South Lanarkshire: population and statistics
South Lanarkshire has a population of 334,330 (2025) across 1,773.9 km², or 188 people per km². It ranks 40 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +5.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 334,330 residents
- 1,773.9 km²
- 188 people/km²
South Lanarkshire in numbers
Population of South Lanarkshire over time
South Lanarkshire had 318,110 residents in 2015 and 334,330 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 323,620 |
| 2021 | 325,390 |
| 2022 | 327,460 |
| 2023 | 330,930 |
| 2024 | 333,070 |
| 2025 | 334,330 |
All indicators for South Lanarkshire
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 | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.4% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 154 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 16.7% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 232 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £185,267 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 313 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.1% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 91 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 11,490 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 77 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 34.4 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 305 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 9,380 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 81 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £41,126 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 118 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | South Lanarkshire | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.2% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 175 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 216 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, South Lanarkshire ranks 5 by population.
Average house price: £185,267 in South Lanarkshire, compared with an average of £200,272 in Scotland and £308,859 across the UK.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: 34.4 per 1,000 in South Lanarkshire, 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 17.2% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 248,444 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is North Lanarkshire, 26.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Glasgow City (654,330 residents), 40 km away.
Business sectors: South Lanarkshire
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 trade17.2% ×1.1
- Construction14.8% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical11.0% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services9.1% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services6.5% ×0.9
- Other service activities5.4% ×1.3
- Health and social work5.2% ×0.9
- Manufacturing5.2% ×1.2
Where is South Lanarkshire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire has 334,330 residents (2025), ranking 40 of 361 local authorities.
How big is South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire covers 1,773.9 km², with a density of 188 people per km².
Is the population of South Lanarkshire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of South Lanarkshire went from 318,110 to 334,330, a change of +5.1%.
Where is South Lanarkshire?
South Lanarkshire is in Scotland (region). Latitude 55.600, longitude −3.783.
Average house price: what is the figure for South Lanarkshire?
In South Lanarkshire, “Average house price” stands at £185,267 (2026), ranking 313 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is £272,474.
Business sites per 1,000 residents: what is the figure for South Lanarkshire?
In South Lanarkshire, “Business sites per 1,000 residents” stands at 34.4 per 1,000 (2026), ranking 305 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 44.4 per 1,000.
Which local authorities border South Lanarkshire?
The nearest to South Lanarkshire are North Lanarkshire (27 km), East Ayrshire (31 km), East Renfrewshire (39 km), West Lothian (39 km), Glasgow City (40 km).