Fastest and slowest growing places in the UK (2025)

Rugby was the fastest growing of the UK’s 361 councils in 2025 (annual population change 2.4%).

Isles of Scilly was the slowest growing (−3.5%). The middle council, Denbighshire, had 0.4%.

Map of annual population change across the UK

Annual population change for every council in the UK, highest first. Councils without a figure are listed last with the reason.
Rank	Council	Region or nation	Value
1	RugbyWest Midlands	West Midlands	2.4%
2	Mid SuffolkEast of England	East of England	2.1%
3	TewkesburySouth West	South West	2.0%
=4	HarboroughEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.9%
=4	South DerbyshireEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.9%
=4	UttlesfordEast of England	East of England	1.9%
=4	Vale of White HorseSouth East	South East	1.9%
=8	BurnleyNorth West	North West	1.8%
=8	Central BedfordshireEast of England	East of England	1.8%
=8	HartlepoolNorth East	North East	1.8%
=8	Nuneaton and BedworthWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.8%
=8	PrestonNorth West	North West	1.8%
=8	Ribble ValleyNorth West	North West	1.8%
=8	Stratford-on-AvonWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.8%
=8	WaverleySouth East	South East	1.8%
=8	WyreNorth West	North West	1.8%
=17	BraintreeEast of England	East of England	1.7%
=17	MaldonEast of England	East of England	1.7%
=17	Telford and WrekinWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.7%
=17	TendringEast of England	East of England	1.7%
21	South RibbleNorth West	North West	1.6%
=22	Barking and DagenhamLondon	London	1.5%
=22	BrentwoodEast of England	East of England	1.5%
=22	East CambridgeshireEast of England	East of England	1.5%
=22	Mid SussexSouth East	South East	1.5%
=22	WarwickWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.5%
=27	BassetlawEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.4%
=27	Blackburn with DarwenNorth West	North West	1.4%
=27	DartfordSouth East	South East	1.4%
=27	East Riding of YorkshireYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	1.4%
=27	FyldeNorth West	North West	1.4%
=27	HaveringLondon	London	1.4%
=27	Hinckley and BosworthEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.4%
=27	LichfieldWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.4%
=27	MeltonEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.4%
=27	RochfordEast of England	East of England	1.4%
=27	RushcliffeEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.4%
=27	South NorfolkEast of England	East of England	1.4%
=39	Amber ValleyEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.3%
=39	Bracknell ForestSouth East	South East	1.3%
=39	BroadlandEast of England	East of England	1.3%
=39	Malvern HillsWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.3%
=39	North East DerbyshireEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.3%
=44	AshfordSouth East	South East	1.2%
=44	BroxbourneEast of England	East of England	1.2%
=44	ChelmsfordEast of England	East of England	1.2%
=44	Cheshire EastNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	HyndburnNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	KnowsleyNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	MaidstoneSouth East	South East	1.2%
=44	North West LeicestershireEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.2%
=44	RochdaleNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	RossendaleNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	SalfordNorth West	North West	1.2%
=44	South CambridgeshireEast of England	East of England	1.2%
=44	South HamsSouth West	South West	1.2%
=44	SwaleSouth East	South East	1.2%
=44	West LancashireNorth West	North West	1.2%
=59	AshfieldEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.1%
=59	DarlingtonNorth East	North East	1.1%
=59	East LothianScotland	Scotland	1.1%
=59	East StaffordshireWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.1%
=59	North NorthamptonshireEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.1%
=59	North SomersetSouth West	South West	1.1%
=59	South HollandEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.1%
=59	South OxfordshireSouth East	South East	1.1%
=67	ArunSouth East	South East	1.0%
=67	BaberghEast of England	East of England	1.0%
=67	BuckinghamshireSouth East	South East	1.0%
=67	ChorleyNorth West	North West	1.0%
=67	DoverSouth East	South East	1.0%
=67	East DevonSouth West	South West	1.0%
=67	East LindseyEast Midlands	East Midlands	1.0%
=67	Milton KeynesSouth East	South East	1.0%
=67	North WarwickshireWest Midlands	West Midlands	1.0%
=67	NorthumberlandNorth East	North East	1.0%
=67	RotherhamYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	1.0%
=67	South GloucestershireSouth West	South West	1.0%
=67	ThanetSouth East	South East	1.0%
=67	TorridgeSouth West	South West	1.0%
=67	WinchesterSouth East	South East	1.0%
=82	BolsoverEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.9%
=82	BrecklandEast of England	East of England	0.9%
=82	City of LondonLondon	London	0.9%
=82	DoncasterYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.9%
=82	Epping ForestEast of England	East of England	0.9%
=82	GedlingEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.9%
=82	North YorkshireYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.9%
=82	StaffordWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.9%
=82	StevenageEast of England	East of England	0.9%
=82	StockportNorth West	North West	0.9%
=82	Surrey HeathSouth East	South East	0.9%
=82	Tonbridge and MallingSouth East	South East	0.9%
=82	WealdenSouth East	South East	0.9%
=95	BedfordEast of England	East of England	0.8%
=95	CherwellSouth East	South East	0.8%
=95	Cheshire West and ChesterNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	ChichesterSouth East	South East	0.8%
=95	CumberlandNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	DudleyWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.8%
=95	East HertfordshireEast of England	East of England	0.8%
=95	HuntingdonshireEast of England	East of England	0.8%
=95	North KestevenEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.8%
=95	SeftonNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	St. HelensNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	Stoke-on-TrentWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.8%
=95	SwindonSouth West	South West	0.8%
=95	TamesideNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	WatfordEast of England	East of England	0.8%
=95	West LindseyEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.8%
=95	WiganNorth West	North West	0.8%
=95	WokinghamSouth East	South East	0.8%
=113	CharnwoodEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.7%
=113	ColchesterEast of England	East of England	0.7%
=113	DacorumEast of England	East of England	0.7%
=113	EastleighSouth East	South East	0.7%
=113	MidlothianScotland	Scotland	0.7%
=113	NewportWales	Wales	0.7%
=113	RunnymedeSouth East	South East	0.7%
=113	RushmoorSouth East	South East	0.7%
=113	South KestevenEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.7%
=113	SpelthorneSouth East	South East	0.7%
=113	StroudSouth West	South West	0.7%
=113	WakefieldYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.7%
=113	West NorthamptonshireEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.7%
=113	WychavonWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.7%
=127	BarnsleyYorkshire and The Humber ONS publishes this figure for the council's boundary before 1 April 2025, when part of Barnsley moved to Sheffield.	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.6%
=127	Basingstoke and DeaneSouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	BromsgroveWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.6%
=127	BuryNorth West	North West	0.6%
=127	ChesterfieldEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.6%
=127	CrawleySouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	DerbyEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.6%
=127	East HampshireSouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	GlasgowScotland	Scotland	0.6%
=127	HarrowLondon	London	0.6%
=127	HorshamSouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	Mid DevonSouth West	South West	0.6%
=127	Newark and SherwoodEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.6%
=127	Newcastle upon TyneNorth East	North East	0.6%
=127	North TynesideNorth East	North East	0.6%
=127	PendleNorth West	North West	0.6%
=127	RutlandEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.6%
=127	South StaffordshireWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.6%
=127	Stockton-on-TeesNorth East	North East	0.6%
=127	TamworthWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.6%
=127	TraffordNorth West	North West	0.6%
=127	Tunbridge WellsSouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	West LothianScotland	Scotland	0.6%
=127	West SuffolkEast of England	East of England	0.6%
=127	Westmorland and FurnessNorth West	North West	0.6%
=127	Windsor and MaidenheadSouth East	South East	0.6%
=127	Wyre ForestWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.6%
=154	BarnetLondon	London	0.5%
=154	BlabyEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.5%
=154	Castle PointEast of England	East of England	0.5%
=154	FenlandEast of England	East of England	0.5%
=154	GatesheadNorth East	North East	0.5%
=154	GloucesterSouth West	South West	0.5%
=154	GraveshamSouth East	South East	0.5%
=154	HaltonNorth West	North West	0.5%
=154	King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of England	East of England	0.5%
=154	Lisburn and CastlereaghNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.5%
=154	Newcastle-under-LymeWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.5%
=154	OldhamNorth West	North West	0.5%
=154	ReadingSouth East	South East	0.5%
=154	Redcar and ClevelandNorth East	North East	0.5%
=154	Reigate and BansteadSouth East	South East	0.5%
=154	SolihullWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.5%
=154	SomersetSouth West	South West	0.5%
=154	Three RiversEast of England	East of England	0.5%
=154	West OxfordshireSouth East	South East	0.5%
=154	WiltshireSouth West	South West	0.5%
=154	WirralNorth West	North West	0.5%
=175	BasildonEast of England	East of England	0.4%
=175	BromleyLondon	London	0.4%
=175	CalderdaleYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.4%
=175	CornwallSouth West	South West	0.4%
=175	County DurhamNorth East	North East	0.4%
=175	CroydonLondon	London	0.4%
=175	DenbighshireWales	Wales	0.4%
=175	Derbyshire DalesEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.4%
=175	DorsetSouth West	South West	0.4%
=175	East RenfrewshireScotland	Scotland	0.4%
=175	ElmbridgeSouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	HarlowEast of England	East of England	0.4%
=175	HavantSouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	North HertfordshireEast of England	East of England	0.4%
=175	Oadby and WigstonEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.4%
=175	SevenoaksSouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	ShropshireWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.4%
=175	SloughSouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	South LanarkshireScotland	Scotland	0.4%
=175	Southend-on-SeaEast of England	East of England	0.4%
=175	Test ValleySouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	WalsallWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.4%
=175	WarringtonNorth West	North West	0.4%
=175	West BerkshireSouth East	South East	0.4%
=175	WorcesterWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.4%
=175	YorkYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.4%
=201	Antrim and NewtownabbeyNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.3%
=201	BexleyLondon	London	0.3%
=201	BoltonNorth West	North West	0.3%
=201	Cannock ChaseWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.3%
=201	Forest of DeanSouth West	South West	0.3%
=201	Great YarmouthEast of England	East of England	0.3%
=201	GuildfordSouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	HartSouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	LewesSouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	MansfieldEast Midlands	East Midlands	0.3%
=201	MedwaySouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	Mole ValleySouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	North NorfolkEast of England	East of England	0.3%
=201	Perth and KinrossScotland	Scotland	0.3%
=201	PeterboroughEast of England	East of England	0.3%
=201	RenfrewshireScotland	Scotland	0.3%
=201	South TynesideNorth East	North East	0.3%
=201	TandridgeSouth East	South East	0.3%
=201	WolverhamptonWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.3%
=201	WorthingSouth East	South East	0.3%
=221	Armagh City, Banbridge and CraigavonNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.2%
=221	Bath and North East SomersetSouth West	South West	0.2%
=221	BristolSouth West	South West	0.2%
=221	Derry City and StrabaneNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.2%
=221	East SuffolkEast of England	East of England	0.2%
=221	Epsom and EwellSouth East	South East	0.2%
=221	FalkirkScotland	Scotland	0.2%
=221	Folkestone and HytheSouth East	South East	0.2%
=221	HerefordshireWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.2%
=221	HertsmereEast of England	East of England	0.2%
=221	MonmouthshireWales	Wales	0.2%
=221	North DevonSouth West	South West	0.2%
=221	North East LincolnshireYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.2%
=221	RotherSouth East	South East	0.2%
=221	Staffordshire MoorlandsWest Midlands	West Midlands	0.2%
=221	TeignbridgeSouth West	South West	0.2%
=221	ThurrockEast of England	East of England	0.2%
=221	West DevonSouth West	South West	0.2%
=221	WokingSouth East	South East	0.2%
=240	AdurSouth East	South East	0.1%
=240	BlackpoolNorth West	North West	0.1%
=240	CanterburySouth East	South East	0.1%
=240	FarehamSouth East	South East	0.1%
=240	North LanarkshireScotland	Scotland	0.1%
=240	PembrokeshireWales	Wales	0.1%
=240	SunderlandNorth East	North East	0.1%
=240	SuttonLondon	London	0.1%
=248	Ards and North DownNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.0%
=248	CeredigionWales	Wales	0.0%
=248	CheltenhamSouth West	South West	0.0%
=248	ConwyWales	Wales	0.0%
=248	East AyrshireScotland	Scotland	0.0%
=248	Fermanagh and OmaghNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.0%
=248	FlintshireWales	Wales	0.0%
=248	GreenwichLondon	London	0.0%
=248	KirkleesYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.0%
=248	Mid and East AntrimNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0.0%
=248	New ForestSouth East	South East	0.0%
=248	North LincolnshireYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	0.0%
=248	PowysWales	Wales	0.0%
=248	South AyrshireScotland	Scotland	0.0%
=248	St AlbansEast of England	East of England	0.0%
=248	Vale of GlamorganWales	Wales	0.0%
=248	Waltham ForestLondon	London	0.0%
=248	WandsworthLondon	London	0.0%
=248	WrexhamWales	Wales	0.0%
=267	BelfastNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	−0.1%
=267	BridgendWales	Wales	−0.1%
=267	BroxtoweEast Midlands	East Midlands	−0.1%
=267	CaerphillyWales	Wales	−0.1%
=267	CardiffWales	Wales	−0.1%
=267	Causeway Coast and GlensNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	−0.1%
=267	East DunbartonshireScotland	Scotland	−0.1%
=267	EdinburghScotland	Scotland	−0.1%
=267	GosportSouth East	South East	−0.1%
=267	HighlandScotland	Scotland	−0.1%
=267	Kingston upon ThamesLondon	London	−0.1%
=267	LancasterNorth West	North West	−0.1%
=267	LiverpoolNorth West	North West	−0.1%
=267	ManchesterNorth West	North West	−0.1%
=267	Newry, Mourne and DownNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	−0.1%
=267	North AyrshireScotland	Scotland	−0.1%
=267	Richmond upon ThamesLondon	London	−0.1%
=267	SandwellWest Midlands	West Midlands	−0.1%
=267	SheffieldYorkshire and The Humber ONS publishes this figure for the council's boundary before 1 April 2025, when part of Barnsley moved to Sheffield.	Yorkshire and The Humber	−0.1%
=267	TorfaenWales	Wales	−0.1%
=287	AberdeenshireScotland	Scotland	−0.2%
=287	Blaenau GwentWales	Wales	−0.2%
=287	CarmarthenshireWales	Wales	−0.2%
=287	CotswoldSouth West	South West	−0.2%
=287	EalingLondon	London	−0.2%
=287	FifeScotland	Scotland	−0.2%
=287	HastingsSouth East	South East	−0.2%
=287	High PeakEast Midlands	East Midlands	−0.2%
=287	HounslowLondon	London	−0.2%
=287	InverclydeScotland	Scotland	−0.2%
=287	MorayScotland	Scotland	−0.2%
=287	PlymouthSouth West	South West	−0.2%
=287	RedditchWest Midlands	West Midlands	−0.2%
=300	AngusScotland	Scotland	−0.3%
=300	BostonEast Midlands	East Midlands	−0.3%
=300	Brighton and HoveSouth East	South East	−0.3%
=300	Dumfries and GallowayScotland	Scotland	−0.3%
=300	ErewashEast Midlands	East Midlands	−0.3%
=300	GwyneddWales	Wales	−0.3%
=300	Hammersmith and FulhamLondon	London	−0.3%
=300	LeedsYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	−0.3%
=300	Mid UlsterNorthern Ireland	Northern Ireland	−0.3%
=300	Rhondda Cynon TafWales	Wales	−0.3%
=300	Scottish BordersScotland	Scotland	−0.3%
=300	TorbaySouth West	South West	−0.3%
=312	BradfordYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	−0.4%
=312	EastbourneSouth East	South East	−0.4%
=312	HillingdonLondon	London	−0.4%
=312	IpswichEast of England	East of England	−0.4%
=312	Isle of AngleseyWales	Wales	−0.4%
=312	Isle of WightSouth East	South East	−0.4%
=312	Neath Port TalbotWales	Wales	−0.4%
=312	Orkney IslandsScotland	Scotland	−0.4%
=312	RedbridgeLondon	London	−0.4%
=312	Shetland IslandsScotland	Scotland	−0.4%
=322	AberdeenScotland	Scotland	−0.5%
=322	Argyll and ButeScotland	Scotland	−0.5%
=322	BirminghamWest Midlands	West Midlands	−0.5%
=322	Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleSouth West	South West	−0.5%
=322	Kingston upon HullYorkshire and The Humber	Yorkshire and The Humber	−0.5%
=322	LewishamLondon	London	−0.5%
=322	MertonLondon	London	−0.5%
=322	SouthamptonSouth East	South East	−0.5%
=322	SwanseaWales	Wales	−0.5%
=322	West DunbartonshireScotland	Scotland	−0.5%
=332	DundeeScotland	Scotland	−0.6%
=332	EnfieldLondon	London	−0.6%
=332	Merthyr TydfilWales	Wales	−0.6%
=332	Na h-Eileanan SiarScotland	Scotland	−0.6%
=332	StirlingScotland	Scotland	−0.6%
=332	Tower HamletsLondon	London	−0.6%
=338	ClackmannanshireScotland	Scotland	−0.7%
=338	IslingtonLondon	London	−0.7%
=338	LutonEast of England	East of England	−0.7%
=338	PortsmouthSouth East	South East	−0.7%
=342	ExeterSouth West	South West	−0.8%
=342	NewhamLondon	London	−0.8%
=344	BrentLondon	London	−0.9%
=344	HackneyLondon	London	−0.9%
=344	HaringeyLondon	London	−0.9%
=344	LeicesterEast Midlands	East Midlands	−0.9%
=348	Kensington and ChelseaLondon	London	−1.0%
=348	NorwichEast of England	East of England	−1.0%
=350	CoventryWest Midlands	West Midlands	−1.1%
=350	OxfordSouth East	South East	−1.1%
=350	Welwyn HatfieldEast of England	East of England	−1.1%
=353	CambridgeEast of England	East of England	−1.2%
=353	MiddlesbroughNorth East	North East	−1.2%
355	LambethLondon	London	−1.4%
=356	LincolnEast Midlands	East Midlands	−1.5%
=356	NottinghamEast Midlands	East Midlands	−1.5%
=356	SouthwarkLondon	London	−1.5%
=356	WestminsterLondon	London	−1.5%
360	CamdenLondon	London	−1.8%
361	Isles of ScillySouth West	South West	−3.5%

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Source and method · See it on the map