UK public data, by local authority district
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The population stood at 164,498 in 2025. That is 1.8% higher than a year earlier. That is the highest value in the published series, which begins in 1991.

Why the caveats matter

Every figure carries the publisher's own caveats. Where a statistic is published for a wider area than the one you clicked, or where the publisher itself flags it as unreliable, the page says so rather than quietly rounding it off.

The UK's four nations publish separately, so some figures stop at a border: house sale prices cover England and Wales, road collisions Great Britain. Pupil absence is published for England, but not every English district individually — some are reported only as part of their wider county. An area with fewer datasets isn't missing data — either its nation publishes that statistic through a different body, or (pupil absence only) its own district isn't reported separately.

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Population estimate — Preston

164,498, latest 2025 (+1.8% year on year, from 161,593).

The population stood at 164,498 in 2025. That is 1.8% higher than a year earlier. That is the highest value in the published series, which begins in 1991. Its low point was 129,595 in 1992; the latest reading is 27% above that.

Show the numbers (35 periods)
Population estimate — Preston, every published period
PeriodValue
2025164,498
2024161,593
2023158,206
2022152,462
2021147,786
2020145,912
2019144,624
2018142,417
2017141,734
2016140,468
2015140,615
2014140,158
2013140,302
2012140,216
2011140,054
2010138,831
2009137,956
2008138,443
2007138,470
2006137,784
2005136,200
2004134,410
2003132,685
2002131,110
2001130,372
2000131,199
1999131,597
1998131,758
1997132,521
1996132,247
1995131,942
1994130,902
1993130,099
1992129,595
1991130,029

What these terms mean

Mid-year estimate
A modelled count of the population on 30 June, updated between censuses. It is an estimate, not a headcount. Source
Local authority district
The council area a statistic is published for -- 361 across the UK. In England these are boroughs, districts and unitary authorities; in Scotland, council areas; in Wales, principal areas; in Northern Ireland, districts.

Before you use these figures

  • Mid-year estimate, not a census count: This is a modelled mid-year (30 June) estimate, not a direct headcount. It is rebased periodically against the latest UK census results -- the current series was rebased to the 2021/2022 censuses, replacing previously published estimates for 2011 to 2022. Figures for the same year can therefore change between publications as later data becomes available.
  • Unrounded, but not precise to the individual: Figures are published unrounded to enable further calculation, but ONS is explicit that small estimates should not be read as accurate to a specific person -- they are produced using statistical models and disclosure-control methods, not a direct count.

Cite this figure:

Population estimate — Preston
164,498 for Preston, 2025
Caveats: Mid-year estimate, not a census count; Unrounded, but not precise to the individual
StatsMapped last confirmed this figure unchanged on 5 Sep 2026.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Population Estimates (via Nomis)
https://statsmapped.com/united-kingdom/local-authority/preston/population-estimate

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