Swansea: local statistics
Swansea is a principal council area in Wales, home to an estimated 249,429 people (mid-2025). This page brings together 10 official figures for the area, each with its period, publisher and the address it was read from. See also who has power over Swansea, from the council up to the G20.
Key figures
What the figures show
Swansea had an estimated 249,429 residents in mid-2025, a change of -0.5% in a year. That is 10,075 more people than in mid-2015, a rise of 4.2% (Wales: +3.3%). That is 4th of 22 in Wales, counting from the fastest growth. The series peaked at 250,594 in mid-2024.
In March 2026, 8,570 VAT or PAYE-registered businesses were based in Swansea, 9% more than in 2016. That is 34 for every 1,000 residents, the 14th highest of 22 in Wales.
An estimated 65.6% of people aged 16 to 64 living in Swansea were in work in April 2025 to March 2026, according to the ONS Annual Population Survey (give or take 3.8 points); the figure for Wales was 72.1%. Over the 11 years shown it ranged from 65.6% to 75.9%.
Average Band D council tax in Swansea is £2,238.29 for 2026-27, up £95.41 on 2025-26. That makes it the 16th highest of the 22 council areas in Wales.
The average house price in Swansea was £205,383 in July 2026, a fall of 0.2% in twelve months. It ranks as mid-table in Wales, 13th of 22 (average for Wales: £215,037). The July peak was £205,696 in 2025, and prices are 54% above July 2016. Dividing the average price by the median annual pay of full-time employees living in Swansea (£36,586) gives a ratio of 5.6. That ratio is the 15th highest ratio of the 22 council areas in Wales.
The police recorded 74.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in Swansea in the year to March 2026 (18,647 offences in all), close to the middle of the 20 council areas in Wales (9th highest rate). That compares with 78.1 per 1,000 the year before. Across the 11 years shown it ranged from 68.1 to 85.5 per 1,000. Fraud is not included.
Median weekly pay for full-time employees who live in Swansea was £718.80 in April 2025 (£36,586 a year). It is close to the middle of the 22 council areas in Wales (10th highest), and 0.1% less than across Wales. For full-time jobs located in Swansea the median is £709.70 a week (−£9.10 on the residents' figure). In 2015 the residents' median was £489.40, so it has risen 47% before inflation.
In August 2026, 5,390 people in Swansea were on the claimant count, 3.4% of residents aged 16 to 64; the rate for Wales was 3.4%. That compares with 3.3% a year before. Over the last five years it peaked at 4.9% in August 2021 and was lowest at 3.1% in January 2026.
A girl born in Swansea in 2022 to 2024 could expect to live 82.2 years and a boy 77.5 years, on the ONS's period measure, compared with 82.2 and 78.3 years across Wales. For women that is 0.2 years less than in 2012 to 2014; for men, 0.4 less. It is close to the middle of the 22 council areas in Wales (10th highest for women).
History
Population (mid-year)
| 2015 | 239,354 |
| 2016 | 239,300 |
| 2017 | 239,266 |
| 2018 | 239,184 |
| 2019 | 238,707 |
| 2020 | 238,992 |
| 2021 | 237,897 |
| 2022 | 242,786 |
| 2023 | 248,795 |
| 2024 | 250,594 |
| 2025 | 249,429 |
Average house price (same month each year)
| July 2016 | £133,527 |
| July 2017 | £138,971 |
| July 2018 | £143,734 |
| July 2019 | £145,710 |
| July 2020 | £152,878 |
| July 2021 | £173,762 |
| July 2022 | £192,065 |
| July 2023 | £190,233 |
| July 2024 | £194,854 |
| July 2025 | £205,696 |
| July 2026 | £205,383 |
Median weekly pay, residents
| 2015 | £489.40 a week |
| 2016 | £473.70 a week |
| 2017 | £499.70 a week |
| 2018 | £534.80 a week |
| 2019 | £563.90 a week |
| 2020 | £541.10 a week |
| 2021 | £554.60 a week |
| 2022 | £594.80 a week |
| 2023 | £642.90 a week |
| 2024 | £670.90 a week |
| 2025 | £718.80 a week |
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents
| 2015/16 | 68.1 per 1,000 |
| 2016/17 | 70.4 per 1,000 |
| 2017/18 | 80.4 per 1,000 |
| 2018/19 | 84.6 per 1,000 |
| 2019/20 | 85.5 per 1,000 |
| 2020/21 | 72.6 per 1,000 |
| 2021/22 | 75.8 per 1,000 |
| 2022/23 | 75.1 per 1,000 |
| 2023/24 | 79.9 per 1,000 |
| 2024/25 | 78.1 per 1,000 |
| 2025/26 | 74.8 per 1,000 |
Employment rate
| 2015/16 | 70.2% |
| 2016/17 | 68.1% |
| 2017/18 | 68.0% |
| 2018/19 | 67.3% |
| 2019/20 | 69.8% |
| 2020/21 | 71.4% |
| 2021/22 | 71.9% |
| 2022/23 | 75.9% |
| 2023/24 | 73.1% |
| 2024/25 | 70.7% |
| 2025/26 | 65.6% |
Life expectancy, women
| 2012 to 2014 | 82.4 years |
| 2013 to 2015 | 82.4 years |
| 2014 to 2016 | 82.2 years |
| 2015 to 2017 | 82.0 years |
| 2016 to 2018 | 82.1 years |
| 2017 to 2019 | 82.3 years |
| 2018 to 2020 | 81.6 years |
| 2019 to 2021 | 81.5 years |
| 2020 to 2022 | 81.5 years |
| 2021 to 2023 | 82.0 years |
| 2022 to 2024 | 82.2 years |
Registered businesses
| 2016 | 7,845 |
| 2017 | 8,015 |
| 2018 | 8,185 |
| 2019 | 8,555 |
| 2020 | 8,825 |
| 2021 | 8,840 |
| 2022 | 8,615 |
| 2023 | 8,400 |
| 2024 | 8,400 |
| 2025 | 8,405 |
| 2026 | 8,570 |
Questions about Swansea
What is the population of Swansea?
The ONS estimates 249,429 people lived in Swansea in mid-2025.
How much is Band D council tax in Swansea?
£2,238.29 on average for 2026-27, including police, fire and parish precepts (Welsh Government).
What is the average house price in Swansea?
£205,383 in July 2026, on HM Land Registry's UK House Price Index (-0.2% on a year).
What is the crime rate in Swansea?
74.8 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the year to March 2026, excluding fraud (Home Office).
What is the average salary in Swansea?
Median pay for full-time employees living in Swansea was £718.80 a week in April 2025 (£36,586 a year), from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
How many people claim unemployment-related benefits in Swansea?
The ONS claimant count was 5,390 in August 2026, 3.4% of 16 to 64-year-olds. It counts benefit claims, not unemployment.
What is life expectancy in Swansea?
82.2 years for women and 77.5 for men (2022 to 2024, ONS).
Who has power over Swansea
Every body that makes decisions for Swansea, 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
Parish, town and community councils, where the area has them, sit below the council.
Level 3: Local councils
- Swansea council this page
- Swansea in official figures this page
Level 4: County councils, combined authorities and metro mayors
- South Wales Police police force
- Swansea Bay University Health Board NHS
Level 5: Devolved and state governments
- Senedd and Welsh Government makes law for Wales on devolved subjects
Level 6: National government
- Gower: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour) MP
- Neath and Swansea East: Carolyn Harris (Labour) MP
- Swansea West: Torsten Bell (Labour) 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.
- Recorded crime: Years before April 2020 come from the earlier Home Office table.
More on this area and these figures
- Figures for Wales
- UK figures: UK population · UK employment rate · UK average house price
- Other council areas in Wales: Bridgend · Caerphilly · Carmarthenshire · Flintshire · Newport · Rhondda Cynon Taf
Related questions
- What is the population of my area?
- How much has council tax gone up this year?
- What is the average house price in my area?
- How do I find the crime rate 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.