South Gloucestershire: population and statistics
South Gloucestershire has a population of 308,787 (2025) across 497.0 km², or 621 people per km². It ranks 57 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +13.4% between 2015 and 2025.
- 308,787 residents
- 497.0 km²
- 621 people/km²
South Gloucestershire in numbers
Population of South Gloucestershire over time
South Gloucestershire had 272,189 residents in 2015 and 308,787 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 287,182 |
| 2021 | 290,886 |
| 2022 | 295,327 |
| 2023 | 300,441 |
| 2024 | 305,766 |
| 2025 | 308,787 |
All indicators for South Gloucestershire
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 Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 18.9% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 229 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 17.8% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 153 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | South Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 130,310 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 54 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 17.8% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 286 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 23.6% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 59 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 118,101 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 53 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 86.6% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 135 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 12.7% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 183 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 73.4% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 39 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 15.7% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 221 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 10.8% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 275 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £341,833 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 108 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 3.4% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 116 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | South Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 0.9% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 242 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 77.1% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 146 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 7.3% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 172 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 3.9% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 100 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | South Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 12,740 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 63 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 41.3 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 217 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 10,470 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 68 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £40,731 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 125 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | South Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 83.8% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 25 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.1% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 316 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | South Gloucestershire | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 12.3% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 270 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, South Gloucestershire ranks 7 by population.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 83.8% in South Gloucestershire, compared with an average of 79.1% in South West and 75.6% across the UK.
Dwellings built before 1940: 17.8% in South Gloucestershire, compared with an average of 31.7% in South West and 34.9% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 17.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: higher than in 93% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built before 1940”: lower than in 90% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 69,611 football pitches.
- 2.2 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Bristol, City of, 15.3 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Bristol, City of (495,260 residents), 15 km away.
Business sectors: South Gloucestershire
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Construction17.3% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade14.5% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical13.3% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services8.2% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services6.2% ×0.9
- Information and communication6.2% ×1.0
- Health and social work5.9% ×1.0
- Transport and storage5.6% ×1.3
Where is South Gloucestershire?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Gloucestershire?
South Gloucestershire has 308,787 residents (2025), ranking 57 of 361 local authorities.
How big is South Gloucestershire?
South Gloucestershire covers 497.0 km², with a density of 621 people per km².
Is the population of South Gloucestershire growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of South Gloucestershire went from 272,189 to 308,787, a change of +13.4%.
Where is South Gloucestershire?
South Gloucestershire is in South West (region). Latitude 51.540, longitude −2.416.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for South Gloucestershire?
In South Gloucestershire, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 83.8% (2025-2026), ranking 25 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Dwellings built before 1940: what is the figure for South Gloucestershire?
In South Gloucestershire, “Dwellings built before 1940” stands at 17.8% (2026), ranking 286 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 31.6%.
Which local authorities border South Gloucestershire?
The nearest to South Gloucestershire are Bristol, City of (15 km), Bath and North East Somerset (18 km), Stroud (27 km), Forest of Dean (29 km), Wiltshire (29 km).