Renfrewshire: population and statistics
Renfrewshire has a population of 189,270 (2025) across 261.5 km², or 724 people per km². It ranks 130 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +7.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 189,270 residents
- 261.5 km²
- 724 people/km²
Renfrewshire in numbers
Population of Renfrewshire over time
Renfrewshire had 175,900 residents in 2015 and 189,270 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 181,610 |
| 2021 | 182,330 |
| 2022 | 184,370 |
| 2023 | 187,150 |
| 2024 | 188,610 |
| 2025 | 189,270 |
All indicators for Renfrewshire
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 | Renfrewshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 20.4% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 181 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.1% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 262 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Renfrewshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £159,992 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 336 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −1.3% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 302 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Renfrewshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,205 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 202 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 32.8 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 318 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 4,765 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 227 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,734 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 145 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Renfrewshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 69.1% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 314 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 189 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Renfrewshire ranks 9 by population.
Average house price: £159,992 in Renfrewshire, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 69.1% in Renfrewshire, compared with an average of 74.5% in Scotland and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.6% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Average house price”: lower than in 93% of local authorities.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: lower than in 91% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 36,623 football pitches.
- 2.5 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Glasgow City, 9.2 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Glasgow City (654,330 residents), 9 km away.
Business sectors: Renfrewshire
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
- Construction12.8% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical11.3% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services8.8% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services8.1% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.1% ×1.1
- Other service activities5.5% ×1.3
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.2
Where is Renfrewshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire has 189,270 residents (2025), ranking 130 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire covers 261.5 km², with a density of 724 people per km².
Is the population of Renfrewshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Renfrewshire went from 175,900 to 189,270, a change of +7.6%.
Where is Renfrewshire?
Renfrewshire is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.877, longitude −4.389.
Average house price: what is the figure for Renfrewshire?
In Renfrewshire, “Average house price” stands at £159,992 (2026), ranking 336 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Renfrewshire?
In Renfrewshire, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 69.1% (2025-2026), ranking 314 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border Renfrewshire?
The nearest to Renfrewshire are Glasgow City (9.2 km), East Renfrewshire (11 km), East Dunbartonshire (12 km), West Dunbartonshire (15 km), Inverclyde (23 km).