City of Edinburgh: population and statistics
City of Edinburgh has a population of 531,370 (2025) across 263.4 km², or 2,017 people per km². It ranks 12 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 531,370 residents
- 263.4 km²
- 2,017 people/km²
City of Edinburgh in numbers
Population of City of Edinburgh over time
City of Edinburgh had 490,280 residents in 2015 and 531,370 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 509,550 |
| 2021 | 505,750 |
| 2022 | 514,570 |
| 2023 | 526,660 |
| 2024 | 532,070 |
| 2025 | 531,370 |
All indicators for City of Edinburgh
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 | City of Edinburgh | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.4% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 291 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 13.7% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 349 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | City of Edinburgh | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £303,965 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 148 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.0% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 94 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | City of Edinburgh | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 23,615 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 16 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 44.4 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 181 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 18,635 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 18 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £43,169 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 85 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | City of Edinburgh | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 80.7% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 62 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 216 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, City of Edinburgh ranks 2 by population.
Share of residents aged under 16: 13.7% in City of Edinburgh, compared with an average of 15.8% in Scotland and 17.7% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 16.8% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Business sites (local units)”: higher than in 96% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 36,889 football pitches.
- 7.1 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Midlothian, 9.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Leeds (840,550 residents), 261 km away.
Business sectors: City of Edinburgh
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Professional, scientific and technical16.8% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade14.4% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services11.0% ×1.6
- Administrative and support services9.2% ×1.1
- Construction7.6% ×0.6
- Information and communication7.6% ×1.2
- Health and social work6.6% ×1.2
- Real estate5.1% ×1.1
Where is City of Edinburgh?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of City of Edinburgh?
City of Edinburgh has 531,370 residents (2025), ranking 12 of 361 local authorities.
How big is City of Edinburgh?
City of Edinburgh covers 263.4 km², with a density of 2,017 people per km².
Is the population of City of Edinburgh growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of City of Edinburgh went from 490,280 to 531,370, a change of +8.4%.
Where is City of Edinburgh?
City of Edinburgh is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.950, longitude −3.193.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for City of Edinburgh?
In City of Edinburgh, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 13.7% (2025), ranking 349 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Business sites (local units): what is the figure for City of Edinburgh?
In City of Edinburgh, “Business sites (local units)” stands at 23,615 sites (2026), ranking 16 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 6,830 sites.
Which local authorities border City of Edinburgh?
The nearest to City of Edinburgh are Midlothian (9.9 km), West Lothian (19 km), East Lothian (28 km), Fife (33 km), Falkirk (37 km).