Urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Urban population growth was 0.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 0.4% for urban population growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 67.1% on the previous year and down 58.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 1.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, -0.1%, in 1982.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 161st of 217 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.5% | — |
| 1962 | 0.6% | +17.9% |
| 1963 | 0.5% | -19.5% |
| 1964 | 0.4% | -21.2% |
| 1965 | 0.4% | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 0.3% | -20.3% |
| 1967 | 0.3% | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 0.3% | -5.7% |
| 1969 | 0.3% | -9.0% |
| 1970 | 0.3% | +13.6% |
| 1971 | 0.4% | +27.5% |
| 1972 | 0.4% | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 0.4% | -10.2% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | -14.7% |
| 1975 | 0.3% | -7.2% |
| 1976 | 0.3% | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 0.3% | -4.9% |
| 1978 | 0.3% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 0.3% | +8.5% |
| 1980 | 0.3% | -17.4% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -73.6% |
| 1982 | -0.1% | -188.0% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | -67.3% |
| 1984 | 0.1% | -515.8% |
| 1985 | 0.1% | +66.4% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | -1.0% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -12.7% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | +15.5% |
| 1989 | 0.2% | +39.8% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | +32.6% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | +17.3% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +12.6% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 0.5% | +20.8% |
| 1995 | 0.5% | +12.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 0.6% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 0.7% | +14.9% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | +15.6% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 0.9% | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 0.9% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -5.5% |
| 2013 | 0.9% | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 1.0% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.0% | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | -23.1% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 0.8% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | -43.1% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | +133.8% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | +30.2% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | -15.2% |
| 2025 | 0.4% | -67.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More climate change data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Share co2 vs population 0.7299 (2100)
- Urban population 83.3% (2025)
- Urban population 57.90 million (2025)
- Population, total 69.49 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 370.74 (2024)
- Temperature change with respect to a baseline climatology 1.49 (2024)
- Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 4.53 tonnes per person (2024)
- Share global cumulative co2 including land 2.9 (2024)
- Cumulative co2 including land 79.77 billion (2024)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Urban population growth in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 0.4% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.1% in 1982.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for urban population growth?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 161st out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.