# Balerno South west Edinburgh. 5,787 people (mid-2024 estimate) in 46 square kilometres. Balerno had 5,854 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Middle area. Code S02002678. In: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) › [Edinburgh](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh) ## Key figures - **Population: 5,854** (2021). Balerno had 5,854 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). Joint 2,565th least populated of 9,448. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno#f-population - **People in radon Affected Area squares: 0%** (2022). About 0% of people in Balerno live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. UK 44%. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UKHSA and BGS radon atlas and census output areas. Published 1 December 2022. https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno#f-radon-affected-share - **Gigabit broadband coverage: 96.1%** (January 2026). In Balerno, 96.1% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 87.8%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno#f-gigabit-coverage - **Claimant rate: 1.1%** (August 2026). In Balerno, 1.1% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026 (ONS via Nomis). UK 3.9%. Source: Claimant count (Nomis), August 2026. Published 15 September 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno#f-claimant-rate ## On the map - [Radon Affected Area by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=S02002678) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 0% of people in Balerno live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. - [Average house price by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/house-prices?place=S02002678) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Edinburgh. The outline is Balerno. - [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count?place=S02002678) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Edinburgh. The outline is Balerno. - [Population by middle area](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S02002678) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Balerno had 5,854 usual residents at the census. ## Recorded crime in Balerno Scotland publishes recorded crime by council. It has its own layers. ## How Balerno compares Each middle area against every other middle area the measure covers. | Measure | Balerno | Rank | Compared with | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Population | 5,854 | 9th most populated | 117 middle areas, Edinburgh · 2021 | | People in radon Affected Area squares | 0% | joint fewest people in radon Affected Areas | 117 middle areas, Edinburgh · 2022 | | Gigabit broadband coverage | 96.1% | joint 48th lowest | 117 middle areas, Edinburgh · Jan 2026 | | Claimant rate | 1.1% | joint 18th lowest | 117 middle areas, Edinburgh · Aug 2026 | ## What is the population of Balerno? Balerno had 5,854 usual residents at the census. Balerno is the joint 2,565th least populated of 9,448 in the UK. ## Figures for the whole of Edinburgh These figures are published for the whole of Edinburgh, not for each middle area, so they describe all of Edinburgh and not Balerno alone. [See Edinburgh](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh) - **Average house price: £301,313** (August 2026). Edinburgh’s average house price was £301,313 in August 2026 (HM Land Registry). Up 2.8% in a year. Source: UK House Price Index, August 2026. Published 21 October 2026. - **Median full-time pay: £43,169** (2025). Full-time workers living in Edinburgh earned a median of £43,169 in 2025 (ONS earnings survey). 85th highest paid of 348. Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025. Published 23 October 2025. - **House price to pay: 7.0×** (2025). A home in Edinburgh costs 7.0 times local full-time pay. Joint 159th most affordable of 348. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UK House Price Index and the ONS earnings survey. Published 21 October 2026. - **Population estimate: 531,370** (2025). Edinburgh’s population was an estimated 531,370 in mid-2025 (ONS population estimates). Down 0.1% in a year. Source: Mid-year population estimates, 2025. Published 1 October 2026. ## Balerno in brief Balerno had 5,854 usual residents at the census. About 0% of people in Balerno live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. In Balerno, 96.1% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026. In Balerno, 1.1% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026. ## About - Type: Middle area - Code: S02002678 - Ward: [Pentland Hills †](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/ward/pentland-hills) - Constituency: [Edinburgh South West †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/edinburgh-south-west) - Council: [Edinburgh](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh) - Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland) - Area: 45.82 km² - People, mid-2024: 5,787* - Neighbourhoods: 9 - Output areas: 46 * People: worked out by Open Index by adding up the neighbourhood estimates inside this area. † Best fit: the ward and constituency this middle area mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow theirs. ## Next door [Mid Calder and Kirknewton](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/mid-calder-and-kirknewton), [Currie West](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/currie-west), [Bonaly and The Pentlands](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/bonaly-and-the-pentlands), [Rural South Midlothian](https://openindex.co.uk/midlothian/rural-south-midlothian), [Dalmeny and Newbridge](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/dalmeny-and-newbridge), [East Calder East and Wilkieston](https://openindex.co.uk/west-lothian/east-calder-east-and-wilkieston) ## Latest updates for Balerno - August 2026 house prices published: HM Land Registry and partners · Oct 2026. - September 2026 rent published: ONS private rents · Oct 2026. - Schools updated: Ofsted · Oct 2026. - GP practices updated: NHS England · Oct 2026. The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/S02002678 ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno#f-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh/balerno