Gloucester: population and statistics
Gloucester has a population of 138,565 (2025) across 40.5 km², or 3,417 people per km². It ranks 209 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 138,565 residents
- 40.5 km²
- 3,417 people/km²
Gloucester in numbers
Population of Gloucester over time
Gloucester had 128,032 residents in 2015 and 138,565 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 132,112 |
| 2021 | 132,564 |
| 2022 | 133,664 |
| 2023 | 136,082 |
| 2024 | 137,857 |
| 2025 | 138,565 |
All indicators for Gloucester
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 | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 17.3% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 274 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 18.7% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 106 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 60,510 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 191 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 27.1% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 206 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 22.2% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 82 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 55,406 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 188 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 81.3% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 193 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 18.2% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 125 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 65.0% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 196 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 21.3% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 80 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 13.6% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 185 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £240,718 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 212 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 4.9% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 65 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.5% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 99 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 78.7% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 119 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 9.2% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 103 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.2% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 212 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 4,935 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 262 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 35.6 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 287 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 3,805 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 284 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £34,617 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 304 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 78.9% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 111 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.5% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 132 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Gloucester | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 20.2% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 131 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, Gloucester ranks 15 by population.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): £34,617 in Gloucester, compared with an average of £37,598 in South West and £39,498 across the UK.
House price change over 12 months: 4.9% in Gloucester, compared with an average of 1.1% in South West and 1.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 18.5% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South West for “House price change over 12 months”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 5,679 football pitches.
- 12.0 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Stroud, 11.0 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is South Gloucestershire (308,787 residents), 36 km away.
Business sectors: Gloucester
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 trade18.5% ×1.2
- Construction13.9% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.7% ×0.7
- Health and social work8.7% ×1.5
- Administrative and support services8.6% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services8.5% ×1.2
- Information and communication5.4% ×0.9
- Other service activities4.6% ×1.1
Where is Gloucester?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gloucester?
Gloucester has 138,565 residents (2025), ranking 209 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Gloucester?
Gloucester covers 40.5 km², with a density of 3,417 people per km².
Is the population of Gloucester growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Gloucester went from 128,032 to 138,565, a change of +8.2%.
Where is Gloucester?
Gloucester is in South West (region). Latitude 51.846, longitude −2.238.
Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross): what is the figure for Gloucester?
In Gloucester, “Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross)” stands at £34,617 (2025), ranking 304 of 348 local authorities; the UK median is £38,490.
House price change over 12 months: what is the figure for Gloucester?
In Gloucester, “House price change over 12 months” stands at 4.9% (2026), ranking 65 of 360 local authorities; the UK median is 2.2%.
Which local authorities border Gloucester?
The nearest to Gloucester are Stroud (11 km), Cheltenham (13 km), Tewkesbury (18 km), Forest of Dean (23 km), Cotswold (23 km).