There is an opinion among some that the UK is overflowing with people– that there is not one square inch of space left. There is a grain of truth in this. Our population has increased over the past 20 years, reaching 66,040,229 in June 2017 (though the growth rate has fallen lately). We have 273 people per square kilometre, according to 2017 World Bank figures: more than France (123)and Germany (237). Among major European countries, only the Netherlands (509) and Belgium (376) have more.
If being around other people makes you feel connected, and part of the buzz of a community, move to the city. ased on the last census, in 2011, London’s inner boroughs are by far the most densely populated in the country, with Islington top at 138.7 people per hectare (13,870 per square kilometre).
Outside London, the most densely populated city is Portsmouth (who knew – 51).
However, Professor Alasdair Rae at the University of Sheffield has used more up-to-date data to find Europe’s most densely packed square kilometre: it’s in Barcelona (53,199 people), followed by Paris (52,218). Britain’s densest place? Around Little Venice, West London – a mere 20,477 people.
Feeling squashed? Move to the Highlands, Argyll & Bute or the Outer Hebrides: a mere 0.1 persons per hectare. That’s barely a toe.
