List of English districts by population

Last updated

This is a list of the 296 districts of England ordered by population, according to estimated figures for 2024 from the Office for National Statistics. [1] These legally-defined districts may be larger or smaller than the urban areas commonly known by the same name.

The list consists of 164 non-metropolitan districts, 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan boroughs, 62 unitary authorities, and two sui generis authorities (the City of London and the Isles of Scilly).

Local authority districts of England by population (2024) [1]
RankDistrictPopulationType Ceremonial county Region
1 Birmingham 1,183,618 Metropolitan borough, city  (1889) West Midlands West Midlands
2 Leeds 845,189 Metropolitan borough, city  (1893) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
3 North Yorkshire 635,270 Unitary authority North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
4 Manchester 589,670 Metropolitan borough, city  (1853) Greater Manchester North West
5 Somerset 588,328 Unitary authority Somerset South West
6 Cornwall 583,289 Unitary authority Cornwall South West
7 Sheffield 582,493 Metropolitan borough, city  (1893) South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
8 Buckinghamshire 578,772 Unitary authority Buckinghamshire South East
9 Bradford 563,605 Metropolitan borough, city  (1897) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
10 County Durham 538,011 Unitary authority Durham North East
11 Wiltshire 523,700 Unitary authority Wiltshire South West
12 Liverpool 508,961 Metropolitan borough, city  (1880) Merseyside North West
13 Bristol 494,399 Unitary authority, city  (1542) Bristol South West
14 Kirklees 447,847 Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
15 West Northamptonshire 439,811 Unitary authority Northamptonshire East Midlands
16 Cheshire East 421,298 Unitary authority, borough Cheshire North West
17 Croydon 409,342 London borough Greater London London
18 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 408,967 Unitary authority Dorset South West
19 Barnet 405,050 London borough Greater London London
20 Dorset 389,947 Unitary authority Dorset South West
21 Leicester 388,348 Unitary authority, city  (1919) Leicestershire East Midlands
22 Ealing 385,985 London borough Greater London London
23 Newham 374,523 London borough Greater London London
24 North Northamptonshire 373,871 Unitary authority Northamptonshire East Midlands
25 Cheshire West and Chester 371,652 Unitary authority, borough Cheshire North West
26 Coventry 369,026 Metropolitan borough, city  (1345) West Midlands West Midlands
27 Wakefield 367,666 Metropolitan borough, city  (1888) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
28 East Riding of Yorkshire 355,884 Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
29 Sandwell 353,860 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
30 Brent 352,976 London borough Greater London London
31 Wigan 344,922 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
32 Wandsworth 337,655 London borough Greater London London
33 Bromley 335,319 London borough Greater London London
34 Shropshire 332,455 Unitary authority Shropshire West Midlands
35 Dudley 331,930 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
36 Tower Hamlets 331,886 London borough Greater London London
37 Northumberland 331,420 Unitary authority Northumberland North East
38 Nottingham 331,077 Unitary authority, city  (1897) Nottinghamshire East Midlands
39 Hillingdon 329,185 London borough Greater London London
40 Wirral 328,873 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
41 Enfield 327,434 London borough Greater London London
42 Redbridge 321,231 London borough Greater London London
43 Newcastle upon Tyne 320,605 Metropolitan borough, city  (1882) Tyne and Wear North East
44 Doncaster 319,765 Metropolitan borough, city  (2022) South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
45 Lambeth 316,920 London borough Greater London London
46 Central Bedfordshire 315,877 Unitary authority Bedfordshire East of England
47 Southwark 314,786 London borough Greater London London
48 Bolton 310,085 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
49 South Gloucestershire 306,332 Unitary authority Gloucestershire South West
50 Milton Keynes 305,884 Unitary authority, borough, city  (2022) Buckinghamshire South East
51 Stockport 303,929 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
52 Lewisham 301,255 London borough Greater London London
53 Greenwich 299,528 London borough, royal borough Greater London London
54 Hounslow 299,424 London borough Greater London London
55 Walsall 295,678 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
56 Salford 294,348 Metropolitan borough, city  (1926) Greater Manchester North West
57 Medway 292,655 Unitary authority Kent South East
58 Sunderland 288,606 Metropolitan borough, city  (1992) Tyne and Wear North East
59 Sefton 286,281 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
60 Brighton and Hove 283,870 Unitary authority, city  (2000) East Sussex South East
61 Wolverhampton 281,251 Metropolitan borough, city  (2000) West Midlands West Midlands
62 Cumberland 280,495 Unitary authority Cumbria North West
63 Waltham Forest 279,737 London borough Greater London London
64 Rotherham 276,595 Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
65 Havering 276,274 London borough Greater London London
66 Kingston upon Hull 275,401 Unitary authority, city  (1897) East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
67 Derby 274,149 Unitary authority, city  (1977) Derbyshire East Midlands
68 Plymouth 272,067 Unitary authority, city  (1928) Devon South West
69 Harrow 270,724 London borough Greater London London
70 Stoke-on-Trent 270,425 Unitary authority, city  (1925) Staffordshire West Midlands
71 Hackney 266,758 London borough Greater London London
72 Haringey 263,850 London borough Greater London London
73 Southampton 259,424 Unitary authority, city  (1964) Hampshire South East
74 Bexley 256,434 London borough Greater London London
75 Barnsley 251,770 Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
76 Oldham 251,560 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
77 East Suffolk 249,664 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
78 Swindon 243,875 Unitary authority, borough Wiltshire South West
79 Trafford 241,025 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
80 Tameside 239,643 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
81 Luton 239,090 Unitary authority, borough Bedfordshire East of England
82 Rochdale 235,561 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
83 Barking and Dagenham 232,747 London borough Greater London London
84 Westmorland and Furness 230,185 Unitary authority Cumbria North West
85 North Somerset 224,578 Unitary authority Somerset South West
86 Peterborough 223,655 Unitary authority, city  (1541) Cambridgeshire East of England
87 Islington 223,024 London borough Greater London London
88 Solihull 221,242 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
89 Merton 218,539 London borough Greater London London
90 Camden 216,943 London borough Greater London London
91 Warrington 215,391 Unitary authority, borough Cheshire North West
92 North Tyneside 215,025 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
93 Sutton 214,525 London borough Greater London London
94 Portsmouth 214,321 Unitary authority, city  (1926) Hampshire South East
95 Calderdale 210,929 Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
96 Westminster 209,996 London borough, city  (1540) Greater London London
97 York 209,301 Unitary authority, city  ( TI ) North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
98 Stockton-on-Tees 206,800 Unitary authority, borough Durham and North Yorkshire North East
99 Gateshead 202,760 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
100 Colchester 200,222 Non-metropolitan district, borough, city  (2022) Essex East of England
101 Bath and North East Somerset 200,028 Unitary authority Somerset South West
102 Bury 198,921 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
103 Richmond upon Thames 196,678 London borough Greater London London
104 Telford and Wrekin 195,952 Unitary authority, borough Shropshire West Midlands
105 Bedford 194,976 Unitary authority, borough Bedfordshire East of England
106 Basildon 193,632 Non-metropolitan district, borough Essex East of England
107 Basingstoke and Deane 193,110 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
108 Herefordshire 191,047 Unitary authority Herefordshire West Midlands
109 Huntingdonshire 190,619 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
110 St Helens 188,861 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
111 Chelmsford 188,803 Non-metropolitan district, city  (2012) Essex East of England
112 Hammersmith and Fulham 188,687 London borough Greater London London
113 West Suffolk 188,485 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
114 Charnwood 188,385 Non-metropolitan district, borough Leicestershire East Midlands
115 Maidstone 187,767 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
116 Wokingham 187,200 Unitary authority Berkshire South East
117 Southend-on-Sea 185,256 Unitary authority, borough, city Essex East of England
118 Reading 182,907 Unitary authority, borough Berkshire South East
119 Thurrock 180,989 Unitary authority, borough Essex East of England
120 New Forest 176,116 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
121 Kingston upon Thames 172,692 London borough, royal borough Greater London London
122 South Cambridgeshire 172,544 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
123 North Lincolnshire 171,336 Unitary authority, borough Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber
124 Cherwell 170,426 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
125 Arun 170,064 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
126 Slough 167,359 Unitary authority, borough Berkshire South East
127 Wealden 166,908 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
128 Oxford 166,034 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1542) Oxfordshire South East
129 West Berkshire 165,112 Unitary authority Berkshire South East
130 Braintree 164,304 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
131 Preston 162,864 Non-metropolitan district, city  (2002) Lancashire North West
132 Knowsley 162,565 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
133 Blackburn with Darwen 162,540 Unitary authority, borough Lancashire North West
134 Canterbury 162,100 Non-metropolitan district, city  ( TI ) Kent South East
135 Mid Sussex 161,755 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
136 Dacorum 161,420 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hertfordshire East of England
137 North East Lincolnshire 159,911 Unitary authority, borough Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber
138 Reigate and Banstead 159,134 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
139 Windsor and Maidenhead 158,943 Unitary authority, royal borough Berkshire South East
140 Swale 158,379 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
141 East Devon 158,239 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
142 East Hertfordshire 156,875 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
143 Tendring 156,759 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
144 South Oxfordshire 156,470 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
145 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 156,206 Non-metropolitan district, borough Norfolk East of England
146 Middlesbrough 156,161 Unitary authority, borough North Yorkshire North East
147 Warwick 154,889 Non-metropolitan district Warwickshire West Midlands
148 Horsham 151,521 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
149 South Tyneside 151,393 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
150 Guildford 151,359 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
151 St Albans 151,012 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1877) Hertfordshire East of England
152 Cambridge 149,352 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1951) Cambridgeshire East of England
153 Vale of White Horse 149,347 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
154 South Norfolk 148,448 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
155 Norwich 147,182 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1195) Norfolk East of England
156 South Kesteven 147,151 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
157 Breckland 146,620 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
158 Stratford-on-Avon 146,258 Non-metropolitan district Warwickshire West Midlands
159 East Lindsey 145,183 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
160 Lancaster 145,006 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1937) Lancashire North West
161 Kensington and Chelsea 144,518 London borough, royal borough Greater London London
162 Blackpool 144,191 Unitary authority, borough Lancashire North West
163 Eastleigh 142,933 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
164 Thanet 142,691 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
165 Elmbridge 141,926 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
166 Isle of Wight 141,660 Unitary authority Isle of Wight South East
167 Nuneaton and Bedworth 141,565 Non-metropolitan district, borough Warwickshire West Midlands
168 Stafford 141,556 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
169 Ashford 140,936 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
170 Ipswich 140,274 Non-metropolitan district, borough Suffolk East of England
171 Torbay 140,126 Unitary authority, borough Devon South West
172 Redcar and Cleveland 139,228 Unitary authority, borough North Yorkshire North East
173 Gloucester 138,598 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1541) Gloucestershire South West
174 Teignbridge 138,548 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
175 Exeter 138,399 Non-metropolitan district, city  ( TI ) Devon South West
176 Broadland 138,157 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
177 Wychavon 138,017 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
178 Epping Forest 137,451 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
179 North Hertfordshire 137,201 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
180 Tonbridge and Malling 136,853 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
181 Winchester 135,632 Non-metropolitan district, city  ( TI ) Hampshire South East
182 Test Valley 135,201 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
183 Waverley 134,284 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
184 Halton 131,543 Unitary authority, borough Cheshire North West
185 Bracknell Forest 130,806 Unitary authority, borough Berkshire South East
186 Amber Valley 130,451 Non-metropolitan district, borough Derbyshire East Midlands
187 East Hampshire 129,975 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
188 East Staffordshire 129,659 Non-metropolitan district, borough Staffordshire West Midlands
189 Ashfield 129,572 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
190 Chichester 128,934 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
191 Newark and Sherwood 127,886 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
192 Newcastle-under-Lyme 127,727 Non-metropolitan district, borough Staffordshire West Midlands
193 Havant 126,985 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
194 Rushcliffe 126,736 Non-metropolitan district, borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
195 Stroud 125,680 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
196 Dartford 125,011 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
197 Bassetlaw 124,937 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
198 Crawley 124,008 Non-metropolitan district, borough West Sussex South East
199 Welwyn Hatfield 122,819 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
200 Sevenoaks 122,748 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
201 North Kesteven 122,468 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
202 Rugby 122,378 Non-metropolitan district, borough Warwickshire West Midlands
203 West Lancashire 121,995 Non-metropolitan district Lancashire North West
204 Cheltenham 121,739 Non-metropolitan district, borough Gloucestershire South West
205 West Oxfordshire 120,941 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
206 Chorley 120,839 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
207 Gedling 120,179 Non-metropolitan district, borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
208 Dover 119,768 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
209 Tunbridge Wells 119,694 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
210 Wyre 118,743 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
211 South Derbyshire 117,493 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
212 Hinckley and Bosworth 116,682 Non-metropolitan district, borough Leicestershire East Midlands
213 South Ribble 116,113 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
214 Fareham 115,428 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
215 Broxtowe 114,565 Non-metropolitan district, borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
216 South Staffordshire 114,423 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
217 Erewash 114,253 Non-metropolitan district, borough Derbyshire East Midlands
218 Worthing 113,866 Non-metropolitan district, borough West Sussex South East
219 Mansfield 113,138 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
220 Darlington 112,489 Unitary authority, borough Durham North East
221 Folkestone and Hythe 112,411 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
222 Lichfield 111,932 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
223 North West Leicestershire 111,881 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
224 Mid Suffolk 110,775 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
225 Gravesham 110,671 Non-metropolitan district, borough Kent South East
226 Hertsmere 110,212 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hertfordshire East of England
227 Blaby 108,165 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
228 Watford 107,171 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hertfordshire East of England
229 Spelthorne 107,074 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
230 Worcester 106,671 Non-metropolitan district, city  (1189) Worcestershire West Midlands
231 North East Derbyshire 106,646 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
232 Chesterfield 106,045 Non-metropolitan district, borough Derbyshire East Midlands
233 Rushmoor 105,751 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
234 Woking 105,679 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
235 Lincoln 105,114 Non-metropolitan district, city  ( TI ) Lincolnshire East Midlands
236 Fenland 104,896 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
237 Harborough 104,713 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
238 Eastbourne 104,259 Non-metropolitan district, borough East Sussex South East
239 Cannock Chase 104,088 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
240 Wyre Forest 103,913 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
241 North Norfolk 103,217 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
242 Hart 103,162 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
243 Lewes 102,363 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
244 Tewkesbury 101,949 Non-metropolitan district, borough Gloucestershire South West
245 Broxbourne 101,900 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hertfordshire East of England
246 Bromsgrove 101,685 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
247 North Devon 101,222 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
248 Great Yarmouth 100,529 Non-metropolitan district, borough Norfolk East of England
249 Pendle 99,777 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
250 South Holland 99,298 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
251 Burnley 99,233 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
252 West Lindsey 99,208 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
253 Harlow 98,235 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
254 Hartlepool 98,180 Unitary authority, borough Durham North East
255 Babergh 97,033 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
256 Staffordshire Moorlands 96,651 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
257 Rother 96,133 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
258 Three Rivers 95,807 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
259 Uttlesford 95,106 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
260 Surrey Heath 94,492 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
261 East Cambridgeshire 92,906 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
262 South Hams 92,148 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
263 Runnymede 92,118 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
264 High Peak 91,959 Non-metropolitan district, borough Derbyshire East Midlands
265 Stevenage 91,774 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hertfordshire East of England
266 Cotswold 91,661 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
267 Hastings 91,219 Non-metropolitan district, borough East Sussex South East
268 Tandridge 90,586 Non-metropolitan district Surrey South East
269 Castle Point 90,581 Non-metropolitan district, borough Essex East of England
270 Rochford 89,815 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
271 Forest of Dean 89,753 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
272 Mole Valley 88,709 Non-metropolitan district Surrey South East
273 Redditch 87,847 Non-metropolitan district, borough Worcestershire West Midlands
274 Hyndburn 86,058 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
275 Fylde 85,447 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
276 Mid Devon 84,993 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
277 Bolsover 83,773 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
278 Epsom and Ewell 83,288 Non-metropolitan district, borough Surrey South East
279 Malvern Hills 83,227 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
280 Gosport 82,921 Non-metropolitan district, borough Hampshire South East
281 Tamworth 81,117 Non-metropolitan district, borough Staffordshire West Midlands
282 Brentwood 79,326 Non-metropolitan district, borough Essex East of England
283 Rossendale 73,045 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
284 Derbyshire Dales 71,757 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
285 Boston 71,080 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lincolnshire East Midlands
286 Torridge 69,841 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
287 Maldon 69,131 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
288 North Warwickshire 67,117 Non-metropolitan district, borough Warwickshire West Midlands
289 Ribble Valley 65,794 Non-metropolitan district, borough Lancashire North West
290 Adur 64,889 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
291 Oadby and Wigston 61,695 Non-metropolitan district, borough Leicestershire East Midlands
292 West Devon 58,923 Non-metropolitan district, borough Devon South West
293 Melton 54,052 Non-metropolitan district, borough Leicestershire East Midlands
294 Rutland 41,443 Unitary authority Rutland East Midlands
295 City of London 15,111 Sui generis , city  ( TI ) City of London London
296 Isles of Scilly 2,366 Sui generis Cornwall South West

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Mid-Year Population Estimates, United Kingdom, June 2024". Office for National Statistics . 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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