Inverclyde: population and statistics
Inverclyde has a population of 78,550 (2025) across 161.9 km², or 485 people per km². It ranks 339 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is falling: −2.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 78,550 residents
- 161.9 km²
- 485 people/km²
Inverclyde in numbers
Population of Inverclyde over time
Inverclyde had 80,340 residents in 2015 and 78,550 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 78,580 |
| 2021 | 78,390 |
| 2022 | 78,350 |
| 2023 | 78,660 |
| 2024 | 78,740 |
| 2025 | 78,550 |
All indicators for Inverclyde
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 | Inverclyde | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 23.7% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 96 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.1% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 318 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Inverclyde | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £115,401 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 360 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 5.4% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 54 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Inverclyde | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 1,960 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 354 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 25.0 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 360 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 1,520 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 355 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £36,650 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 237 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Inverclyde | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 65.9% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 334 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 132 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Inverclyde ranks 28 by population.
Average house price: £115,401 in Inverclyde, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 25.0 per 1,000 in Inverclyde, 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 19.9% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Average house price”: lower than in 100% of local authorities.
- “Business sites per 1,000 residents”: lower than in 100% of local authorities.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: lower than in 96% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 22,682 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is West Dunbartonshire, 17.7 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Renfrewshire (189,270 residents), 23 km away.
Business sectors: Inverclyde
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 trade19.9% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical11.9% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services9.8% ×1.4
- Health and social work9.0% ×1.6
- Construction8.5% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services6.7% ×0.8
- Other service activities6.7% ×1.6
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.4% ×1.5
Where is Inverclyde?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Inverclyde?
Inverclyde has 78,550 residents (2025), ranking 339 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Inverclyde?
Inverclyde covers 161.9 km², with a density of 485 people per km².
Is the population of Inverclyde growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Inverclyde went from 80,340 to 78,550, a change of −2.2%.
Where is Inverclyde?
Inverclyde is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.900, longitude −4.750.
Average house price: what is the figure for Inverclyde?
In Inverclyde, “Average house price” stands at £115,401 (2026), ranking 360 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for Inverclyde?
In Inverclyde, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 25.0 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 360 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border Inverclyde?
The nearest to Inverclyde are West Dunbartonshire (18 km), Renfrewshire (23 km), North Ayrshire (26 km), East Renfrewshire (31 km), Glasgow City (32 km).