Dumfries and Galloway: population and statistics
Dumfries and Galloway has a population of 145,490 (2025) across 6,436.6 km², or 22.6 people per km². It ranks 190 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is falling: −2.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 145,490 residents
- 6,436.6 km²
- 23 people/km²
Dumfries and Galloway in numbers
Population of Dumfries and Galloway over time
Dumfries and Galloway had 148,820 residents in 2015 and 145,490 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 146,090 |
| 2021 | 146,250 |
| 2022 | 145,770 |
| 2023 | 146,040 |
| 2024 | 145,930 |
| 2025 | 145,490 |
All indicators for Dumfries and Galloway
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 | Dumfries and Galloway | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 28.7% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 20 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 14.6% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 334 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Dumfries and Galloway | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £169,511 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 330 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.6% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 79 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Dumfries and Galloway | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 7,680 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 156 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 52.8 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 81 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 6,400 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 162 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,895 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 290 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Dumfries and Galloway | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 78.8% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 114 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.9% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 206 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway ranks 14 by population.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 28.7% in Dumfries and Galloway, compared with an average of 21.0% in Scotland and 19.4% across the UK.
Average house price: £169,511 in Dumfries and Galloway, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 26.7% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Scotland for “Share of residents aged 65 and over”.
- “Share of residents aged 65 and over”: higher than in 95% of local authorities.
- “Average house price”: lower than in 92% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 901,479 football pitches.
- 12.6 times less dense than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Cumberland, 42.1 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Cumberland (282,343 residents), 42 km away.
Business sectors: Dumfries and Galloway
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing26.7% ×6.0
- Wholesale and retail trade14.3% ×0.9
- Construction10.4% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services8.2% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical6.7% ×0.5
- Health and social work5.6% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services5.2% ×0.6
- Manufacturing4.2% ×1.0
Where is Dumfries and Galloway?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Dumfries and Galloway?
Dumfries and Galloway has 145,490 residents (2025), ranking 190 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Dumfries and Galloway?
Dumfries and Galloway covers 6,436.6 km², with a density of 23 people per km².
Is the population of Dumfries and Galloway growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Dumfries and Galloway went from 148,820 to 145,490, a change of −2.2%.
Where is Dumfries and Galloway?
Dumfries and Galloway is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.070, longitude −3.603.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Dumfries and Galloway?
In Dumfries and Galloway, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 28.7% (2025), ranking 20 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Average house price: what is the figure for Dumfries and Galloway?
In Dumfries and Galloway, “Average house price” stands at £169,511 (2026), ranking 330 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Which local authorities border Dumfries and Galloway?
The nearest to Dumfries and Galloway are Cumberland (42 km), South Lanarkshire (60 km), East Ayrshire (63 km), South Ayrshire (74 km), Scottish Borders (78 km).