People per square kilometre, every council ranked
How built up the council is as a whole. A rural council with one busy town reads low. Figures for 2025, published for 361 councils in the UK. Lowest first: the order says where a council sits, not whether that is good.
Lowest: Na h-Eileanan Siar, 8. The council in the middle: Great Yarmouth, 579. Highest: Tower Hamlets, 16,909.
| Place | Council | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Na h-Eileanan SiarScotland | 8 |
| 2 | HighlandScotland | 9 |
| 3 | Argyll and ButeScotland | 12 |
| 4 | Shetland IslandsScotland | 15 |
| 5 | Orkney IslandsScotland | 22 |
| 6 | Dumfries and GallowayScotland | 23 |
| 7 | Scottish BordersScotland | 25 |
| 8 | PowysWales | 26 |
| 9 | Perth and KinrossScotland | 29 |
| 10 | Fermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland | 39 |
| 11 | CeredigionWales | 41 |
| 12 joint | AberdeenshireScotland | 42 |
| 12 joint | MorayScotland | 42 |
| 12 joint | StirlingScotland | 42 |
| 15 | GwyneddWales | 47 |
| 16 | West DevonSouth West | 51 |
| 17 | AngusScotland | 52 |
| 18 | Westmorland and FurnessNorth West | 61 |
| 19 | NorthumberlandNorth East | 66 |
| 20 joint | Causeway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland | 71 |
| 20 joint | TorridgeSouth West | 71 |
| 22 joint | Mid UlsterNorthern Ireland | 78 |
| 22 joint | PembrokeshireWales | 78 |
| 24 joint | CotswoldSouth West | 79 |
| 24 joint | North YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | 79 |
| 26 | CarmarthenshireWales | 80 |
| 27 | East LindseyEast Midlands | 83 |
| 28 | West LindseyEast Midlands | 86 |
| 29 | HerefordshireWest Midlands | 88 |
| 30 | Derbyshire DalesEast Midlands | 91 |
| 31 | South AyrshireScotland | 92 |
| 32 joint | CumberlandNorth West | 93 |
| 32 joint | North DevonSouth West | 93 |
| 34 | Mid DevonSouth West | 94 |
| 35 joint | East AyrshireScotland | 96 |
| 35 joint | Isle of AngleseyWales | 96 |
| 37 | ConwyWales | 101 |
| 38 | ShropshireWest Midlands | 104 |
| 39 | South HamsSouth West | 105 |
| 40 | RutlandEast Midlands | 106 |
| 41 | North NorfolkEast of England | 107 |
| 42 joint | King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England | 109 |
| 42 joint | Newry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland | 109 |
| 44 | MonmouthshireWales | 112 |
| 45 | BrecklandEast of England | 113 |
| 46 | MeltonEast Midlands | 114 |
| 47 | Ribble ValleyNorth West | 115 |
| 48 | DenbighshireWales | 117 |
| 49 | Derry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland | 122 |
| 50 | Mid SuffolkEast of England | 130 |
| 51 | Mid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland | 132 |
| 52 joint | North KestevenEast Midlands | 134 |
| 52 joint | South HollandEast Midlands | 134 |
| 54 | Isles of ScillySouth West | 141 |
| 55 | East CambridgeshireEast of England | 145 |
| 56 | Malvern HillsWest Midlands | 146 |
| 57 | East Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and the Humber | 150 |
| 58 joint | North AyrshireScotland | 151 |
| 58 joint | UttlesfordEast of England | 151 |
| 60 | Stratford-on-AvonWest Midlands | 152 |
| 61 | Armagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland | 155 |
| 62 joint | DorsetSouth West | 157 |
| 62 joint | South KestevenEast Midlands | 157 |
| 64 | WiltshireSouth West | 162 |
| 65 | BaberghEast of England | 164 |
| 66 | CornwallSouth West | 165 |
| 67 joint | ChichesterSouth East | 166 |
| 67 joint | South NorfolkEast of England | 166 |
| 69 | Staffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands | 168 |
| 70 joint | High PeakEast Midlands | 170 |
| 70 joint | West OxfordshireSouth East | 170 |
| 72 joint | East LothianScotland | 171 |
| 72 joint | Forest of DeanSouth West | 171 |
| 72 joint | SomersetSouth West | 171 |
| 75 | HarboroughEast Midlands | 180 |
| 76 | West SuffolkEast of England | 183 |
| 77 joint | RotherSouth East | 188 |
| 77 joint | South LanarkshireScotland | 188 |
| 79 joint | FenlandEast of England | 194 |
| 79 joint | South CambridgeshireEast of England | 194 |
| 81 | East DevonSouth West | 196 |
| 82 | MaldonEast of England | 197 |
| 83 joint | BassetlawEast Midlands | 198 |
| 83 joint | BostonEast Midlands | 198 |
| 83 joint | East SuffolkEast of England | 198 |
| 83 joint | Newark and SherwoodEast Midlands | 198 |
| 87 | WealdenSouth East | 202 |
| 88 | North LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | 203 |
| 89 | Antrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland | 204 |
| 90 | TeignbridgeSouth West | 206 |
| 91 | WinchesterSouth East | 207 |
| 92 joint | HuntingdonshireEast of England | 210 |
| 92 joint | WychavonWest Midlands | 210 |
| 94 | Test ValleySouth East | 216 |
| 95 | South OxfordshireSouth East | 233 |
| 96 | New ForestSouth East | 234 |
| 97 | West BerkshireSouth East | 235 |
| 98 | North WarwickshireWest Midlands | 238 |
| 99 | StaffordWest Midlands | 239 |
| 100 | County DurhamNorth East | 242 |
| 101 | AshfordSouth East | 245 |
| 102 | TewkesburySouth West | 250 |
| 103 | BroadlandEast of England | 253 |
| 104 | East HampshireSouth East | 254 |
| 105 | LancasterNorth West | 256 |
| 106 | Vale of White HorseSouth East | 263 |
| 107 | BraintreeEast of England | 272 |
| 108 joint | StroudSouth West | 274 |
| 108 joint | WrexhamWales | 274 |
| 110 joint | FifeScotland | 282 |
| 110 joint | South StaffordshireWest Midlands | 282 |
| 112 | MidlothianScotland | 283 |
| 113 | HorshamSouth East | 287 |
| 114 joint | Ards and North DownNorthern Ireland | 292 |
| 114 joint | CherwellSouth East | 292 |
| 116 | Lisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland | 299 |
| 117 | Basingstoke and DeaneSouth East | 306 |
| 118 | RushcliffeEast Midlands | 312 |
| 119 | Folkestone and HytheSouth East | 314 |
| 120 | Neath Port TalbotWales | 321 |
| 121 | West NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | 322 |
| 122 | ClackmannanshireScotland | 324 |
| 123 | East HertfordshireEast of England | 332 |
| 124 | SevenoaksSouth East | 333 |
| 125 | East StaffordshireWest Midlands | 337 |
| 126 | LichfieldWest Midlands | 342 |
| 127 | Mole ValleySouth East | 344 |
| 128 | LewesSouth East | 351 |
| 129 | South DerbyshireEast Midlands | 353 |
| 130 joint | FlintshireWales | 355 |
| 130 joint | RugbyWest Midlands | 355 |
| 132 | West LancashireNorth West | 357 |
| 133 | Tunbridge WellsSouth East | 363 |
| 134 | TandridgeSouth East | 364 |
| 135 | Cheshire EastNorth West | 365 |
| 136 | North HertfordshireEast of England | 366 |
| 137 | Isle of WightSouth East | 371 |
| 138 | BuckinghamshireSouth East | 373 |
| 139 | DoverSouth East | 384 |
| 140 | North NorthamptonshireEast Midlands | 385 |
| 141 | North East DerbyshireEast Midlands | 391 |
| 142 joint | Hinckley and BosworthEast Midlands | 398 |
| 142 joint | WaverleySouth East | 398 |
| 144 | North West LeicestershireEast Midlands | 405 |
| 145 | Cheshire West and ChesterNorth West | 407 |
| 146 | Epping ForestEast of England | 408 |
| 147 | Vale of GlamorganWales | 409 |
| 148 | BedfordEast of England | 412 |
| 149 | WyreNorth West | 427 |
| 150 | SwaleSouth East | 430 |
| 151 | West LothianScotland | 437 |
| 152 | Central BedfordshireEast of England | 449 |
| 153 | BromsgroveWest Midlands | 470 |
| 154 | TendringEast of England | 473 |
| 155 | HartSouth East | 480 |
| 156 | InverclydeScotland | 485 |
| 157 | MaidstoneSouth East | 487 |
| 158 | Mid SussexSouth East | 490 |
| 159 | Amber ValleyEast Midlands | 497 |
| 160 | West DunbartonshireScotland | 498 |
| 161 | Merthyr TydfilWales | 521 |
| 162 | BrentwoodEast of England | 523 |
| 163 | FyldeNorth West | 524 |
| 164 | BolsoverEast Midlands | 526 |
| 165 | CanterburySouth East | 527 |
| 166 | Wyre ForestWest Midlands | 533 |
| 167 | RossendaleNorth West | 534 |
| 168 | FalkirkScotland | 539 |
| 169 | RochfordEast of England | 544 |
| 170 | ChelmsfordEast of England | 557 |
| 171 | WarwickWest Midlands | 558 |
| 172 | GuildfordSouth East | 561 |
| 173 | Rhondda Cynon TafWales | 568 |
| 174 joint | DoncasterYorkshire and the Humber | 569 |
| 174 joint | Redcar and ClevelandNorth East | 569 |
| 176 | Bath and North East SomersetSouth West | 572 |
| 177 | East RenfrewshireScotland | 573 |
| 178 joint | DarlingtonNorth East | 574 |
| 178 joint | Tonbridge and MallingSouth East | 574 |
| 180 joint | CalderdaleYorkshire and the Humber | 579 |
| 180 joint | Great YarmouthEast of England | 579 |
| 182 | BridgendWales | 586 |
| 183 | PendleNorth West | 592 |
| 184 | ChorleyNorth West | 601 |
| 185 joint | ColchesterEast of England | 606 |
| 185 joint | North SomersetSouth West | 606 |
| 187 | Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands | 607 |
| 188 | South GloucestershireSouth West | 621 |
| 189 | Blaenau GwentWales | 622 |
| 190 | East DunbartonshireScotland | 628 |
| 191 | CaerphillyWales | 635 |
| 192 | PeterboroughEast of England | 654 |
| 193 | SwanseaWales | 661 |
| 194 | CharnwoodEast Midlands | 680 |
| 195 | Telford and WrekinWest Midlands | 687 |
| 196 | RenfrewshireScotland | 724 |
| 197 | North LanarkshireScotland | 728 |
| 198 | TorfaenWales | 744 |
| 199 | DacorumEast of England | 764 |
| 200 | BarnsleyYorkshire and the Humber | 768 |
| 201 | YorkYorkshire and the Humber | 769 |
| 202 | ArunSouth East | 780 |
| 203 | Windsor and MaidenheadSouth East | 805 |
| 204 joint | BlabyEast Midlands | 831 |
| 204 joint | North East LincolnshireYorkshire and the Humber | 831 |
| 206 | NewportWales | 885 |
| 207 | BurnleyNorth West | 912 |
| 208 | St AlbansEast of England | 935 |
| 209 | Welwyn HatfieldEast of England | 940 |
| 210 | RotherhamYorkshire and the Humber | 974 |
| 211 | Surrey HeathSouth East | 1,000 |
| 212 | Milton KeynesSouth East | 1,001 |
| 213 | GedlingEast Midlands | 1,010 |
| 214 | Stockton-on-TeesNorth East | 1,011 |
| 215 | ErewashEast Midlands | 1,035 |
| 216 | South RibbleNorth West | 1,039 |
| 217 | WokinghamSouth East | 1,056 |
| 218 | HartlepoolNorth East | 1,062 |
| 219 | SwindonSouth West | 1,066 |
| 220 | Three RiversEast of England | 1,082 |
| 221 | HertsmereEast of England | 1,090 |
| 222 joint | KirkleesYorkshire and the Humber | 1,091 |
| 222 joint | WakefieldYorkshire and the Humber | 1,091 |
| 224 | ThurrockEast of England | 1,109 |
| 225 | GraveshamSouth East | 1,123 |
| 226 | PrestonNorth West | 1,156 |
| 227 | HyndburnNorth West | 1,191 |
| 228 joint | AshfieldEast Midlands | 1,192 |
| 228 joint | RunnymedeSouth East | 1,192 |
| 230 | WarringtonNorth West | 1,193 |
| 231 | Blackburn with DarwenNorth West | 1,195 |
| 232 | Bracknell ForestSouth East | 1,209 |
| 233 | Reigate and BansteadSouth East | 1,235 |
| 234 | Aberdeen CityScotland | 1,240 |
| 235 | SolihullWest Midlands | 1,242 |
| 236 | Cannock ChaseWest Midlands | 1,322 |
| 237 | ThanetSouth East | 1,386 |
| 238 | St. HelensNorth West | 1,392 |
| 239 | BroxtoweEast Midlands | 1,422 |
| 240 | GatesheadNorth East | 1,423 |
| 241 | ElmbridgeSouth East | 1,479 |
| 242 | MansfieldEast Midlands | 1,483 |
| 243 | RochdaleNorth West | 1,503 |
| 244 | MedwaySouth East | 1,512 |
| 245 | BradfordYorkshire and the Humber | 1,522 |
| 246 | LeedsYorkshire and the Humber | 1,523 |
| 247 | AdurSouth East | 1,539 |
| 248 | FarehamSouth East | 1,554 |
| 249 | SheffieldYorkshire and the Humber | 1,575 |
| 250 | ChesterfieldEast Midlands | 1,612 |
| 251 | RedditchWest Midlands | 1,614 |
| 252 | HaltonNorth West | 1,668 |
| 253 | WokingSouth East | 1,670 |
| 254 | DartfordSouth East | 1,737 |
| 255 | BasildonEast of England | 1,759 |
| 256 | OldhamNorth West | 1,770 |
| 257 | EastleighSouth East | 1,803 |
| 258 | Nuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands | 1,825 |
| 259 | SeftonNorth West | 1,837 |
| 260 | WiganNorth West | 1,845 |
| 261 | KnowsleyNorth West | 1,892 |
| 262 joint | BroxbourneEast of England | 2,003 |
| 262 joint | BuryNorth West | 2,003 |
| 264 | City of EdinburghScotland | 2,018 |
| 265 | Castle PointEast of England | 2,035 |
| 266 | WirralNorth West | 2,051 |
| 267 | SunderlandNorth East | 2,091 |
| 268 | SpelthorneSouth East | 2,095 |
| 269 | BoltonNorth West | 2,216 |
| 270 | TorbaySouth West | 2,217 |
| 271 | BromleyLondon | 2,239 |
| 272 | TraffordNorth West | 2,273 |
| 273 | HavantSouth East | 2,285 |
| 274 | TamesideNorth West | 2,334 |
| 275 | South TynesideNorth East | 2,347 |
| 276 | EastbourneSouth East | 2,351 |
| 277 | StockportNorth West | 2,419 |
| 278 | Epsom and EwellSouth East | 2,443 |
| 279 | Dundee CityScotland | 2,481 |
| 280 | HaveringLondon | 2,500 |
| 281 | Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West | 2,504 |
| 282 | BelfastNorthern Ireland | 2,556 |
| 283 | CheltenhamSouth West | 2,608 |
| 284 | North TynesideNorth East | 2,614 |
| 285 | Oadby and WigstonEast Midlands | 2,616 |
| 286 | TamworthWest Midlands | 2,639 |
| 287 | CardiffWales | 2,680 |
| 288 | RushmoorSouth East | 2,719 |
| 289 | CrawleySouth East | 2,769 |
| 290 | HillingdonLondon | 2,823 |
| 291 | Newcastle upon TyneNorth East | 2,828 |
| 292 | MiddlesbroughNorth East | 2,837 |
| 293 | WalsallWest Midlands | 2,843 |
| 294 | LincolnEast Midlands | 2,899 |
| 295 | Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands | 2,916 |
| 296 | ExeterSouth West | 2,931 |
| 297 | HastingsSouth East | 3,048 |
| 298 | SalfordNorth West | 3,057 |
| 299 | WorcesterWest Midlands | 3,208 |
| 300 | HarlowEast of England | 3,227 |
| 301 | GosportSouth East | 3,257 |
| 302 | PlymouthSouth West | 3,399 |
| 303 | DudleyWest Midlands | 3,409 |
| 304 | GloucesterSouth West | 3,418 |
| 305 | Brighton and HoveSouth East | 3,430 |
| 306 | Richmond upon ThamesLondon | 3,432 |
| 307 | WorthingSouth East | 3,501 |
| 308 | DerbyEast Midlands | 3,529 |
| 309 | IpswichEast of England | 3,530 |
| 310 | StevenageEast of England | 3,550 |
| 311 | OxfordSouth East | 3,637 |
| 312 | CambridgeEast of England | 3,681 |
| 313 | CoventryWest Midlands | 3,699 |
| 314 | NorwichEast of England | 3,736 |
| 315 | Glasgow CityScotland | 3,747 |
| 316 | Kingston upon HullYorkshire and the Humber | 3,816 |
| 317 | EnfieldLondon | 4,010 |
| 318 | WolverhamptonWest Midlands | 4,052 |
| 319 | BlackpoolNorth West | 4,114 |
| 320 | SandwellWest Midlands | 4,123 |
| 321 | BexleyLondon | 4,244 |
| 322 | NottinghamEast Midlands | 4,366 |
| 323 | BirminghamWest Midlands | 4,396 |
| 324 | Southend-on-SeaEast of England | 4,447 |
| 325 | BristolSouth West | 4,523 |
| 326 | LiverpoolNorth West | 4,542 |
| 327 | ReadingSouth East | 4,550 |
| 328 | Kingston upon ThamesLondon | 4,635 |
| 329 | BarnetLondon | 4,701 |
| 330 | CroydonLondon | 4,740 |
| 331 | SuttonLondon | 4,880 |
| 332 | WatfordEast of England | 5,030 |
| 333 | ManchesterNorth West | 5,088 |
| 334 | SloughSouth East | 5,146 |
| 335 | SouthamptonSouth East | 5,200 |
| 336 | LeicesterEast Midlands | 5,222 |
| 337 | PortsmouthSouth East | 5,243 |
| 338 | HounslowLondon | 5,353 |
| 339 | HarrowLondon | 5,401 |
| 340 | City of LondonLondon | 5,419 |
| 341 | LutonEast of England | 5,451 |
| 342 | RedbridgeLondon | 5,708 |
| 343 | MertonLondon | 5,818 |
| 344 | GreenwichLondon | 6,369 |
| 345 | Barking and DagenhamLondon | 6,601 |
| 346 | EalingLondon | 6,968 |
| 347 | Waltham ForestLondon | 7,306 |
| 348 | BrentLondon | 8,148 |
| 349 | LewishamLondon | 8,556 |
| 350 | HaringeyLondon | 8,993 |
| 351 | WestminsterLondon | 9,902 |
| 352 | WandsworthLondon | 9,919 |
| 353 | CamdenLondon | 9,944 |
| 354 | NewhamLondon | 10,406 |
| 355 | SouthwarkLondon | 10,828 |
| 356 | Hammersmith and FulhamLondon | 11,606 |
| 357 | LambethLondon | 11,730 |
| 358 | Kensington and ChelseaLondon | 11,999 |
| 359 | HackneyLondon | 13,978 |
| 360 | IslingtonLondon | 15,119 |
| 361 | Tower HamletsLondon | 16,909 |
ONS population estimates for June 2025 through NOMIS, over the council's area on ONS's Local Authority Districts May 2026 boundaries · 2025 · fetched 22 October 2026 · How this is measured
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