United Kingdom Population Pyramid (2026)
The United Kingdom has a population of 69,931,529 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 22nd-largest population in the world and 0.84% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 16.7% of the population and people aged 65 and over 19.9%, with 97.1 males for every 100 females.
United Kingdom Demographics
The United Kingdom has 69.9 million people in 2026, up 25.6% from 55.7 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 306 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 19.9% — the 33rd-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 40.2 — the 43rd-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Millennials — 21.2% (14,801,382)
All generations in the United Kingdom →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how the United Kingdom's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
The United Kingdom has 97.1 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 1,025,261 (1.5% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:34,453,134
- Percentage:49.3%
Female Statistics
- Population:35,478,395
- Percentage:50.7%
- Ratio Format:1:1.030
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of the United Kingdom indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 678,001 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 693,027 | 10.2 | 1.58 | estimate |
| 2022 | 688,630 | 10.1 | 1.56 | estimate |
| 2023 | 688,388 | 10.0 | 1.56 | estimate |
| 2024 | 683,910 | 9.9 | 1.55 | projection |
| 2025 | 680,076 | 9.8 | 1.54 | projection |
| 2026 | 678,001 | 9.7 | 1.53 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (678,001 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
The United Kingdom's median age is 40.2 years
Half the population is younger than 40.2 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 3,523,962 | 5.0% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 3,883,642 | 5.6% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 4,285,681 | 6.1% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 4,305,342 | 6.2% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 4,148,174 | 5.9% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 4,403,204 | 6.3% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 4,673,485 | 6.7% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 4,592,835 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 4,622,983 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 4,293,110 | 6.1% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 4,378,904 | 6.3% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 4,574,887 | 6.5% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 4,302,522 | 6.2% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 3,809,806 | 5.4% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 3,255,101 | 4.7% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 3,013,352 | 4.3% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 2,009,385 | 2.9% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 1,171,804 | 1.7% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 523,460 | 0.7% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 141,024 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 100+ | 18,867 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.53 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (9.7 vs 9.7 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
United Kingdom Total Fertility Rate: 1.53 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.58 | 10.2 | |
| 2022 | 1.56 | 10.1 | ↓0.02 |
| 2023 | 1.56 | 10.0 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.55 | 9.9 | ↓0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.54 | 9.8 | ↓0.01 |
| 2026 | 1.53 | 9.7 | ↓0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.53
The United Kingdom's total fertility rate is 1.53 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. The United Kingdom ranks 137 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −31.1% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, the United Kingdom's population has increased by 39.5%.
The median age has increased from 33.9 in 1950 to 40.2 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding the United Kingdom's Demographics
The United Kingdom has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 16.7% of the population and people aged 65 and over 19.9%.
The largest five-year age band is 30–34, at 6.7% of the population, compared with 5.0% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: the United Kingdom's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The United Kingdom's working-age share peaked in 1950 at 66.7% and is 63.3% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
The United Kingdom is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.53 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
The United Kingdom's median age changed by +1.4 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 69,931,529 |
| Male Population | 34,453,134(49.3%) |
| Female Population | 35,478,395(50.7%) |
| Median Age | 40.2 years |
| Sex Ratio | 97.1 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 11,693,285(16.7%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 44,295,445(63.3%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 13,942,799(19.9%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 57.9 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 26.4 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 31.5 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in the United Kingdom
How long the average person in the United Kingdom is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
The United Kingdom is projected to grow to 75.5 million people by 2050 (+8.0% from 2026).
The median age rises from 40.2 in 2026 to 42.9 by 2050.
United Kingdom's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 1.1%, growing from 55.7 million in 1970 to 56.3 million by 1980
The youth population share contracted by 3.1 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 1.9 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 55.7M to 56.3M
- • Growth rate of 1.1% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 33.2 to 33.3 years (+0.1y)
- • 65+ share changed by +1.9 points; under-15 share by −3.1 points
How Does the United Kingdom Compare to Its Neighbors?
The United Kingdom has a younger population than France, Netherlands, Belgium. The United Kingdom has an older population than Ireland.
United Kingdom
Ireland
France
Netherlands
Belgium
| Country | Population | Median Age | Youth % | Elderly % | Pyramid Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (Current) | 69,931,529 | 40.2 | 16.7% | 19.9% | constrictive |
| Ireland | 5,356,950 | 39.2 | 17.6% | 16.5% | constrictive |
| France | 66,746,401 | 42.5 | 16.0% | 22.9% | constrictive |
| Netherlands | 18,448,776 | 41.5 | 14.9% | 21.3% | constrictive |
| Belgium | 11,774,643 | 42.1 | 15.4% | 21.4% | constrictive |
Frequently Asked Questions About the United Kingdom
How does the United Kingdom rank globally by population?
The United Kingdom ranks 22nd in the world by population with 69.9 million people as of 2026, representing 0.84% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does the United Kingdom's age structure reveal about its development?
The United Kingdom's age structure — 16.7% under 15, 63.3% working-age (15–64) and 19.9% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 40.2 years.
What is the dependency ratio in the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom has 57.9 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is the United Kingdom experiencing a demographic dividend?
The United Kingdom has moved past its demographic-dividend window. The United Kingdom's working-age share peaked in 1950 at 66.7% and is 63.3% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in the United Kingdom's population?
The United Kingdom has more females than males, with 97.1 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). United Kingdom Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/united-kingdom
View UN World Population Prospects Data →