# Kirkcaldy

Town in Fife, Scotland.

Kirkcaldy is a town in Fife, Scotland. About 48,689 people.

Town. Code S45000468. In: [Towns](https://openindex.co.uk/places/towns) › [Fife](https://openindex.co.uk/fife)

Kirkcaldy is an ONS built-up area: the land built up as one town, whatever council it is in. Figures for Kirkcaldy add up the census output areas (or, for claimants, the neighbourhoods) that sit mostly inside it, so they are close to, but not exactly, the town’s own.

## Key figures

- **Population: 47,956** (2021). Kirkcaldy had 47,956 usual residents at the census (Scotland's Census 2022). 230th most populated of 1,209. 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/town/kirkcaldy#f-population
- **People in radon Affected Area squares: 0%** (2022). About 0% of people in Kirkcaldy 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/town/kirkcaldy#f-radon-affected-share
- **Gigabit broadband coverage: 91.6%** (January 2026). In Kirkcaldy, 91.6% 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/town/kirkcaldy#f-gigabit-coverage
- **Claimant rate: 5.3%** (August 2026). In Kirkcaldy, 5.3% 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/town/kirkcaldy#f-claimant-rate

## On the map

- [Radon Affected Area by town](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=S45000468) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 0% of people in Kirkcaldy 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=S45000468) (UK House Price Index · August 2026): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Fife, where most of this town lies. The outline is Kirkcaldy.
- [Crimes by council](https://openindex.co.uk/map/scotland-crime-count?place=S45000468) (Recorded crimes and offences in Scotland · 2025/26): Published for whole councils, so the map colours all of Fife, where most of this town lies. The outline is Kirkcaldy.
- [Population by town](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=S45000468) (Census 2021, England and Wales): Kirkcaldy had 47,956 usual residents at the census.

## How Kirkcaldy compares

Each town against every other town the measure covers.

| Measure | Kirkcaldy | Rank | Compared with |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Population | 47,956 | 11th most populated | 117 towns, Scotland · 2021 |
| People in radon Affected Area squares | 0% | joint fewest people in radon Affected Areas | 117 towns, Scotland · 2022 |
| Gigabit broadband coverage | 91.6% | 45th lowest | 117 towns, Scotland · Jan 2026 |
| Claimant rate | 5.3% | 4th highest | 117 towns, Scotland · Aug 2026 |

## What is the population of Kirkcaldy?

Kirkcaldy had 47,956 usual residents at the census.
Kirkcaldy is the 230th most populated of 1,209 in the UK.

## Neighbourhoods in Kirkcaldy

| Area | People (census) | Recorded crime per 1,000 | Deprivation decile | Gigabit broadband |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Bennochy Balfour](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016600) | 574 | – | – | 93.6% |
| [Bennochy East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016601) | 725 | – | – | 99.6% |
| [Bennochy North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016599) | 849 | – | – | 98.8% |
| [Bennochy South West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016603) | 789 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Bennochy West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016606) | 688 | – | – | 97.2% |
| [Blackcraigs and West Torbain](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016610) | 776 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Braehead and the Path](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016640) | 570 | – | – | 47.1% |
| [Capshard](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016633) | 891 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Chapel](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016634) | 830 | – | – | 82.8% |
| [Chapel Moss](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016632) | 943 | – | – | 95.3% |
| [Chapel Moss West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016661) | 753 | – | – | 93.7% |
| [Chapelhill and Torbain](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016630) | 785 | – | – | 96.2% |
| [Chapelwood](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016631) | 1,018 | – | – | 87.9% |
| [Craigmount and Greenloanings](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016617) | 697 | – | – | 99.1% |
| [Dunearn](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016615) | 904 | – | – | 88.5% |
| [Dunnikier Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016626) | 737 | – | – | 98.4% |
| [Dunnikier East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016625) | 559 | – | – | 99.6% |
| [Dunnikier North West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016628) | 648 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Dunnikier South](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016624) | 677 | – | – | 93.6% |
| [Dysart Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016653) | 901 | – | – | 96.1% |
| [Dysart North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016652) | 501 | – | – | 99.7% |
| [Dysart North East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016651) | 565 | – | – | 98.6% |
| [Fair Isle](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016614) | 674 | – | – | 99.4% |
| [Fair Isle North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016629) | 668 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Forth Park](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016604) | 600 | – | – | 83.7% |
| [Forth Park North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016605) | 848 | – | – | 99.8% |
| [Gallatown North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016646) | 609 | – | – | 99.2% |
| [Gallatown West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016650) | 848 | – | – | 92.1% |
| [Hayfield North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016637) | 570 | – | – | 85.8% |
| [Hayfield South](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016639) | 555 | – | – | 98.9% |
| [Kirkcaldy Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016597) | 973 | – | – | 58.2% |
| [Kirkcaldy Central North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016595) | 803 | – | – | 89.7% |
| [Kirkcaldy Central South](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016598) | 791 | – | – | 76.8% |
| [Kirkcaldy Central and East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016596) | 862 | – | – | 93.7% |
| [Kirkcaldy Mitchelston](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016645) | 623 | – | – | 71.8% |
| [Kirkcaldy Valley East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016623) | 920 | – | – | 98.2% |
| [Kirkcaldy Valley West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016618) | 646 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Kirkcaldy Viewforth](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016643) | 591 | – | – | 95.7% |
| [Linktown Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016591) | 875 | – | – | 88.0% |
| [Linktown East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016589) | 583 | – | – | 89.5% |
| [Linktown North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016590) | 910 | – | – | 91.9% |
| [Linktown South and Seafield North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016592) | 836 | – | – | 98.6% |
| [Newliston](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016612) | 645 | – | – | 99.3% |
| [Oriel and Forth](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016602) | 896 | – | – | 91.2% |
| [Overton](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016647) | 800 | – | – | 99.8% |
| [Pathhead Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016641) | 619 | – | – | 89.3% |
| [Pathhead North West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016638) | 658 | – | – | 99.0% |
| [Pathhead South and Sands](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016642) | 505 | – | – | 99.2% |
| [Raith](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016608) | 930 | – | – | 90.9% |
| [Raith Estate and Southerton](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016607) | 858 | – | – | 96.7% |
| [Raith and Long Braes](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016609) | 821 | – | – | 82.8% |
| [Ravenscraig](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016644) | 545 | – | – | 99.6% |
| [Redcraigs](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016611) | 945 | – | – | 64.7% |
| [Seafield Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016593) | 537 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Sinclairtown Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016649) | 902 | – | – | 98.0% |
| [Sinclairtown East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016654) | 974 | – | – | 94.5% |
| [Sinclairtown North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016655) | 793 | – | – | 99.8% |
| [Sinclairtown West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016648) | 994 | – | – | 95.8% |
| [Smeaton North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016635) | 911 | – | – | 75.6% |
| [Smeaton South](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016636) | 988 | – | – | 89.0% |
| [Templehall](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016619) | 770 | – | – | 98.1% |
| [Templehall East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016621) | 854 | – | – | 99.4% |
| [Templehall North](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016622) | 867 | – | – | 100.0% |
| [Templehall North Eastern](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016620) | 693 | – | – | 97.0% |
| [Templehall West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/neighbourhood/s01016616) | 771 | – | – | 99.5% |

## Your MP

- [Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/cowdenbeath-and-kirkcaldy): Melanie Ward (Labour), MP since July 2024.

As of 18 October 2026. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. Source: UK Parliament, Members API.

## Council

[Fife](https://openindex.co.uk/fife)

## Postcode districts covering Kirkcaldy

[KY1](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/ky1), [KY2](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/ky2)

## Middle areas in Kirkcaldy

[Dysart](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/dysart), [Kirkcaldy Bennochy East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-bennochy-east), [Kirkcaldy Bennochy West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-bennochy-west), [Kirkcaldy Central](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-central), [Kirkcaldy Chapel](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-chapel), [Kirkcaldy Dunnikier](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-dunnikier), [Kirkcaldy Gallatown and Sinclairtown](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-gallatown-and-sinclairtown), [Kirkcaldy Hayfield and Smeaton](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-hayfield-and-smeaton), [Kirkcaldy Linktown and Seafield](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-linktown-and-seafield), [Kirkcaldy Newliston and Redcraigs](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-newliston-and-redcraigs), [Kirkcaldy Pathhead](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-pathhead), [Kirkcaldy Raith](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-raith), [Kirkcaldy Templehall East](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-templehall-east), [Kirkcaldy Templehall West](https://openindex.co.uk/fife/kirkcaldy-templehall-west)

## Towns near Kirkcaldy

[Glenrothes](https://openindex.co.uk/town/glenrothes), [Cowdenbeath](https://openindex.co.uk/town/cowdenbeath), [Methil](https://openindex.co.uk/town/methil), [Leven](https://openindex.co.uk/town/leven), [Edinburgh](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh), [Dalgety Bay](https://openindex.co.uk/town/dalgety-bay)

## Kirkcaldy in brief

Kirkcaldy is a town in Fife, Scotland.
About 48,689 people lived in Kirkcaldy in mid-2024 (worked out by Open Index from NRS small-area estimates).
Kirkcaldy had 47,956 usual residents at the census.
About 0% of people in Kirkcaldy live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area.
In Kirkcaldy, 91.6% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026.
In Kirkcaldy, 5.3% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

## About

- Type: Town
- Code: S45000468
- Constituency: [Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/cowdenbeath-and-kirkcaldy)
- Council: [Fife †](https://openindex.co.uk/fife)
- Nation: [Scotland](https://openindex.co.uk/scotland)
- Area: 15.49 km²
- People, mid-2024: 48,689*
- Neighbourhoods: 65
- Output areas: 424

* People: worked out by Open Index from neighbourhood estimates, shared out by where people lived at the census (by area in Northern Ireland). This area's edges do not follow neighbourhood edges, so the figure is close but not exact.
† Best fit: the constituency and council this town mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow theirs.

## Next door

[Glenrothes](https://openindex.co.uk/town/glenrothes), [Cowdenbeath](https://openindex.co.uk/town/cowdenbeath), [Methil](https://openindex.co.uk/town/methil), [Leven](https://openindex.co.uk/town/leven), [Edinburgh](https://openindex.co.uk/edinburgh), [Dalgety Bay](https://openindex.co.uk/town/dalgety-bay)

## Latest updates for Kirkcaldy

- 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/S45000468

## How to cite

Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/town/kirkcaldy, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/town/kirkcaldy#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/town/kirkcaldy