List of English districts by population

This is a list of the 296 districts of England ordered by population, according to estimated figures for 2021 from the Office for National Statistics.[1]

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).

2011 RUCLAD Assignments in England[2]
Rank District Population (2021) Type Ceremonial county Region
1 Birmingham 1,142,494 Metropolitan borough, City (1889) West Midlands West Midlands
2 Leeds 809,036 Metropolitan borough, City (1893) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
3 North Yorkshire 618,847 Unitary authority North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
4 Somerset 573,119 Unitary authority Somerset South West
5 Cornwall 572,010 Unitary authority Cornwall South West
6 Buckinghamshire 555,257 Unitary authority Buckinghamshire South East
7 Sheffield 554,401 Metropolitan borough, City (1893) South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
8 Manchester 549,853 Metropolitan borough, City (1853) Greater Manchester North West
9 Bradford 546,976 Metropolitan borough, City (1897) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
10 County Durham 521,346 Unitary authority Durham North East
11 Wiltshire 513,411 Unitary authority Wiltshire South West
12 Liverpool 484,488 Metropolitan borough, City (1880) Merseyside North West
13 Bristol 471,117 Unitary authority, City (1542) Bristol South West
14 Kirklees 433,355 Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
15 West Northamptonshire 426,462 Unitary authority Northamptonshire East Midlands
16 Cheshire East 400,528 Unitary authority Cheshire North West
17 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 400,109 Unitary authority Dorset South West
18 Croydon 390,506 London borough Greater London London
19 Barnet 388,639 London borough Greater London London
20 Dorset 381,292 Unitary authority Dorset South West
21 Ealing 366,127 London borough Greater London London
22 Leicester 366,018 Unitary authority, City (1919) Leicestershire East Midlands
23 North Northamptonshire 360,381 Unitary authority Northamptonshire East Midlands
24 Cheshire West and Chester 357,699 Unitary authority Cheshire North West
25 Wakefield 353,802 Metropolitan borough, City (1888) West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
26 Newham 350,626 London borough Greater London London
27 Coventry 343,320 Metropolitan borough, City (1345) West Midlands West Midlands
28 East Riding of Yorkshire 343,143 Unitary authority East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
29 Sandwell 341,729 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
30 Brent 338,918 London borough Greater London London
31 Bromley 329,830 London borough Greater London London
32 Wigan 329,759 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
33 Enfield 329,601 London borough Greater London London
34 Wandsworth 328,367 London borough Greater London London
35 Shropshire 324,716 Unitary authority Shropshire West Midlands
36 Dudley 323,581 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
37 Northumberland 321,558 Unitary authority Northumberland North East
38 Wirral 320,600 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
39 Nottingham 319,566 Unitary authority, City (1897) Nottinghamshire East Midlands
40 Lambeth 317,498 London borough Greater London London
41 Tower Hamlets 312,273 London borough Greater London London
42 Redbridge 309,836 London borough Greater London London
43 Doncaster 308,705 Metropolitan borough, City (2022) South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
44 Southwark 306,374 London borough Greater London London
45 Hillingdon 304,792 London borough Greater London London
46 Lewisham 299,810 London borough Greater London London
47 Newcastle upon Tyne 298,264 Metropolitan borough, City (1882) Tyne and Wear North East
48 Bolton 296,041 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
49 Central Bedfordshire 295,541 Unitary authority Bedfordshire East of England
50 Stockport 295,243 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
51 South Gloucestershire 290,736 Unitary authority Gloucestershire South West
52 Greenwich 289,254 London borough, Royal Borough Greater London London
53 Milton Keynes 288,201 Unitary authority, Borough, City (2022) Buckinghamshire South East
54 Hounslow 287,940 London borough Greater London London
55 Walsall 284,306 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
56 Medway 279,827 Unitary authority Kent South East
57 Sefton 279,692 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
58 Waltham Forest 278,050 London borough Greater London London
59 Brighton & Hove 276,334 Unitary authority, City (2000) East Sussex South East
60 Sunderland 274,211 Metropolitan borough, City (1992) Tyne and Wear North East
61 Cumberland 273,815 Unitary authority Cumbria North West
62 Salford 270,764 Metropolitan borough, City (1926) Greater Manchester North West
63 Kingston upon Hull 266,463 Unitary authority, City (1299) East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
64 Rotherham 266,183 Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
65 Plymouth 264,727 Unitary authority, City (1928) Devon South West
66 Haringey 264,130 London borough Greater London London
67 Wolverhampton 264,036 Metropolitan borough, City (2000) West Midlands West Midlands
68 Havering 262,022 London borough Greater London London
69 Derby 261,136 Unitary authority, City (1977) Derbyshire East Midlands
70 Harrow 260,987 London borough Greater London London
71 Hackney 259,956 London borough Greater London London
72 Stoke-on-Trent 258,037 Unitary authority, City (1925) Staffordshire West Midlands
73 Southampton 247,256 Unitary authority, City (1964) Hampshire South East
74 East Suffolk 246,801 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
75 Bexley 246,543 London borough Greater London London
76 Barnsley 244,893 Metropolitan borough South Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
77 Oldham 242,072 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
78 Trafford 235,546 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
79 Swindon 233,713 Unitary authority, Borough Wiltshire South West
80 Tameside 231,199 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
81 Westmorland and Furness 227,006 Unitary authority Cumbria North West
82 Luton 224,826 Unitary authority, Borough Bedfordshire East of England
83 Rochdale 224,087 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
84 Barking and Dagenham 218,534 London borough Greater London London
85 North Somerset 217,399 Unitary authority Somerset South West
86 Islington 216,767 London borough Greater London London
87 Solihull 216,666 Metropolitan borough West Midlands West Midlands
88 Peterborough 216,349 Unitary authority, City (1541) Cambridgeshire East of England
89 Merton 215,324 London borough Greater London London
90 Warrington 211,227 Unitary authority, Borough Cheshire North West
91 Camden 210,390 London borough Greater London London
92 Sutton 209,517 London borough Greater London London
93 North Tyneside 209,151 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
94 Portsmouth 206,828 Unitary authority, City (1926) Hampshire South East
95 Calderdale 206,818 Metropolitan borough West Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
96 Westminster 205,087 London borough, City (1540) Greater London London
97 York 201,672 Unitary authority, City (TI) North Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber
98 Stockton-on-Tees 197,030 Unitary authority, Borough Durham and
North Yorkshire
North East
99 Gateshead 196,154 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
100 Richmond upon Thames 195,232 London borough Greater London London
101 Bury 193,823 Metropolitan borough Greater Manchester North West
102 Colchester 192,424 Non-metropolitan district, Borough, City (2022) Essex East of England
103 Bath and North East Somerset 192,423 Unitary authority Somerset South West
104 Basildon 187,659 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Essex East of England
105 Herefordshire 187,557 Unitary authority Herefordshire West Midlands
106 Telford and Wrekin 185,842 Unitary authority, Borough Shropshire West Midlands
107 Bedford 185,761 Unitary authority, Borough Bedfordshire East of England
108 Basingstoke and Deane 185,656 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
109 St Helens 183,391 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
110 Hammersmith and Fulham 183,295 London borough Greater London London
111 Charnwood 182,817 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Leicestershire East Midlands
112 Huntingdonshire 181,804 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
113 Chelmsford 181,763 Non-metropolitan district, City (2012) Essex East of England
114 West Suffolk 180,820 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
115 Southend-on-Sea 180,601 Unitary authority, Borough, City Essex East of England
116 Wokingham 178,169 Unitary authority Berkshire South East
117 Maidstone 176,712 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
118 New Forest 176,262 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
119 Thurrock 175,902 Unitary authority, Borough Essex East of England
120 Reading 173,170 Unitary authority, Borough Berkshire South East
121 North Lincolnshire 169,940 Unitary authority, Borough Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber
122 Kingston upon Thames 167,845 London borough, Royal Borough Greater London London
123 Arun 165,225 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
124 South Cambridgeshire 163,002 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
125 West Berkshire 161,865 Unitary authority Berkshire South East
126 Cherwell 161,837 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
127 Wealden 160,749 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
128 Oxford 160,021 Non-metropolitan district, City (1542) Oxfordshire South East
129 Slough 158,289 Unitary authority, Borough Berkshire South East
130 North East Lincolnshire 157,197 Unitary authority, Borough Lincolnshire Yorkshire and the Humber
131 Canterbury 156,554 Non-metropolitan district, City (TI) Kent South East
132 Braintree 155,710 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
133 Dacorum 155,217 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hertfordshire East of England
134 Knowsley 154,974 Metropolitan borough Merseyside North West
135 Blackburn with Darwen 154,922 Unitary authority, Borough Lancashire North West
136 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 154,910 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Norfolk East of England
137 Windsor and Maidenhead 153,921 Unitary authority, Royal Borough Berkshire South East
138 Mid Sussex 152,949 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
139 Swale 152,223 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
140 East Devon 152,120 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
141 Reigate and Banstead 151,423 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
142 East Hertfordshire 150,687 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
143 South Oxfordshire 150,024 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
144 Tendring 148,934 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
145 Warwick 148,729 Non-metropolitan district Warwickshire West Midlands
146 St Albans 148,641 Non-metropolitan district, City (1877) Hertfordshire East of England
147 South Tyneside 147,915 Metropolitan borough Tyne and Wear North East
148 Preston 147,617 Non-metropolitan district, City (2002) Lancashire North West
149 Horsham 147,487 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
150 Cambridge 144,714 Non-metropolitan district, City (1951) Cambridgeshire East of England
151 Kensington and Chelsea 143,940 London borough, Royal Borough Greater London London
152 Guildford 143,929 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
153 South Kesteven 143,787 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
154 Middlesbrough 143,734 Unitary authority, Borough North Yorkshire North East
155 Norwich 143,118 Non-metropolitan district, City (1195) Norfolk East of England
156 East Lindsey 142,951 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
157 South Norfolk 142,527 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
158 Breckland 142,164 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
159 Lancaster 142,162 Non-metropolitan district, City (1937) Lancashire North West
160 Blackpool 140,954 Unitary authority, Borough Lancashire North West
161 Isle of Wight 140,889 Unitary authority[3] Isle of Wight South East
162 Thanet 140,678 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
163 Ipswich 139,614 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Suffolk East of England
164 Vale of White Horse 139,487 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
165 Torbay 139,446 Unitary authority, Borough Devon South West
166 Elmbridge 139,369 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
167 Stafford 137,231 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
168 Eastleigh 136,974 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
169 Redcar and Cleveland 136,616 Unitary authority, Borough North Yorkshire North East
170 Stratford-on-Avon 135,964 Non-metropolitan district Warwickshire West Midlands
171 Teignbridge 135,216 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
172 Epping Forest 134,909 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
173 Nuneaton and Bedworth 134,291 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Warwickshire West Midlands
174 North Hertfordshire 133,571 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
175 Ashford 133,178 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
176 Wychavon 133,100 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
177 Gloucester 132,538 Non-metropolitan district, City (1541) Gloucestershire South West
178 Tonbridge and Malling 132,386 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
179 Broadland 132,247 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
180 Test Valley 131,190 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
181 Exeter 129,307 Non-metropolitan district, City (TI) Devon South West
182 Waverley 128,878 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
183 Halton 128,577 Unitary authority, Borough Cheshire North West
184 Winchester 127,916 Non-metropolitan district, City (TI) Hampshire South East
185 Amber Valley 126,489 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Derbyshire East Midlands
186 Ashfield 126,372 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
187 East Hampshire 126,199 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
188 Bracknell Forest 125,174 Unitary authority, Borough Berkshire South East
189 Chichester 124,531 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
190 East Staffordshire 124,477 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Staffordshire West Midlands
191 Havant 124,470 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
192 Newark and Sherwood 123,383 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
193 Newcastle-under-Lyme 123,025 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Staffordshire West Midlands
194 Stroud 121,529 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
195 Sevenoaks 120,841 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
196 Welwyn Hatfield 119,538 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
197 Rushcliffe 119,438 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
198 Cheltenham 118,866 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Gloucestershire South West
199 Crawley 118,580 Non-metropolitan district, Borough West Sussex South East
200 North Kesteven 118,553 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
201 Bassetlaw 118,351 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
202 Chorley 117,937 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
203 Gedling 117,298 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
204 West Lancashire 117,125 Non-metropolitan district Lancashire North West
205 Dartford 116,777 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
206 Dover 116,595 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
207 Tunbridge Wells 115,681 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
208 West Oxfordshire 115,161 Non-metropolitan district Oxfordshire South East
209 Fareham 114,993 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
210 Rugby 114,829 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Warwickshire West Midlands
211 Hinckley and Bosworth 113,660 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Leicestershire East Midlands
212 Erewash 113,047 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Derbyshire East Midlands
213 Wyre 112,457 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
214 Worthing 111,657 Non-metropolitan district, Borough West Sussex South East
215 South Ribble 111,204 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
216 Broxtowe 110,813 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Nottinghamshire East Midlands
217 South Staffordshire 110,793 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
218 Mansfield 110,602 Non-metropolitan district Nottinghamshire East Midlands
219 Folkestone and Hythe 110,056 Non-metropolitan district Kent South East
220 Darlington 108,222 Unitary authority, Borough Durham North East
221 Hertsmere 108,105 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hertfordshire East of England
222 South Derbyshire 108,063 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
223 Lichfield 106,909 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
224 Gravesham 106,838 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Kent South East
225 North West Leicestershire 105,011 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
226 Woking 103,889 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
227 Chesterfield 103,672 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Derbyshire East Midlands
228 Worcester 103,617 Non-metropolitan district, City (1189) Worcestershire West Midlands
229 Mid Suffolk 103,417 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
230 Blaby 103,271 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
231 North Norfolk 103,257 Non-metropolitan district Norfolk East of England
232 Spelthorne 102,995 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
233 Fenland 102,742 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
234 Watford 102,451 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hertfordshire East of England
235 Lincoln 102,330 Non-metropolitan district, City (TI) Lincolnshire East Midlands
236 North East Derbyshire 102,315 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
237 Wyre Forest 101,786 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
238 Eastbourne 101,593 Non-metropolitan district, Borough East Sussex South East
239 Cannock Chase 100,590 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
240 Hart 100,293 Non-metropolitan district Hampshire South East
241 Lewes 100,194 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
242 Great Yarmouth 100,146 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Norfolk East of England
243 Rushmoor 100,068 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
244 Bromsgrove 99,475 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
245 North Devon 99,435 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
246 Broxbourne 99,138 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hertfordshire East of England
247 Harborough 98,287 Non-metropolitan district Leicestershire East Midlands
248 Staffordshire Moorlands 95,993 Non-metropolitan district Staffordshire West Midlands
249 Pendle 95,789 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
250 West Lindsey 95,570 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
251 South Holland 95,485 Non-metropolitan district Lincolnshire East Midlands
252 Tewkesbury 95,429 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Gloucestershire South West
253 Burnley 94,721 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
254 Three Rivers 93,952 Non-metropolitan district Hertfordshire East of England
255 Rother 93,429 Non-metropolitan district East Sussex South East
256 Harlow 93,374 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
257 Babergh 92,723 Non-metropolitan district Suffolk East of England
258 Hartlepool 92,571 Unitary authority, Borough Durham North East
259 Uttlesford 91,948 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
260 Cotswold 91,125 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
261 High Peak 91,104 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Derbyshire East Midlands
262 Hastings 90,959 Non-metropolitan district, Borough East Sussex South East
263 Surrey Heath 90,645 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
264 Castle Point 89,708 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Essex East of England
265 Stevenage 89,320 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hertfordshire East of England
266 South Hams 89,213 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
267 East Cambridgeshire 88,145 Non-metropolitan district Cambridgeshire East of England
268 Tandridge 88,143 Non-metropolitan district Surrey South East
269 Runnymede 87,739 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
270 Mole Valley 87,608 Non-metropolitan district Surrey South East
271 Forest of Dean 87,140 Non-metropolitan district Gloucestershire South West
272 Redditch 86,996 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Worcestershire West Midlands
273 Rochford 86,186 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
274 Mid Devon 83,186 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
275 Hyndburn 82,261 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
276 Gosport 82,178 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Hampshire South East
277 Fylde 81,845 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
278 Epsom and Ewell 80,998 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Surrey South East
279 Bolsover 80,476 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
280 Malvern Hills 79,973 Non-metropolitan district Worcestershire West Midlands
281 Tamworth 78,838 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Staffordshire West Midlands
282 Brentwood 77,103 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Essex East of England
283 Derbyshire Dales 71,681 Non-metropolitan district Derbyshire East Midlands
284 Rossendale 71,010 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
285 Boston 70,798 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lincolnshire East Midlands
286 Torridge 68,475 Non-metropolitan district Devon South West
287 Maldon 66,627 Non-metropolitan district Essex East of England
288 North Warwickshire 65,340 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Warwickshire West Midlands
289 Adur 64,626 Non-metropolitan district West Sussex South East
290 Ribble Valley 61,907 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Lancashire North West
291 Oadby and Wigston 57,753 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Leicestershire East Midlands
292 West Devon 57,488 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Devon South West
293 Melton 51,773 Non-metropolitan district, Borough Leicestershire East Midlands
294 Rutland 41,381 Unitary authority Rutland East Midlands
295 City of London 8,618 sui generis, City (TI) City of London London
296 Isles of Scilly 2,271 sui generis Cornwall South West

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2021". Office for National Statistics. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ^ "2011 Rural-Urban Classification of Local Authority Districts and Similar Geographic Units in England: A User Guide" (PDF).
  3. ^ "The Isle of Wight (Structural Change) Order 1994". legislation.gov.uk.