League tables of Britain's counties, towns and postcode districts, ranked on the measures people actually ask about, from population and density to land area, postcodes and even height above sea level. Every figure comes from Census 2021 and official Ordnance Survey data, and each entry links to its full page.
Most densely populated counties
UK counties ranked by residents per square kilometre
Top: Greater London (5,641)
Least densely populated counties
The most rural UK counties, fewest residents per square kilometre
Top: Highland (9)
Most populous counties
UK counties ranked by total resident population
Top: Greater London (8,805,417)
Least populous counties
UK counties ranked by population, smallest first
Top: Orkney Islands (21,961)
Largest counties by area
UK counties ranked by land area
Top: Highland (25,901 km²)
Smallest counties by area
UK counties ranked by land area, smallest first
Top: Isles of Scilly (16 km²)
Counties with the most postcodes
UK counties ranked by number of live postcodes
Top: Greater London (179,758)
Counties with the most postcode districts
UK counties ranked by number of postcode districts
Top: Greater London (267)
Counties with the most towns
UK counties ranked by number of towns and villages
Top: Devon (1,598)
Counties with the oldest populations
UK counties ranked by share of residents aged 65 and over
Top: Isle of Wight (29%)
Counties with the youngest populations
UK counties ranked by share of residents aged under 16
Top: Bedfordshire (21%)
Counties with the highest home ownership
UK counties ranked by share of owner-occupied homes
Top: Monmouthshire (72%)
Counties with the most private renting
UK counties ranked by share of privately rented homes
Top: Greater London (30%)
Largest towns by built-up area
British towns ranked by the physical size of their built-up area
Top: Birmingham (219.1 km²)
Smallest towns by built-up area
British towns ranked by built-up area, smallest first
Top: Abberley (0.2 km²)
Highest towns in Britain
British towns ranked by height above sea level
Top: Princetown (437 m)
Lowest towns in Britain
British towns ranked by height above sea level, lowest first
Top: Barroway Drove (-2 m)
Most northerly towns
British towns ranked from north to south
Top: Norwick (60.81°N)
Most southerly towns
British towns ranked from south to north
Top: Hugh Town (49.91°N)
Largest postcode districts
Postcode districts ranked by number of postcodes
Top: CR0 (2,748)
Counties with the most social housing
UK counties ranked by share of socially rented homes
Top: Tyne and Wear (26%)
Highest counties
UK counties ranked by average height above sea level
Top: Blaenau Gwent (330 m)
Lowest counties
UK counties ranked by average height above sea level, lowest first
Top: Isles of Scilly (7 m)
Most northerly counties
UK counties ranked from north to south
Top: Shetland Islands (60.33°N)
Most southerly counties
UK counties ranked from south to north
Top: Isles of Scilly (49.94°N)
Counties with the most schools
UK counties ranked by number of schools
Top: Greater London (2,593)
Most easterly towns
British towns ranked from east to west
Top: Hopton on Sea (1.75°E)
Most westerly towns
British towns ranked from west to east
Top: Uachdar (-7.33°W)
Shortest town names
British towns ranked by how short their name is
Top: Ayr (3)
Longest town names
British towns ranked by how long their name is
Top: North Leverton with Habblesthorpe (33)
Most common place names
The place names shared by the most towns and villages
Top: Newtown (53)
Highest towns in England
English towns ranked by height above sea level
Top: Princetown (437 m)
Highest towns in Scotland
Scottish towns ranked by height above sea level
Top: Leadhills (388 m)
Highest towns in Wales
Welsh towns ranked by height above sea level
Top: Blaenavon (404 m)
Smallest postcode districts
Postcode districts ranked by number of postcodes, fewest first
Top: BB94 (1)
Most populous postcode districts
Postcode districts ranked by resident population
Top: CR0 (168,797)
Biggest postcode areas by districts
Postcode areas ranked by number of districts
Top: BT (80)
Postcode areas with the most postcodes
Postcode areas ranked by number of postcodes
Top: BT (49,943)
Most populous postcode areas
Postcode areas ranked by resident population
Top: B (2,029,280)