Swindon: population and statistics
Swindon has a population of 245,286 (2025) across 230.1 km², or 1,066 people per km². It ranks 87 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +10.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 245,286 residents
- 230.1 km²
- 1,066 people/km²
Swindon in numbers
Population of Swindon over time
Swindon had 221,805 residents in 2015 and 245,286 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 232,574 |
| 2021 | 233,760 |
| 2022 | 236,108 |
| 2023 | 240,013 |
| 2024 | 243,324 |
| 2025 | 245,286 |
All indicators for Swindon
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 | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.7% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 286 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 19.3% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 72 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 102,860 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 84 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 20.6% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 270 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 24.7% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 45 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 95,861 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 83 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 82.0% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 186 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 17.8% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 129 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 64.9% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 200 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 19.3% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 110 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 15.6% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 123 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £263,611 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 188 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 2.6% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 158 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.3% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 133 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 78.6% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 122 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 9.4% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 99 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.6% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 171 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 8,785 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 132 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 35.8 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 285 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 7,170 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 141 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £38,900 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 163 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 76.1% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 177 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 142 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Swindon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 19.3% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 147 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, Swindon ranks 9 by population.
Dwellings built since 2000: 24.7% in Swindon, compared with an average of 20.6% in South West and 18.6% across the UK.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 16.7% in Swindon, compared with an average of 23.2% in South West and 19.4% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.0% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South West for “Share of residents aged under 16”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 32,221 football pitches.
- 3.8 times denser than the UK average.
- The nearest local authority is Vale of White Horse, 16.9 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Wiltshire (526,392 residents), 43 km away.
Business sectors: Swindon
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 trade17.0% ×1.1
- Construction14.0% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical10.7% ×0.8
- Transport and storage9.9% ×2.4
- Administrative and support services8.7% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services7.2% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.4% ×1.0
- Health and social work5.5% ×1.0
Where is Swindon?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Swindon?
Swindon has 245,286 residents (2025), ranking 87 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Swindon?
Swindon covers 230.1 km², with a density of 1,066 people per km².
Is the population of Swindon growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Swindon went from 221,805 to 245,286, a change of +10.6%.
Where is Swindon?
Swindon is in South West (region). Latitude 51.570, longitude −1.740.
Dwellings built since 2000: what is the figure for Swindon?
In Swindon, “Dwellings built since 2000” stands at 24.7% (2026), ranking 45 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 18.1%.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Swindon?
In Swindon, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 16.7% (2025), ranking 286 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Which local authorities border Swindon?
The nearest to Swindon are Vale of White Horse (17 km), Cotswold (23 km), West Oxfordshire (31 km), West Berkshire (34 km), Stroud (38 km).