Cambridge's 2026 population is now estimated at 153,084.In 2025, the population of Cambridge was 151,206.Cambridge has grown by 1,878 in the last year, which represents a 1.24% annual change.These population values and projections come from World Population Review Internal Projections.
Cambridge is a city in Cambridgeshire, England known for the University of Cambridge, which was founded in 1209 and it remains one of the world’s five best universities. Cambridge is located on the River Cam about 50 miles from London, and has an estimated population of 129,000, including 25,000 students. This makes it the second-largest city in Cambridgeshire and the 54th largest city in the U.K.
While Cambridge is most known to the world for the university, it’s also a high-tech center known as Silicon Fen with strong bioscience and software industries. The city is home to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the world’s largest biomedical research centers, and will soon be home to the headquarters for AstraZeneca.
The demographics of the city are very hard to define as they frequently change due to Cambridge’s large University population.
In 2001, a census held during University term found that 89% of residents were white, versus the national average of 92%. Meanwhile, 84% of University undergraduates identify as white. In 2009, the ethnicity of the city was reported as 73.5% white British, 8.4% British Asian, 7.1% other white, 3.1% black British, 1.1% white Irish, 2.4% two or more races, and 4.3% Chinese or different ethnicity.
English is the most popular language in use in Cambridge. Additionally, in terms of religion, Christianity takes the lead among the population, followed by no faith and no response, and small followings of various religions including Muslim and Hindu among others.
Cambridge has a high number of people in the highest paid managerial, professional, or administrative jobs at 32.6% versus the national average of 23.5%. 41% of the population has a high level of educational qualification, which is double the national average.
Cambridge has been inhabited by many people since prehistoric times, with evidence of a 3,500-year-old farmstead recently discovered. There was a Roman fort just outside the city center called Duroliponte that was constructed around AD 70. After the Romans withdrew from Britain in 410, it appears the area was abandoned with some evidence invading Saxons occupied the area for some time.
The Vikings arrived in Cambridge in 875 with Viking rule or Danelaw imposed around 878. Under the Vikings trading strategy, the city of Cambridge grew quickly. Cambridge was later profoundly affected by the Black Death during a plague in 1349. The second epidemic in 1361 left the city so depopulated that it was suggested that two parishes merge because there were too few people to fill a church.
Cambridge truly began its rapid expansion during the 19th century as life expectancy, living conditions, and agricultural production improved. In 1951, Cambridge was granted a city charter due to its economic success, importance, and history, even though it lacked a cathedral, which is typically a prerequisite for city status.
Cambridge has grown steadily throughout its history. Only once in its history has the population recorded a decrease and this occurred during the 1981 census when the population fell from 99,000 to 87,000. The city is expected to continue its significant but steady population growth with natural growth and expansion of the University of Cambridge.
City | 2026 Pop.↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| London | 9,188,200 | 0.54% |
| Birmingham | 1,199,447 | 0.67% |
| Leeds | 860,894 | 0.92% |
| Glasgow | 663,221 | 0.99% |
| Manchester | 605,521 | 1.34% |
| Cornwall | 591,594 | 0.71% |
| Sheffield | 588,768 | 0.54% |
| Bradford | 570,186 | 0.58% |
| County Durham | 543,515 | 0.51% |
| Edinburgh | 540,101 | 0.88% |
| Wiltshire | 531,890 | 0.78% |
| Liverpool | 518,060 | 0.89% |
| Bristol | 504,401 | 1.01% |
| Kirklees | 451,654 | 0.42% |
| Cheshire East | 431,445 | 1.2% |
| Croydon | 415,854 | 0.79% |
| Barnet | 411,361 | 0.78% |
| Leicester | 397,462 | 1.17% |
| Ealing | 392,217 | 0.8% |
| Cardiff | 391,495 | 0.98% |