East Ayrshire: population and statistics
East Ayrshire has a population of 121,350 (2025) across 1,270.3 km², or 95.5 people per km². It ranks 245 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is stable: −0.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 121,350 residents
- 1,270.3 km²
- 96 people/km²
East Ayrshire in numbers
Population of East Ayrshire over time
East Ayrshire had 121,620 residents in 2015 and 121,350 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 120,340 |
| 2021 | 120,500 |
| 2022 | 120,400 |
| 2023 | 120,800 |
| 2024 | 121,320 |
| 2025 | 121,350 |
All indicators for East Ayrshire
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 | East Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.6% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 120 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.5% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 241 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | East Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £138,971 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 353 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 7.2% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 23 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | East Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 3,960 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 317 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 32.6 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 325 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,175 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 322 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £37,968 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 193 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | East Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 73.2% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 248 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.7% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 115 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, East Ayrshire ranks 16 by population.
Average house price: £138,971 in East Ayrshire, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 32.6 per 1,000 in East Ayrshire, compared with an average of 39.6 per 1,000 in Scotland and 46.5 per 1,000 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.8% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Average house price”: lower than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Business sites per 1,000 residents”: lower than in 90% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 177,920 football pitches.
- 3.0 times less dense than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is South Lanarkshire, 31.4 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is South Lanarkshire (334,330 residents), 31 km away.
Business sectors: East Ayrshire
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 trade16.8% ×1.0
- Construction12.9% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing11.4% ×2.6
- Professional, scientific and technical9.3% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services9.1% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services7.4% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.2% ×1.1
- Manufacturing4.8% ×1.1
Where is East Ayrshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of East Ayrshire?
East Ayrshire has 121,350 residents (2025), ranking 245 of 361 local authorities.
How big is East Ayrshire?
East Ayrshire covers 1,270.3 km², with a density of 96 people per km².
Is the population of East Ayrshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of East Ayrshire went from 121,620 to 121,350, a change of −0.2%.
Where is East Ayrshire?
East Ayrshire is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.500, longitude −4.250.
Average house price: what is the figure for East Ayrshire?
In East Ayrshire, “Average house price” stands at £138,971 (2026), ranking 353 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for East Ayrshire?
In East Ayrshire, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 32.6 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 325 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border East Ayrshire?
The nearest to East Ayrshire are South Lanarkshire (31 km), East Renfrewshire (33 km), South Ayrshire (37 km), North Ayrshire (38 km), Glasgow City (39 km).