.8% | -1.2% |
| 1970 | 17.5% | -1.2% |
| 1971 | 17.3% | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 17.0% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 16.8% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 16.6% | -1.4% |
| 1975 | 16.3% | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 16.1% | -1.4% |
| 1977 | 15.9% | -1.4% |
| 1978 | 15.7% | -1.4% |
| 1979 | 15.5% | -1.4% |
| 1980 | 15.3% | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 15.1% | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 15.2% | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 15.2% | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 15.2% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 15.2% | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 15.2% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 15.2% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 15.2% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 15.2% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 15.2% | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 15.3% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 15.3% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 15.3% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 15.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 15.4% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 15.4% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 15.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 15.5% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 15.5% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 15.5% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 15.5% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 15.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 15.4% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 15.4% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 15.5% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 15.6% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 15.7% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 15.8% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 15.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 16.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 16.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 16.2% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 16.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 16.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 16.7% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 17.0% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 17.0% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 16.9% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 17.0% | +0.6% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 17.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 28.2%, 60% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 17.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26.2%, 65% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.8% | 17.8% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.5% | 15.5% | 17.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 15.2% | 15.1% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.4% | 15.2% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 15.4% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.2% | 15.8% | 16.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 16.8% | 17.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More urban development data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Population density 283.25 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- 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)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Population in the largest city in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 17.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.1% in 1981.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for population in the largest city?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 128th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.