This is a list of two-tier counties of England by population.
It includes those non-metropolitan counties (also known as shire counties) with a two-tier county council structure and does not include metropolitan counties or unitary authorities.
Where a unitary authority has separated from a shire county the population of the unitary authority is counted elsewhere. For example, the population of Blackpool is not included in Lancashire in this table.
The figures are mid-year estimates for mid-2019 est. from the Office for National Statistics. [1] [2]
Densities are calculated from population and area values.
County | Population | Area (in km2) | Density (people/km2) |
---|---|---|---|
Kent | 1,578,519 | 3,544 | 445 |
Essex | 1,506,345 | 3,458 | 436 |
Hampshire | 1,406,199 | 3,678 | 382 |
Lancashire | 1,236,035 | 2,894 | 427 |
Surrey | 1,205,616 | 1,663 | 725 |
Hertfordshire | 1,200,620 | 1,643 | 731 |
Norfolk | 918,369 | 5,384 | 171 |
Staffordshire | 877,856 | 2,620 | 335 |
West Sussex | 885,055 | 1,991 | 445 |
Nottinghamshire | 826,257 | 2,085 | 396 |
Derbyshire | 796,847 | 2,547 | 313 |
Devon | 814,440 | 6,564 | 124 |
Suffolk | 763,375 | 3,800 | 201 |
Lincolnshire | 769,474 | 5,937 | 130 |
Leicestershire | 712,572 | 2,083 | 342 |
Oxfordshire | 726,530 | 2,605 | 279 |
Cambridgeshire | 680,407 | 3,046 | 223 |
Gloucestershire | 646,627 | 2,653 | 244 |
Worcestershire | 604,947 | 1,741 | 348 |
Warwickshire | 599,153 | 1,975 | 303 |
East Sussex | 546,924 | 1,709 | 320 |
The Metropolitan Borough of Sefton is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England. It was formed on 1 April 1974, by the amalgamation of the county boroughs of Bootle and Southport, the municipal borough of Crosby, the urban districts of Formby and Litherland, and part of West Lancashire Rural District. It consists of a coastal strip of land on the Irish Sea which extends from Southport in the north to Bootle in the south, and an inland part to Maghull in the south-east, bounded by the city of Liverpool to the south, the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley to the south-east, and West Lancashire to the east.
Blackburn with Darwen is a borough and unitary authority area in Lancashire, North West England. It consists of the towns of Blackburn and Darwen but covers a wider area which includes the villages of Lower Darwen, Feniscowles, Brownhill and Hoddlesden.
The City of Milton Keynes is a unitary authority area with both borough and city status, in Buckinghamshire. It is the northernmost district of the South East England Region. The borough abuts Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and the remainder of Buckinghamshire.
Halton is a unitary authority district with borough status in Cheshire, North West England. It was created in 1974 as a district of the non-metropolitan county of Cheshire, and became a unitary authority area on 1 April 1998 under Halton Borough Council. Since 2014, it has been a member of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The borough consists of the towns of Runcorn and Widnes and the civil parishes of Daresbury, Hale, Halebank, Moore, Preston Brook, and Sandymoor. The district borders Merseyside, the Borough of Warrington and Cheshire West and Chester.
Lancaster, or the City of Lancaster, is a local government district with city status in Lancashire, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Lancaster, and also includes the towns of Carnforth, Heysham and Morecambe and a wider rural hinterland. The district has a population of 142,162 (2021), and an area of 218.9 square miles (566.9 km2).
The Metropolitan Borough of Bolton is a metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England, named after its largest town, Bolton, but covering a larger area which includes Blackrod, Farnworth, Horwich, Kearsley, Westhoughton, and part of the West Pennine Moors. It had a population of 296,041 in 2021, making it the third-most populous district in Greater Manchester.
The City of Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. The metropolitan borough includes the administrative centre of Sheffield, the town of Stocksbridge and the larger village of Chapeltown and part of the Peak District. It has a population of 554,401 (2021), making it technically the third largest city in England by population behind Birmingham and Leeds, since London is not considered a single entity. It is governed by Sheffield City Council.
North Northamptonshire is one of two local government districts in Northamptonshire, England. It is a unitary authority area forming about one half of the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire. It was created in 2021. Its council is based in Corby, the district's largest town. Other notable towns are Kettering, Wellingborough, Rushden, Raunds, Desborough, Rothwell, Irthlingborough, Thrapston and Oundle.
West Northamptonshire is a unitary authority area covering part of the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, created in 2021. By far the largest settlement in West Northamptonshire is the county town of Northampton. Its other significant towns are Daventry, Brackley and Towcester; the rest of the area is predominantly agricultural villages though it has many lakes and small woodlands and is passed through by the West Coast Main Line and the M1 and M40 motorways. The district includes the site of the Roman town of Bannaventa, and the grade I listed Althorp House and its estate.
Devon County Council is the county council administering the English county of Devon. Based in the city of Exeter, the council covers the non-metropolitan county area of Devon. Members of the council (councillors) are elected every four years. Almost all councillors are members of the major national political parties.
Leeds, also known as the City of Leeds, is a metropolitan borough with city status in West Yorkshire, England. The metropolitan borough includes the administrative centre of Leeds and the towns of Farsley, Garforth, Guiseley, Horsforth, Morley, Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell, Wetherby and Yeadon. It has a population of 809,036 (2021), making it technically the second largest city in England by population behind Birmingham, since London is not a single local government entity. Local governance sits with Leeds City Council and the city's 32 Parish Councils.
The Borough of Warrington is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The borough is centred around the town of Warrington, and extends out into outlying villages of Lymm and Great Sankey and the town of Birchwood.
The Borough of Blackpool is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of Lancashire, England. It is named after the seaside town of Blackpool but covers a wider area which includes Anchorsholme, Bispham, Layton, Marton and Squires Gate. As well as the suburbs of Grange Park, North Shore, South Shore and Starr Gate. The borough also forms the core of the wider Blackpool conurbation.
Cumberland is a unitary authority area in Cumbria, England, which means that is a non-metropolitan county and district. It borders Scotland, Northumberland, Westmorland and Furness, and the Irish Sea. Part of the area is in the Lake District National Park and notable landmarks include Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle Castle and Hadrian's Wall.
Westmorland and Furness is a unitary authority area in Cumbria, England. The economy is mainly focused on tourism around both the Lake District and Cumbria Coast, shipbuilding and the port in Barrow-in-Furness, and agriculture in the rural parts of the area.