Brighton and Hove: population and statistics
Brighton and Hove has a population of 284,170 (2025) across 82.8 km², or 3,431 people per km². It ranks 67 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +2.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 284,170 residents
- 82.8 km²
- 3,431 people/km²
Brighton and Hove in numbers
Population of Brighton and Hove over time
Brighton and Hove had 277,351 residents in 2015 and 284,170 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 278,496 |
| 2021 | 276,454 |
| 2022 | 278,709 |
| 2023 | 282,366 |
| 2024 | 285,063 |
| 2025 | 284,170 |
All indicators for Brighton and Hove
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 | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 14.7% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 314 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 13.7% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 349 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 136,820 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 45 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 55.2% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 18 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 10.5% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 304 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 121,402 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 47 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 49.9% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 302 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 50.0% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 17 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 52.2% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 283 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 32.7% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 13 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 14.9% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 138 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £408,948 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 73 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −1.1% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 297 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 2.3% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 24 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 75.3% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 179 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 11.9% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 38 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.2% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 212 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 16,150 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 42 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 56.8 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 53 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 14,035 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 42 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,347 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 155 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.9% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 161 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 4.3% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 73 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Brighton and Hove | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 37.4% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 22 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, Brighton and Hove ranks 4 by population.
Share of residents aged under 16: 13.7% in Brighton and Hove, compared with an average of 18.1% in South East and 17.7% across the UK.
Dwellings built since 2000: 10.5% in Brighton and Hove, compared with an average of 19.8% in South East and 18.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 17.7% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South East for “Households living in a flat or maisonette”.
- Number 1 in South East for “Households renting privately”.
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built since 2000”: lower than in 96% of local authorities.
- “Households without a car or van”: higher than in 93% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,599 football pitches.
- 12.1 times denser than the UK average.
Business sectors: Brighton and Hove
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Professional, scientific and technical17.7% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×0.9
- Information and communication11.5% ×1.9
- Construction9.7% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services9.3% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services8.6% ×1.1
- Health and social work5.6% ×1.0
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.9% ×1.6
Where is Brighton and Hove?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brighton and Hove?
Brighton and Hove has 284,170 residents (2025), ranking 67 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Brighton and Hove?
Brighton and Hove covers 82.8 km², with a density of 3,431 people per km².
Is the population of Brighton and Hove growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Brighton and Hove went from 277,351 to 284,170, a change of +2.5%.
Where is Brighton and Hove?
Brighton and Hove is in South East (region). Latitude 50.828, longitude −0.153.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Brighton and Hove?
In Brighton and Hove, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 13.7% (2025), ranking 349 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Dwellings built since 2000: what is the figure for Brighton and Hove?
In Brighton and Hove, “Dwellings built since 2000” stands at 10.5% (2026), ranking 304 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 18.1%.
Which local authorities border Brighton and Hove?
The nearest to Brighton and Hove are Adur (8.0 km), Lewes (12 km), Worthing (16 km), Mid Sussex (21 km), Arun (27 km).