Milton Keynes: population and statistics
Milton Keynes has a population of 308,866 (2025) across 308.6 km², or 1,001 people per km². It ranks 56 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +14.5% between 2015 and 2025.
- 308,866 residents
- 308.6 km²
- 1,001 people/km²
Milton Keynes in numbers
Population of Milton Keynes over time
Milton Keynes had 269,783 residents in 2015 and 308,866 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 283,707 |
| 2021 | 288,312 |
| 2022 | 292,805 |
| 2023 | 300,323 |
| 2024 | 305,806 |
| 2025 | 308,866 |
All indicators for Milton Keynes
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 | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 14.5% | 20.2% | 20.4% | ranked 317 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 20.9% | 18.1% | 17.4% | ranked 21 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 128,230 dwellings | 4,201,530 | 27,429,300 | ranked 57 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 7.8% | 28.0% | 31.6% | ranked 313 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 33.5% | 19.8% | 18.1% | ranked 3 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 113,103 households | 72,553 | 61,440 | ranked 60 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 81.8% | 77.8% | 84.7% | ranked 189 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 18.1% | 21.5% | 14.8% | ranked 126 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 60.9% | 67.0% | 67.3% | ranked 237 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 20.9% | 19.2% | 17.6% | ranked 86 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 18.1% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 85 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £330,419 | £392,981 | £272,474 | ranked 121 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 2.6% | 0.5% | 2.2% | ranked 158 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.2% | ranked 175 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 77.5% | 74.6% | 76.7% | ranked 140 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.3% | 9.2% | 7.8% | ranked 132 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.9% | 3.2% | 0.9% | ranked 159 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 15,105 sites | 472,260 | 3,232,440 | ranked 49 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 48.9 per 1,000 | 48.7 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 126 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 12,930 businesses | 412,075 | 2,786,975 | ranked 49 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £41,389 | £41,780 | £38,490 | ranked 112 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 78.1% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 134 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 4.1% | 3.1% | 3.2% | ranked 88 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Milton Keynes | South East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 17.1% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 177 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 64 local authorities in South East, Milton Keynes ranks 2 by population.
Dwellings built since 2000: 33.5% in Milton Keynes, compared with an average of 19.8% in South East and 18.6% across the UK.
Share of residents aged under 16: 20.9% in Milton Keynes, compared with an average of 18.1% in South East and 17.7% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.7% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South East for “Dwellings built since 2000”.
- “Dwellings built since 2000”: higher than in 99% of local authorities.
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: higher than in 94% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 43,227 football pitches.
- 3.5 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Central Bedfordshire, 18.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Buckinghamshire (584,296 residents), 30 km away.
Business sectors: Milton Keynes
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 trade15.7% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical14.6% ×1.0
- Information and communication11.9% ×1.9
- Construction10.4% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services9.5% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services6.0% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.7% ×1.0
- Transport and storage5.6% ×1.3
Where is Milton Keynes?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Milton Keynes?
Milton Keynes has 308,866 residents (2025), ranking 56 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Milton Keynes?
Milton Keynes covers 308.6 km², with a density of 1,001 people per km².
Is the population of Milton Keynes growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Milton Keynes went from 269,783 to 308,866, a change of +14.5%.
Where is Milton Keynes?
Milton Keynes is in South East (region). Latitude 52.033, longitude −0.767.
Dwellings built since 2000: what is the figure for Milton Keynes?
In Milton Keynes, “Dwellings built since 2000” stands at 33.5% (2026), ranking 3 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 18.1%.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Milton Keynes?
In Milton Keynes, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 20.9% (2025), ranking 21 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Which local authorities border Milton Keynes?
The nearest to Milton Keynes are Central Bedfordshire (19 km), Bedford (24 km), Luton (28 km), West Northamptonshire (29 km), Buckinghamshire (30 km).