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Cities in United Kingdom Ranked by Population (city proper)

Population of the city proper (the municipality itself, not the metro area), using the most recent figure recorded in Wikidata. Source: Wikidata (CC0 1.0 (public domain)).

Summary

London ranks #1 with 8.8 million people (2021). That is 7.7 times Birmingham in second place (1.14 million people). The top five are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and Sheffield. The median across all 77 is 148,280 people; Salisbury is last at 45,477 people.

#1
London · 8.8 million people
Median
148,280 people
Coverage
77 cities in United Kingdom
Data year
As recorded in Wikidata
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: PopulationBar chart of the top 10: 1. London 8.8 million; 2. Birmingham 1.14 million; 3. Glasgow 626,410; 4. Leeds 536,280; 5. Sheffield 518,090; 6. Liverpool 513,441; 7. Edinburgh 488,050; 8. Bristol 472,465; 9. Cardiff 383,536; 10. Leicester 368,600.London8.8 millionBirmingham1.14 millionGlasgow626,410Leeds536,280Sheffield518,090Liverpool513,441Edinburgh488,050Bristol472,465Cardiff383,536Leicester368,600
Top 10: Population (people). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. London 8.8 million; 2. Birmingham 1.14 million; 3. Glasgow 626,410; 4. Leeds 536,280; 5. Sheffield 518,090; 6. Liverpool 513,441; 7. Edinburgh 488,050; 8. Bristol 472,465; 9. Cardiff 383,536; 10. Leicester 368,600.

Full ranking

Cities in United Kingdom Ranked by Population (city proper)
RankCityCountryPopulation (people)Year
1LondonUnited Kingdom8,799,7282021
2BirminghamUnited Kingdom1,137,1002017
3GlasgowUnited Kingdom626,4102018
4LeedsUnited Kingdom536,2802021
5SheffieldUnited Kingdom518,0902011
6LiverpoolUnited Kingdom513,4412016
7EdinburghUnited Kingdom488,0502016
8BristolUnited Kingdom472,4652021
9CardiffUnited Kingdom383,5362023
10LeicesterUnited Kingdom368,6002021
11CoventryUnited Kingdom362,6902016
12BelfastUnited Kingdom345,0062021
13Newcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom300,1962018
14NottinghamUnited Kingdom289,3012011
15BoltonUnited Kingdom285,3722018
16SunderlandUnited Kingdom277,4172018
17Brighton and HoveUnited Kingdom277,1032021
18SouthamptonUnited Kingdom271,1732016
19PlymouthUnited Kingdom267,9182016
20Milton KeynesUnited Kingdom264,3492021
21Kingston upon HullUnited Kingdom260,2002016
22DerbyUnited Kingdom255,3942011
23WolverhamptonUnited Kingdom250,9702012
24Stoke-on-TrentUnited Kingdom249,0082011
25PortsmouthUnited Kingdom248,4402016
26SwanseaUnited Kingdom246,7002023
27SwindonUnited Kingdom222,1932019
28City of WestminsterUnited Kingdom211,3652022
29YorkUnited Kingdom208,4002016
30SolihullUnited Kingdom206,6742011
31AberdeenUnited Kingdom200,6802016
32NorwichUnited Kingdom195,9712016
33PeterboroughUnited Kingdom194,0002015
34St HelensUnited Kingdom183,2482021
35WarringtonUnited Kingdom165,4562011
36HuddersfieldUnited Kingdom162,9492011
37Southend-on-SeaUnited Kingdom160,2572011
38NewportUnited Kingdom159,6002021
39DundeeUnited Kingdom148,2802016
40OxfordUnited Kingdom147,5002013
41West BromwichUnited Kingdom146,3861991
42GloucesterUnited Kingdom145,5632016
43TelfordUnited Kingdom142,7232011
44PrestonUnited Kingdom141,8012016
45MiddlesbroughUnited Kingdom140,5452018
46Wrexham County BoroughUnited Kingdom136,1262018
47ExeterUnited Kingdom124,1802016
48CambridgeUnited Kingdom123,8672011
49ColchesterUnited Kingdom121,8592011
50SloughUnited Kingdom119,0702001
51CheltenhamUnited Kingdom116,4472011
52ChelmsfordUnited Kingdom115,3692016
53BirkenheadUnited Kingdom109,8482021
54DoncasterUnited Kingdom109,8052011
55RotherhamUnited Kingdom109,6912011
56BasingstokeUnited Kingdom107,3552011
57SalfordUnited Kingdom103,8862011
58WiganUnited Kingdom103,6082011
59WorcesterUnited Kingdom101,8912018
60EastbourneUnited Kingdom101,6892021
61WakefieldUnited Kingdom99,2512011
62LincolnUnited Kingdom97,5412019
63BathUnited Kingdom94,0922021
64ChesterUnited Kingdom87,5072016
65DerryUnited Kingdom85,0162008
66St AlbansUnited Kingdom82,1462011
67CarlisleUnited Kingdom75,3992016
68LisburnUnited Kingdom71,4652010
69WrexhamUnited Kingdom61,6032011
70CanterburyUnited Kingdom54,8802011
71HerefordUnited Kingdom53,1132021
72DunfermlineUnited Kingdom53,1002016
73LancasterUnited Kingdom52,6602021
74DurhamUnited Kingdom48,0692011
75PerthUnited Kingdom47,4302016
76InvernessUnited Kingdom47,3802018
77SalisburyUnited Kingdom45,4772016

About the top 10

#3 Glasgow

Glasgow ranks #3 on this list with 626,410 people (2018).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
626,410 people (2018)
Area
3,298 km²
Density
190 people per km²
Coordinates
55.86° N, 4.25° W

Full city profile

#4 Leeds

Leeds ranks #4 on this list with 536,280 people (2021).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
536,280 people (2021)
Area
551.7 km²
Density
972 people per km²
Elevation
51 m
Coordinates
53.80° N, 1.54° W

Full city profile Weather in Leeds (Purr Weather)

#5 Sheffield

Sheffield ranks #5 on this list with 518,090 people (2011).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
518,090 people (2011)
Area
367.9 km²
Density
1,408 people per km²
Elevation
75 m
Founded
701
Coordinates
53.38° N, 1.47° W

Full city profile

#6 Liverpool

Liverpool ranks #6 on this list with 513,441 people (2016).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
513,441 people (2016)
Area
111.8 km²
Density
4,591 people per km²
Elevation
70 m
Founded
1207
Coordinates
53.41° N, 2.99° W

Full city profile Weather in Liverpool (Purr Weather)

#7 Edinburgh

Edinburgh ranks #7 on this list with 488,050 people (2016).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
488,050 people (2016)
Area
259 km²
Density
1,884 people per km²
Elevation
47 m
Founded
601
Coordinates
55.95° N, 3.19° W

Full city profile

#8 Bristol

Bristol ranks #8 on this list with 472,465 people (2021).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
472,465 people (2021)
Area
109.6 km²
Density
4,311 people per km²
Elevation
11 m
Founded
1155
Coordinates
51.45° N, 2.60° W

Full city profile

#9 Cardiff

Cardiff ranks #9 on this list with 383,536 people (2023).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
383,536 people (2023)
Area
140.3 km²
Density
2,734 people per km²
Elevation
41 m
Founded
1081
Coordinates
51.48° N, 3.18° W

Full city profile

#10 Leicester

Leicester ranks #10 on this list with 368,600 people (2021).

Country
United Kingdom
Population
368,600 people (2021)
Area
92 km²
Density
4,007 people per km²
Elevation
67 m
Coordinates
52.64° N, 1.13° W

Full city profile

Profile facts: Wikidata (CC0).

Related rankings

Source and method

Population of the city proper (the municipality itself, not the metro area), using the most recent figure recorded in Wikidata.

Source: Wikidata. Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain). Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

Data: Wikidata (CC0)

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: Wikidata. All licences: Sources & licences.