Fife: local statistics
Fife is a council area in Scotland, home to an estimated 373,990 people (mid-2025). This page brings together 8 official figures for the area, each with its period, publisher and the address it was read from. See also who has power over Fife, from the council up to the G20.
Key figures
What the figures show
The ONS counted 11,330 VAT or PAYE-registered businesses in Fife in March 2026, 3% fewer than in 2016. That is 30 for every 1,000 residents, the 25th highest of the 32 council areas in Scotland.
3.4% of Fife residents aged 16 to 64 (7,725 people) were on the claimant count in August 2026; the rate for Scotland was 3.2%. A year earlier the rate was 3.1%. Since August 2021 the rate has ranged between 3.0% (December 2025) and 5.3% (August 2021).
In mid-2025 the population of Fife was estimated at 373,990, down 0.2% on mid-2024. That is 6,970 more people than in mid-2015, a rise of 1.9% (Scotland: +3.6%), the 12th fastest growth of the 32 council areas in Scotland. The series peaked at 374,810 in mid-2024.
In 2022 to 2024, women in Fife had a life expectancy at birth of 80.9 years; for men it was 77.3, compared with 81.1 and 77.2 years across Scotland. Since 2012 to 2014 it has changed by -0.5 years for women and -0.3 for men. It is the 20th highest for women of 32 in Scotland.
The average house price in Fife was £179,134 in July 2026, up 5.4% on a year before. Among council areas that puts it close to the middle of the 32 council areas in Scotland (18th highest) (average for Scotland: £196,349). Prices are 53% above July 2016 and at their highest July level in the series. The average price is 4.6 times the median annual pay of full-time employees who live in Fife. That ratio is close to the middle of the 32 council areas in Scotland (18th highest ratio).
Full-time employees living in Fife earned a median £763.30 a week in April 2025 (£38,913 a year). It is close to the middle of the 32 council areas in Scotland (18th highest), and 1.6% less than across Scotland. Measured by where people work rather than where they live, the median is £741.20, £22.10 lower. Ten years earlier, in 2015, it was £517.30: a change of +48% before inflation.
The Annual Population Survey estimates that 73.5% of Fife residents aged 16 to 64 were in work in April 2025 to March 2026, with a margin of error of 3.2 points either way; the figure for Scotland was 74.6%. Its lowest reading in the series was 69.3% and its highest 75.4%.
History
Population (mid-year)
| 2015 | 367,020 |
| 2016 | 368,830 |
| 2017 | 369,400 |
| 2018 | 369,270 |
| 2019 | 370,620 |
| 2020 | 370,760 |
| 2021 | 370,880 |
| 2022 | 371,390 |
| 2023 | 373,790 |
| 2024 | 374,810 |
| 2025 | 373,990 |
Average house price (same month each year)
| July 2016 | £117,181 |
| July 2017 | £122,393 |
| July 2018 | £127,439 |
| July 2019 | £127,492 |
| July 2020 | £129,207 |
| July 2021 | £146,318 |
| July 2022 | £160,475 |
| July 2023 | £164,576 |
| July 2024 | £164,941 |
| July 2025 | £170,033 |
| July 2026 | £179,134 |
Median weekly pay, residents
| 2015 | £517.30 a week |
| 2016 | £532.30 a week |
| 2017 | £530.50 a week |
| 2018 | £539.10 a week |
| 2019 | £564.60 a week |
| 2020 | £579.40 a week |
| 2021 | £610.60 a week |
| 2022 | £604.30 a week |
| 2023 | £681.50 a week |
| 2024 | £732.00 a week |
| 2025 | £763.30 a week |
Employment rate
| 2015/16 | 73.0% |
| 2016/17 | 73.7% |
| 2017/18 | 74.3% |
| 2018/19 | 74.0% |
| 2019/20 | 71.6% |
| 2020/21 | 71.5% |
| 2021/22 | 69.3% |
| 2022/23 | 74.1% |
| 2023/24 | 75.4% |
| 2024/25 | 75.1% |
| 2025/26 | 73.5% |
Life expectancy, women
| 2012 to 2014 | 81.4 years |
| 2013 to 2015 | 81.5 years |
| 2014 to 2016 | 81.2 years |
| 2015 to 2017 | 80.8 years |
| 2016 to 2018 | 81.0 years |
| 2017 to 2019 | 81.1 years |
| 2018 to 2020 | 81.4 years |
| 2019 to 2021 | 81.0 years |
| 2020 to 2022 | 80.9 years |
| 2021 to 2023 | 80.7 years |
| 2022 to 2024 | 80.9 years |
Registered businesses
| 2016 | 11,725 |
| 2017 | 12,115 |
| 2018 | 12,340 |
| 2019 | 12,200 |
| 2020 | 12,315 |
| 2021 | 11,890 |
| 2022 | 11,480 |
| 2023 | 11,280 |
| 2024 | 11,320 |
| 2025 | 11,220 |
| 2026 | 11,330 |
Questions about Fife
How many people claim unemployment-related benefits in Fife?
7,725 in August 2026 (3.4% of residents aged 16 to 64), on the ONS claimant count, which is not the unemployment rate.
What is the population of Fife?
373,990 in mid-2025, the latest ONS mid-year estimate.
What is life expectancy in Fife?
For 2022 to 2024 the ONS gives 77.3 years for men and 80.9 for women.
What is the average house price in Fife?
HM Land Registry's figure for July 2026 is £179,134.
What is the average salary in Fife?
£763.30 a week before tax, the median for full-time employees who live there (April 2025, ONS).
Who has power over Fife
Every body that makes decisions for Fife, from the street up to the G20. Each one links to its page on the official record. How the ten levels work.
Level 1: Neighbourhood and community power
Residents' and tenants' groups, neighbourhood forums and local policing panels.
Level 2: Parish, town and community councils
Community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
- Fife council spending, reserves, debt and council tax
- Fife in official figures this page
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government makes law for Scotland on devolved subjects
Level 6: National government
- Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy: Melanie Ward (Labour) MP
- Dunfermline and Dollar: Graeme Downie (Labour) MP
- Glenrothes and Mid Fife: Richard Baker (Labour) MP
- North East Fife: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat) MP
- All 650 MPs votes, interests and costs
- UK government and Parliament official figures and sources
Level 7: Regional blocs and supranational bodies
- Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (CoE / ECtHR) The UK Government says the United Kingdom was one of the Council of Europe's founding members.
Level 8: The UN and global treaty bodies
- United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council) The UN lists the United Kingdom as a member admitted on 24 October 1945.
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) The UK is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and holds the veto, according to the UN.
- NATO NATO lists the United Kingdom among its 12 founding members, which signed the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C.
- World Health Organization (WHO) WHO's list of member states includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- World Trade Organization (WTO) The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.
- Commonwealth of Nations The UK is one of the 56 members, one of three European members with Cyprus and Malta, and the Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House in London.
Level 9: The IMF, World Bank and global finance
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) The UK has been a member since 27 December 1945 and has a quota of SDR 20,155.1 million (IMF country page for the United Kingdom).
- World Bank Group (WBG) The UK holds 3.75% of voting power in the IBRD (data as of 30 June 2026) and 6.92% in IDA (as of 30 June 2026), according to the World Bank's voting tables.
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Sources
Each value above links to the official file or query it was read from, on 14 October 2026. What each figure measures.
- Average house price: Scottish figures come from Registers of Scotland.
More on this area and these figures
- Council money: spending, reserves and debt
- Figures for Scotland
- UK figures: UK unemployment rate · UK population · Life expectancy at birth (UK)
- Other council areas in Scotland: Aberdeen City · Aberdeenshire · City of Edinburgh · Highland · North Lanarkshire · South Lanarkshire
Related questions
- What is the unemployment rate in my area?
- What is the population of my area?
- How healthy is my area?
- What is the average house price in my area?
- How do I check my council tax band?
Figures checked 14 October 2026. Link moved or figure out of date? Tell us.