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People Statistics · City

Population of the urban area in Cardiff

1975 – 2025 · 11 data points 1 of 4 · Towns of Wales Updated 22 Oct 2026
People · Cardiff

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

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Overview 7 figures People 16 figures Economy 11 figures Education 4 figures Climate 8 figures
Latest value · 2025 388,460 +1.9% since 2020
Towns of Wales · 2025 1 of 4 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2015 +5.4% +0.8% a year on average
Population of the urban area, 1975 – 2025 people · Cardiff
1975 
 
1985 
 
1995 
 
2005 
 
2015 
 
388K
2025 

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

The series at a glance Cardiff · 1975 – 2025
Latest value 388,460 · 2025
First value 266,764 · 1975
Highest 388,460 · 2025
Lowest 266,764 · 1975
Average change +0.8% a year on average
Data points 11

By year

All years · 1975 – 2025

YearCardiffChange
2025 388,460 +1.9%
2020 381,179 +3.5%
2015 368,426 +4.1%
2010 353,987 +6.0%
2005 333,936 +5.5%
2000 316,468 +3.1%
1995 307,087 +2.9%
1990 298,528 +3.8%
1985 287,499 +3.7%
1980 277,168 +3.9%
1975 266,764

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

Ranking · Towns of Wales

2025 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2025 2020 2015 2010 2005 2000 1995 1990 1985 1980 1975
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryPopulation of the urban area
1 Cardiff 388K
2 Newport 119K
3 Bridgend 54,429
4 Barry 50,987

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 2025

What it means

How many people live in the built-up city as a whole, regardless of municipal borders.

How it is calculated

Satellite maps of buildings and census data are combined into a 1 km grid; the continuous dense area of at least 50,000 people is the urban centre. Every five years from 1975; 2030 is a projection.