Stirling: population and statistics
Stirling has a population of 94,040 (2025) across 2,252.5 km², or 41.7 people per km². It ranks 314 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +3.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 94,040 residents
- 2,252.5 km²
- 42 people/km²
Stirling in numbers
Population of Stirling over time
Stirling had 90,890 residents in 2015 and 94,040 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 92,090 |
| 2021 | 91,470 |
| 2022 | 92,610 |
| 2023 | 93,850 |
| 2024 | 94,620 |
| 2025 | 94,040 |
All indicators for Stirling
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 | Stirling | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 21.6% | 21.0% | 20.4% | ranked 145 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.3% | 15.8% | 17.4% | ranked 307 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Stirling | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average house price (2026) | £239,034 | £200,272 | £272,474 | ranked 214 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 2.5% | 3.0% | 2.2% | ranked 165 of 360 |
Economy
| Indicator | Stirling | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 4,745 sites | 219,565 | 3,232,440 | ranked 270 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 50.5 per 1,000 | 39.6 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 106 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,935 businesses | 176,000 | 2,786,975 | ranked 277 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £43,559 | £39,890 | £38,490 | ranked 76 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Stirling | Scotland | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 73.2% | 74.5% | 76.3% | ranked 248 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | ranked 288 of 361 |
Key points
Among the 32 local authorities in Scotland, Stirling ranks 25 by population.
Share of residents aged under 16: 15.3% in Stirling, compared with an average of 15.8% in Scotland and 17.7% across the UK.
Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64: 2.3% in Stirling, compared with an average of 3.2% in Scotland and 3.8% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.1% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 315,482 football pitches.
- 6.8 times less dense than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is West Dunbartonshire, 31.5 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Renfrewshire (189,270 residents), 42 km away.
Business sectors: Stirling
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 trade15.1% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical14.1% ×1.0
- Construction11.3% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services9.1% ×1.3
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.3% ×1.9
- Administrative and support services7.3% ×0.9
- Health and social work5.2% ×0.9
- Real estate4.5% ×1.0
Where is Stirling?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Stirling?
Stirling has 94,040 residents (2025), ranking 314 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Stirling?
Stirling covers 2,252.5 km², with a density of 42 people per km².
Is the population of Stirling growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Stirling went from 90,890 to 94,040, a change of +3.5%.
Where is Stirling?
Stirling is in Scotland (region). Latitude 56.253, longitude −4.326.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Stirling?
In Stirling, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 15.3% (2025), ranking 307 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64: what is the figure for Stirling?
In Stirling, “Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64” stands at 2.3% (2026), ranking 288 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 3.2%.
Which local authorities border Stirling?
The nearest to Stirling are West Dunbartonshire (32 km), East Dunbartonshire (36 km), Clackmannanshire (37 km), Renfrewshire (42 km), Falkirk (44 km).