Canterbury's 2026 population is now estimated at 163,454. In 2025, the population of Canterbury was 162,776. Canterbury has grown by 678 in the last year, which represents a 0.42% annual change. These population values and projections come from World Population Review Internal Projections .
Canterbury is a city that is located in England. It is in the county of Kent and is part of the government district known as the City of Canterbury. This city is one that is very popular and is, in fact, one of the most visited in the United Kingdom. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has many beautiful landmarks and attractions that draw in visitors from all over the world. The last official population of Canterbury was recorded as 55,240 residents.
The average age of Canterbury residents is 37.1, which falls well below the district and country averages. Over one-quarter of the population have received a higher education, which also is above the national average.
Approximately 12% of Canterbury’s residents were born in a different country and again, is higher than the national average. Approximately 95% of the residents are white.
Over 68% of the residents are Christian, but other religions include Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, and Sikh.
The city has seen growth in its population between the censuses recorded in 2001 and 2011. In 2001, the population was just over 43,000. That number grew to over 55,000 over the next ten years. Because the city has seen slow yet steady growth over the years, this trend is expected to continue through the coming years.
| 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% |