Quick facts
Edinburgh overview
Edinburgh (orange) and the other large cities of United Kingdom
Edinburgh lies in Scotland in United Kingdom at 55.95°N, 3.2°W, about 66 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/London (UTC+1); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Leeds (536,280) and larger than Liverpool (496,770). The largest city in United Kingdom is London with 8,961,989 people; the capital, London, has 8,961,989.
The national capital, London, is about 534 km away; the nearest large city is Dundee, 59 km from Edinburgh.
United Kingdom as a whole has a live population of 70,040,452 (+0.5% a year) and ranks #22 of 238 countries — see the United Kingdom population page for the full statistics and the United Kingdom atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Edinburgh
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Dundee Scotland | 59 km | 148,210 |
| Glasgow Scotland | 67 km | 626,410 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne England | 148 km | 300,125 |
| Aberdeen Scotland | 149 km | 198,590 |
| Sunderland England | 163 km | 170,134 |
| Middlesbrough England | 197 km | 142,707 |
Largest cities in United Kingdom
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LondonCapital | England | 8,961,989 |
| 2 | Birmingham | England | 1,157,603 |
| 3 | Glasgow | Scotland | 626,410 |
| 4 | Manchester | England | 568,996 |
| 5 | Sheffield | England | 556,500 |
| 6 | Leeds | England | 536,280 |
| 7 | Edinburgh | Scotland | 514,990 |
| 8 | Liverpool | England | 496,770 |
| 9 | Bristol | England | 479,024 |
| 10 | Cardiff | Wales | 372,089 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has about 514,990 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Edinburgh the capital of United Kingdom?
No. The capital of United Kingdom is London (8,961,989 people), about 534 km away. Edinburgh is the 7th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Edinburgh compared with the rest of United Kingdom?
Its 514,990 residents are 0.7% of the 70,040,452 people living in United Kingdom today. London is larger with 8,961,989 people.
Where is Edinburgh?
In Scotland, United Kingdom, at latitude 55.95 and longitude -3.2, 66 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Dundee (59 km), Glasgow (67 km), Newcastle upon Tyne (148 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Edinburgh Population 2026 — United Kingdom. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/united-kingdom/edinburgh/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/united-kingdom/edinburgh/">Edinburgh Population 2026 — United Kingdom</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.