The total population in the United Kingdom was estimated at 69.2 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Population - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

In 2023, the population of the United Kingdom reached 68.3 million, compared with 67.6 million in 2022. The UK population has more than doubled since 1871 when just under 31.5 million lived in the UK and has grown by around 8.2 million since the start of the twenty-first century. For most of the twentieth century, the UK population steadily increased, with two noticeable drops in population occurring during World War One (1914-1918) and in World War Two (1939-1945). Demographic trends in postwar Britain After World War Two, Britain and many other countries in the Western world experienced a 'baby boom,' with a postwar peak of 1.02 million live births in 1947. Although the number of births fell between 1948 and 1955, they increased again between the mid-1950s and mid-1960s, with more than one million people born in 1964. Since 1964, however, the UK birth rate has fallen from 18.8 births per 1,000 people to a low of just 10.2 in 2020. As a result, the UK population has gotten significantly older, with the country's median age increasing from 37.9 years in 2001 to 40.7 years in 2022. What are the most populated areas of the UK? The vast majority of people in the UK live in England, which had a population of 57.7 million people in 2023. By comparison, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had populations of 5.44 million, 3.13 million, and 1.9 million, respectively. Within England, South East England had the largest population, at over 9.38 million, followed by the UK's vast capital city of London, at 8.8 million. London is far larger than any other UK city in terms of urban agglomeration, with just four other cities; Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Glasgow, boasting populations that exceed one million people.

The statistic depicts the median age of the population in the United Kingdom from 1950 to 2100*. The median age of a population is an index that divides the population into two equal groups: half of the population is older than the median age and the other half younger. In 2020, the median age of United Kingdom's population was 39.2 years. Population of the United Kingdom The United Kingdom (UK) includes Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland, and is a state located off the coast of continental Europe. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy, which means the Queen acts as representative head of state, while laws and constitutional issues are discussed and passed by a parliament. The total UK population figures have been steadily increasing, albeit only slightly, over the last decade; in 2011, the population growth rate was lower than in the previous year for the first time in eight years. Like many other countries, the UK and its economy were severely affected by the economic crisis in 2009. Since then, the unemployment rate has doubled and is only recovering slowly. UK inhabitants tend to move to the cities to find work and better living conditions; urbanization in the United Kingdom has been on the rise. At the same time, population density in the United Kingdom has been increasing due to several factors, for example, the rising number of inhabitants and their life expectancy at birth, an increasing fertility rate, and a very low number of emigrants. In fact, the United Kingdom is now among the 20 countries with the highest life expectancy at birth worldwide. As can be seen above, the median age of UK residents has also been increasing significantly since the seventies; another indicator for a well-working economy and society.

In 2023, there were estimated to be 956,116 people who were aged 35 in the United Kingdom, the most of any age in this year. The two largest age groups during this year were 30-34, and 35 to 39, at 4.7 million and 4.64 million people respectively. There is also a noticeable spike of 693,679 people who were aged 76, which is due to the high number of births that followed in the aftermath of the Second World War. Over one million born in 1964 In post-war Britain, there have only been two years when the number of live births was over one million, in 1947 and in 1964. The number of births recorded in the years between these two years was consistently high as well, with 1955 having the fewest births in this period at 789,000. This meant that until relatively recently, Baby Boomers were the largest generational cohort in the UK. As of 2022, there were approximately 13.76 million Baby Boomers, compared with 14 million in Generation X, 14.48 million Millennials, and 12.9 million members of Gen Z. The youngest generation in the UK, Generation Alpha numbered approximately 7.5 million in the same year. Median age to hit 44.5 years by 2050 The population of the United Kingdom is aging at a substantial rate, with the median age of the population expected to reach 44.5 years by 2050. By comparison, in 1950 the average age in the United Kingdom stood at 34.9 years. This phenomenon is not unique to the United Kingdom, with median age of people worldwide increasing from 23.6 years in 1950 to a forecasted 41.9 years by 2100. As of 2022, the region with the oldest median age in the UK was South West England, at 43.9 years, compared with 35.9 in London, the region with the youngest median age.

Historical dataset showing total population for British Virgin Islands by year from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Bristol, UK metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Kingston upon Hull, UK metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population for United Kingdom (POPTTLGBA173NUPN) from 1950 to 2010 about United Kingdom and population.

UK: Population: Midyear Estimates data was reported at 66,181.585 Person th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 65,788.574 Person th for 2016. UK: Population: Midyear Estimates data is updated yearly, averaging 56,358.552 Person th from Dec 1950 (Median) to 2017, with 68 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 66,181.585 Person th in 2017 and a record low of 50,616.014 Person th in 1950. UK: Population: Midyear Estimates data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.IMF.IFS: Population: Annual.

The population of Europe was estimated to be 745 million in 2024, an increase of around 4 million when compared with 2012. Over 35 years between 1950 and 1985, the population of Europe grew by approximately 157.8 million. But 35 years after 1985 it was estimated to have only increased by around 38.7 million. Since the 1960s, population growth in Europe has fallen quite significantly and was even negative during the mid-1990s. While population growth has increased slightly since the low of -0.07 percent in 1998, the growth rate for 2020 was just 0.04 percent. Which European country has the biggest population? As of 2024, the population of Russia was estimated to be approximately 144.8 million and was by far Europe's largest country in terms of population, with Turkey being the second-largest at over 87 million. While these two countries both have territory in Europe, however, they are both only partially in Europe, with the majority of their landmasses being in Asia. In terms of countries wholly located on the European continent, Germany had the highest population at 84.5 million, and was followed by the United Kingdom and France at 69.1 million and 66.5 million respectively. Characteristics of Europe's population There are approximately 384.6 million females in Europe, compared with 359.5 million males, a difference of around 25 million. In 1950, however, the male population has grown faster than the female one, with the male population growing by 104.7 million, and the female one by 93.6 million. As of 2024, the single year of age with the highest population was 37, at 10.6 million, while in the same year there were estimated to be around 136 thousand people aged 100 or over.

This statistic shows the elderly population development (aged 65 and over) in Germany from 1950 to 2060. Over this *** year period the number of elderly people is expected to increase to **** million by 2060.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the The Potteries, UK metro area from 1950 to 2025.

There were over 4.7 million people aged between 30 and 34 in the United Kingdom in 2023, making it the most populous age group in that year. Those aged between 35 and 39 years comprised the next most numerous age group in 2023, at over 4.64 million people. Millennials overtake Boomers as biggest generation Post-war demographic trends, particularly the 'baby boom' phenomenon, have significantly influenced the current age distribution in the UK. The postwar peak of live births in 1947 resulted in the dominance of the Baby Boomer generation for several decades, until 2020 when Millennials became the largest generational cohort, surpassing the Boomers for the first time. The following year, the UK Boomer population was then overtaken by Generation X, the generation born between Boomers and Millennials. Generation Z, however, remains smaller than the three generations that preceded it, at 12.9 million individuals in 2022. Aging UK population poses challenges The median age of the UK population is projected to reach 44.5 years by 2050, compared to 34.9 years in 1950. This aging trend is indicative of broader global demographic shifts, with the median age of people worldwide forecasted to increase from 23.6 years in 1950 to 41.9 years by 2100. How countries like the UK manage their aging populations will be one of the key challenges of the next few decades. It is likely the UK's struggling National Health Service (NHS) will come under even more pressure in the coming years. There are also tough economic questions, in particular as more people enter retirement age and the UK's working population gets smaller in relation to it.

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Manchester, UK metro area from 1950 to 2025.

The population of the United Kingdom grew by 0.98 percent in 2023, the fastest annual growth rate during this time period. Before 2023, the UK population grew at its fastest rate in 2011 (0.84 percent) and shrank the most in 1982 (-0.12 percent.)

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Eurostat database (previously known as Eurostat New Cronos) contains high quality macroeconomic and social statistics time series data from 1960 onwards for European Union (EU) Member states and in many cases EU membership candidate countries. The data are monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual data, depending on the variable and country selected and are organised into nine statistical themes: • general and regional statistics • economy and finance • population and social conditions • industry, trade and services • agriculture, forestry and fisheries • international trade • transport • environment and energy • science and technology The Eurostat database was first provided by the UK Data Service in September 2004. We currently do not hold the Eurostat database (formerly known as Eurostat New Cronos). Access to the Eurostat database is currently via Eurostat's own data dissemination interface. Main Topics: The database includes: • general statistics - major indicators for the member states of the European Union, non-member countries, applicant countries and regions • economy and finance - data on national accounts, prices and purchasing power parities, such as statistics on currency and the finance sector • population and social conditions - statistics on population, health, employment, consumption and living conditions • industry, trade and services - indicators and statistics on industrial activity, production, wholesale and retail trade, banks and services in Europe • agriculture, forestry and fisheries - accounts, indices, prices and statistics • international trade - statistics on intra- and extra-European Union trade • transport - data on air, rail, road and inland waterway transport in the European Union • environment and energy - statistics and indicators on the impact of population on the environment (production of waste, emissions and pollutants, climate, biodiversity, etc.), information on impact on the economy (environmental expenditure) • science and technology - information on research and development, innovation and employment in the advanced-technology sectors (available for the member states of the European Union and non-member countries)

Historical dataset of population level and growth rate for the Newport, UK metro area from 1950 to 2025.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. To collect socio-economic data in order to investigate theories concerning the causes of coups. Main Topics: Variables Country, % population living in rural areas/working in agriculture 1970, % growth rate of GNP per capita (U.S. dollars) 1970, number of people for each physician 1970, % population illiterate 1970, number of radio sets/newspaper circulation per 1000 inhabitants 1970, density of population 1970, GNP per capita (U.S. dollars), % military personnel per 1000 population 1970, whether has own army, annual defence budget as % of GNP per capita 1970, extent of bilateral aid per capita (U.S. dollars), whether had coup d'etat 1950-1970, whether has been a colony for any period 1950-1970, whether has had coup previously, largest % population having same religion, whether had coup between 1960-1970, % population living in urban areas 1965, newspaper circulation per 1000 population 1965, number of people per physician 1965, % population having received education 1965, number of radio sets per 1000 population 1965, SNP per capita 1965 (U.S. dollars), whether had coup 1950-Jan 1971/1950-1966/1961-1966, number of riots since 1948-1967, number of major 'irregular power transfers' 1950-1968 (Taylor and Hudson), whether has military agreements with France 1950-1970, whether has had internal physical conflict on grounds of ethnic or language differences, whether receives aid, whether defends itself, whether became independent since 1 Jan 1966, number of major 'irregular power transfers' where a coup has taken place, major commodity exported as % of value of all exports 1968, whether product has one year gestation period, amount of external trade in relation to rest of world 1968 (U.S. dollars), major % exports to one country 1968, whether has trade with communist countries, whether ex-British/ex-French colony, whether has had monarch/emperor/sultan (not constitutional), whether has fought external war/civil war 1950-1970, whether has military agreements with U.S./U.K./U.S.S.R./ France, four major commodities exported as % of all exports, whether imports and exports major % of commodities from U.S.S.R./France/U.K./U.S.A. 1968.

This survey was undertaken by Cefas as part of the Historic Arctic Survey Series;

Gadus morhua (Atlantic Cod) stocks in the Barents Sea are currently at levels not seen since the 1950s. Causes for the population increase last century, and understanding of whether such large numbers will be maintained in the future, are unclear. To explore this, we digitised and interrogated historical cod catch and diet datasets from the Barents Sea. Data includes temporal and spatial information, cod catch data and length distributions, and hydrographic data.

Survey took place between 11/01/1950 and 20/01/1950 on Ernest Holt

Equipment used during this survey :

• Otter Trawl 78ft Granton Arctic bobbins wooden otter boards

Survey operations were undertaken on 25 stations

12 different species were caught on this survey

Live births and stillbirths annual summary statistics, by sex, age of mother, whether within marriage or civil partnership, percentage of non-UK-born mothers, birth rates and births by month and mothers' area of usual residence.