Manchester: population and statistics
Manchester has a population of 588,256 (2025) across 115.7 km², or 5,086 people per km². It ranks 6 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +12.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 588,256 residents
- 115.7 km²
- 5,086 people/km²
Manchester in numbers
Population of Manchester over time
Manchester had 523,321 residents in 2015 and 588,256 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 547,340 |
| 2021 | 550,630 |
| 2022 | 569,260 |
| 2023 | 581,416 |
| 2024 | 588,597 |
| 2025 | 588,256 |
All indicators for Manchester
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 9.6% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 355 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 19.0% | 18.3% | 17.4% | ranked 87 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 257,300 dwellings | 3,492,580 | 27,429,300 | ranked 8 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 42.2% | 39.3% | 31.6% | ranked 67 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 28.0% | 16.5% | 18.1% | ranked 19 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 214,730 households | 116,581 | 61,440 | ranked 10 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 65.3% | 83.7% | 84.7% | ranked 280 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 34.6% | 16.0% | 14.8% | ranked 39 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 38.0% | 62.7% | 67.3% | ranked 307 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 32.3% | 19.4% | 17.6% | ranked 15 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 29.5% | 17.8% | 14.3% | ranked 12 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £252,309 | £227,208 | £272,474 | ranked 201 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.2% | 4.7% | 2.2% | ranked 221 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% | ranked 24 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 67.0% | 78.6% | 76.7% | ranked 257 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 18.3% | 7.4% | 7.8% | ranked 6 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.1% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 246 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 29,740 sites | 319,350 | 3,232,440 | ranked 8 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 50.6 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 103 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 24,550 businesses | 272,085 | 2,786,975 | ranked 11 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £36,278 | £37,482 | £38,490 | ranked 247 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 74.9% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 207 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 6.0% | 4.1% | 3.2% | ranked 20 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Manchester | North West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 39.0% | 24.9% | 18.5% | ranked 20 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 35 local authorities in North West, Manchester ranks 1 by population.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 9.6% in Manchester, compared with an average of 19.1% in North West and 19.4% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 19.4% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in North West for “Population”.
- Number 1 in North West for “Population density”.
- “Share of residents aged 65 and over”: lower than in 99% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Households heated by electricity only”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 16,197 football pitches.
- 17.9 times denser than the UK average.
Business sectors: Manchester
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade19.4% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical17.1% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services9.2% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services8.8% ×1.2
- Construction6.8% ×0.5
- Information and communication6.8% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.3% ×1.1
- Real estate5.9% ×1.3
Where is Manchester?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Manchester?
Manchester has 588,256 residents (2025), ranking 6 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Manchester?
Manchester covers 115.7 km², with a density of 5,086 people per km².
Is the population of Manchester growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Manchester went from 523,321 to 588,256, a change of +12.4%.
Where is Manchester?
Manchester is in North West (region). Latitude 53.417, longitude −2.250.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Manchester?
In Manchester, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 9.6% (2025), ranking 355 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Dwellings (Council Tax stock): what is the figure for Manchester?
In Manchester, “Dwellings (Council Tax stock)” stands at 257,300 dwellings (2026), ranking 8 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 67,955 dwellings.
Which local authorities border Manchester?
The nearest to Manchester are Trafford (3.8 km), Stockport (5.8 km), Salford (12 km), Tameside (13 km), Oldham (16 km).