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People Statistics · Region

Population in Wales

1990 – 2024 · 35 data points 10 of 12 · Regions of United Kingdom Updated 21 Oct 2026
People · Wales United Kingdom

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1990 – 2024

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Overview 5 figures People 13 figures Economy 11 figures Education 4 figures Climate 1 figure
Latest value · 2024 3,186,581 +0.7% since 2023
Regions of United Kingdom · 2024 10 of 12 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2014 +3.7% +0.3% a year on average
share of United Kingdom 4.60% United Kingdom: 69,281,437 · 2024
Population, 1990 – 2024 people
+3.7% since 2014

Source: OECD Regional Database, 1990 – 2024

Compared with Population · people
Wales 3.2M
United Kingdom 69M
World 8.2B · 2025

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators

The series at a glance Wales · 1990 – 2024
Latest value 3,186,581 · 2024
First value 2,861,700 · 1990
Highest 3,186,581 · 2024
Lowest 2,861,700 · 1990
Average change +0.3% a year on average
Data points 35

By year

All years · 1990 – 2024

YearWalesChange United KingdomWorld
2024 3,186,581 +0.7% 69M 8.1B
2023 3,164,404 +1.0% 68M 8.1B
2022 3,132,676 +0.9% 68M 8B
2021 3,105,633 +0.0% 67M 7.9B
2020 3,104,483 +0.5% 67M 7.9B
2019 3,087,732 +0.1% 67M 7.8B
2018 3,083,840 +0.1% 66M 7.7B
2017 3,081,366 +0.1% 66M 7.6B
2016 3,077,165 +0.1% 66M 7.5B
2015 3,072,739 −0.0% 65M 7.4B
2014 3,073,788 +0.1% 65M 7.4B
2013 3,071,058 +0.0% 64M 7.3B
2012 3,070,928 +0.2% 64M 7.2B
2011 3,063,758 +0.5% 63M 7.1B
2010 3,049,971 +0.4% 63M 7B
2009 3,038,872 +0.4% 62M 6.9B
2008 3,025,867 +0.7% 62M 6.8B
2007 3,006,299 +0.7% 61M 6.7B
2006 2,985,668 +0.6% 61M 6.7B
2005 2,969,309 +0.4% 60M 6.6B
2004 2,957,422 +0.7% 60M 6.5B
2003 2,937,721 +0.5% 60M 6.4B
2002 2,922,876 +0.4% 59M 6.3B
2001 2,910,232 +0.1% 59M 6.2B
2000 2,906,870 +0.2% 59M 6.2B
1999 2,900,599 +0.0% 59M 6.1B
1998 2,899,521 +0.2% 58M 6B
1997 2,894,900 +0.1% 58M 5.9B
1996 2,891,100 +0.1% 58M 5.8B
1995 2,888,600 +0.0% 58M 5.7B
1994 2,887,400 +0.1% 58M 5.7B
1993 2,883,500 +0.2% 58M 5.6B
1992 2,877,500 +0.2% 58M 5.5B
1991 2,872,900 +0.4% 57M 5.4B
1990 2,861,700 57M 5.3B

Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1990 – 2024

Ranking · Regions of United Kingdom

2024 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryPopulation
12 Northern Ireland 1.9M
11 North East England 2.8M
10 Wales 3.2M
9 East Midlands 5.1M
8 Scotland 5.5M
7 Yorkshire and The Humber 5.7M
6 South West England 5.9M
5 West Midlands 6.2M
4 East of England 6.6M
3 North West England 7.7M
2 Greater London 9.1M
1 South East England 9.6M

Source: OECD Regional Database, 2024

What it means

How many people live here — residents, not visitors.

How it is calculated

Official count or estimate of residents for each year: a census plus births, deaths and moves since then. Estimates are revised when a new census comes out.