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Cities in United Kingdom Ranked by Population density

Population divided by land area, both as recorded in Wikidata for the city proper. Cities without a recorded area are left out. Source: Wikidata (CC0 1.0 (public domain)).

Summary

Middlesbrough ranks #1 with 36,223 people per km². That is 3.7 times City of Westminster in second place (9,837 people per km²). The top five are Middlesbrough, City of Westminster, Portsmouth, London and Swindon. The median across all 68 is 3,171 people per km²; Lisburn is last at 159.9 people per km².

#1
Middlesbrough · 36,223 people per km²
Median
3,171 people per km²
Coverage
68 cities in United Kingdom
Data year
As recorded in Wikidata
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Population densityBar chart of the top 10: 1. Middlesbrough 36,223; 2. City of Westminster 9,837; 3. Portsmouth 6,172; 4. London 5,598; 5. Swindon 5,555; 6. Southampton 5,269; 7. Bolton 5,164; 8. Salford 4,954; 9. Lancaster 4,853; 10. Liverpool 4,591.Middlesbrough36,223City of Westminster9,837Portsmouth6,172London5,598Swindon5,555Southampton5,269Bolton5,164Salford4,954Lancaster4,853Liverpool4,591
Top 10: Population density (people per km²). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Middlesbrough 36,223; 2. City of Westminster 9,837; 3. Portsmouth 6,172; 4. London 5,598; 5. Swindon 5,555; 6. Southampton 5,269; 7. Bolton 5,164; 8. Salford 4,954; 9. Lancaster 4,853; 10. Liverpool 4,591.

Full ranking

Cities in United Kingdom Ranked by Population density
RankCityCountryPopulation density (people per km²)
1MiddlesbroughUnited Kingdom36,223
2City of WestminsterUnited Kingdom9,837
3PortsmouthUnited Kingdom6,172
4LondonUnited Kingdom5,598
5SwindonUnited Kingdom5,555
6SouthamptonUnited Kingdom5,269
7BoltonUnited Kingdom5,164
8SalfordUnited Kingdom4,954
9LancasterUnited Kingdom4,853
10LiverpoolUnited Kingdom4,591
11St AlbansUnited Kingdom4,538
12ChelmsfordUnited Kingdom4,489
13BirkenheadUnited Kingdom4,363
14BristolUnited Kingdom4,311
15BirminghamUnited Kingdom4,247
16GloucesterUnited Kingdom4,219
17SalisburyUnited Kingdom4,025
18LeicesterUnited Kingdom4,007
19CarlisleUnited Kingdom3,989
20NottinghamUnited Kingdom3,878
21Southend-on-SeaUnited Kingdom3,838
22NorwichUnited Kingdom3,726
23ChesterUnited Kingdom3,708
24BasingstokeUnited Kingdom3,678
25CoventryUnited Kingdom3,677
26WiganUnited Kingdom3,661
27SloughUnited Kingdom3,659
28Kingston upon HullUnited Kingdom3,642
29WolverhamptonUnited Kingdom3,614
30PlymouthUnited Kingdom3,379
31Brighton and HoveUnited Kingdom3,351
32DerbyUnited Kingdom3,274
33BathUnited Kingdom3,245
34OxfordUnited Kingdom3,235
35HerefordUnited Kingdom3,106
36AberdeenUnited Kingdom3,083
37WorcesterUnited Kingdom3,062
38CambridgeUnited Kingdom3,043
39Milton KeynesUnited Kingdom3,004
40BelfastUnited Kingdom3,000
41DunfermlineUnited Kingdom2,900
42CardiffUnited Kingdom2,734
43LincolnUnited Kingdom2,733
44Stoke-on-TrentUnited Kingdom2,685
45ExeterUnited Kingdom2,642
46Newcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom2,633
47DoncasterUnited Kingdom2,524
48CheltenhamUnited Kingdom2,498
49SunderlandUnited Kingdom2,480
50EastbourneUnited Kingdom2,303
51InvernessUnited Kingdom2,287
52DundeeUnited Kingdom2,202
53EdinburghUnited Kingdom1,884
54TelfordUnited Kingdom1,832
55SheffieldUnited Kingdom1,408
56St HelensUnited Kingdom1,343
57PrestonUnited Kingdom997.1
58LeedsUnited Kingdom972.1
59NewportUnited Kingdom840.1
60YorkUnited Kingdom766.3
61CanterburyUnited Kingdom753.8
62SwanseaUnited Kingdom632.6
63PeterboroughUnited Kingdom565.6
64Wrexham County BoroughUnited Kingdom270.2
65DurhamUnited Kingdom257.5
66DerryUnited Kingdom219.7
67GlasgowUnited Kingdom189.9
68LisburnUnited Kingdom159.9

About the top 10

#1 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough ranks #1 on this list with 36,223 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
140,545 people (2018)
Area
3.88 km²
Density
36,223 people per km²
Founded
1830
Coordinates
54.57° N, 1.23° W

Full city profile

#2 City of Westminster

City of Westminster ranks #2 on this list with 9,837 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
211,365 people (2022)
Area
21.5 km²
Density
9,837 people per km²
Founded
1965
Coordinates
51.50° N, 0.14° W

Full city profile

#3 Portsmouth

Portsmouth ranks #3 on this list with 6,172 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
248,440 people (2016)
Area
40.3 km²
Density
6,172 people per km²
Coordinates
50.81° N, 1.09° W

Full city profile

#5 Swindon

Swindon ranks #5 on this list with 5,555 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
222,193 people (2019)
Area
40 km²
Density
5,555 people per km²
Coordinates
51.56° N, 1.78° W

Full city profile

#6 Southampton

Southampton ranks #6 on this list with 5,269 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
271,173 people (2016)
Area
51.5 km²
Density
5,269 people per km²
Coordinates
50.91° N, 1.40° W

Full city profile

#7 Bolton

Bolton ranks #7 on this list with 5,164 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
285,372 people (2018)
Area
55.3 km²
Density
5,164 people per km²
Coordinates
53.58° N, 2.43° W

Full city profile

#8 Salford

Salford ranks #8 on this list with 4,954 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
103,886 people (2011)
Area
21 km²
Density
4,954 people per km²
Elevation
46 m
Coordinates
53.48° N, 2.29° W

Full city profile

#9 Lancaster

Lancaster ranks #9 on this list with 4,853 people per km².

Country
United Kingdom
Population
52,660 people (2021)
Area
10.9 km²
Density
4,853 people per km²
Elevation
9 m
Coordinates
54.05° N, 2.80° W

Full city profile

#10 Liverpool

Liverpool ranks #10 on this list with 4,591 people per km².

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)

Profile facts: Wikidata (CC0).

Related rankings

Source and method

Population divided by land area, both as recorded in Wikidata for the city proper. Cities without a recorded area are left out.

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.