Fife: population and statistics
Fife has a population of 373,990 (2025) across 1,325.2 km², or 282 people per km². It ranks 28 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +1.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 373,990 residents
- 1,325.2 km²
- 282 people/km²
Fife in numbers
Population of Fife over time
Fife had 367,020 residents in 2015 and 373,990 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 370,760 |
| 2021 | 370,880 |
| 2022 | 371,390 |
| 2023 | 373,790 |
| 2024 | 374,810 |
| 2025 | 373,990 |
All indicators for Fife
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 | Fife | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 22.9% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 113 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.8% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 282 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Fife | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £179,134 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 320 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 5.4% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 54 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Fife | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 11,330 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 78 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 30.3 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 336 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 8,880 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 87 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,913 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 162 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Fife | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 73.5% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 242 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 142 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Fife ranks 3 by population.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 30.3 per 1,000 in Fife, compared with an average of 39.6 per 1,000 in Scotland and 46.5 per 1,000 across the UK.
Average house price: £179,134 in Fife, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.6% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Business sites per 1,000 residents”: lower than in 94% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 185,601 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Perth and Kinross, 25.5 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Glasgow City (654,330 residents), 79 km away.
Business sectors: Fife
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 trade18.6% ×1.2
- Construction12.9% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical10.9% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services7.6% ×0.9
- Health and social work6.7% ×1.2
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.7% ×1.3
- Manufacturing5.0% ×1.2
Where is Fife?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fife?
Fife has 373,990 residents (2025), ranking 28 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Fife?
Fife covers 1,325.2 km², with a density of 282 people per km².
Is the population of Fife growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Fife went from 367,020 to 373,990, a change of +1.9%.
Where is Fife?
Fife is in Scotland (region). Latitude 56.250, longitude −3.200.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for Fife?
In Fife, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 30.3 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 336 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Average house price: what is the figure for Fife?
In Fife, “Average house price” stands at £179,134 (2026), ranking 320 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Which local authorities border Fife?
The nearest to Fife are Perth and Kinross (25 km), Dundee City (30 km), City of Edinburgh (33 km), Clackmannanshire (35 km), Midlothian (40 km).