North Ayrshire: population and statistics
North Ayrshire has a population of 133,660 (2025) across 885.3 km², or 151 people per km². It ranks 220 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is falling: −1.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 133,660 residents
- 885.3 km²
- 151 people/km²
North Ayrshire in numbers
Population of North Ayrshire over time
North Ayrshire had 136,220 residents in 2015 and 133,660 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 134,040 |
| 2021 | 133,860 |
| 2022 | 133,490 |
| 2023 | 133,750 |
| 2024 | 133,830 |
| 2025 | 133,660 |
All indicators for North 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 | North Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.1% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 74 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.4% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 301 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | North Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £143,560 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 348 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 5.2% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 60 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | North Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 3,885 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 321 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 29.1 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 346 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,015 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 329 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £40,312 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 132 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | North Ayrshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 73.6% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 238 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 4.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 82 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, North Ayrshire ranks 15 by population.
Average house price: £143,560 in North Ayrshire, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 29.1 per 1,000 in North 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 18.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Average house price”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Business sites per 1,000 residents”: lower than in 96% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 123,990 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Inverclyde, 26.0 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Glasgow City (654,330 residents), 39 km away.
Business sectors: North 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 trade18.3% ×1.1
- Construction12.0% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services9.8% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical8.8% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services6.8% ×0.8
- Health and social work6.5% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.3% ×1.4
- Other service activities5.4% ×1.3
Where is North Ayrshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire has 133,660 residents (2025), ranking 220 of 361 local authorities.
How big is North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire covers 885.3 km², with a density of 151 people per km².
Is the population of North Ayrshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of North Ayrshire went from 136,220 to 133,660, a change of −1.9%.
Where is North Ayrshire?
North Ayrshire is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.667, longitude −4.783.
Average house price: what is the figure for North Ayrshire?
In North Ayrshire, “Average house price” stands at £143,560 (2026), ranking 348 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for North Ayrshire?
In North Ayrshire, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 29.1 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 346 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border North Ayrshire?
The nearest to North Ayrshire are Inverclyde (26 km), Renfrewshire (34 km), East Renfrewshire (34 km), East Ayrshire (38 km), Glasgow City (39 km).