Preston's 2026 population is now estimated at 168,268. In 2025, the population of Preston was 165,544. Preston has grown by 2,724 in the last year, which represents a 1.65% annual change. These population values and projections come from World Population Review Internal Projections .
Preston is a city that is located in Lancashire, England and is the center of the Central Lancashire sub-region. This diverse city was granted city status in 2002, when Queen Elizabeth II had reigned for 50 years. According to recent estimates in 2016, the population of Preston is 141,800.
The city of Preston has a total population of 141,800. The population density is 2,580 people per square mile with a total surface area of 54.9 square miles in the city proper. The majority of people living in Preston are White British, accounting for over 82% of the population. There are 11.6% South Asian, 2.6% White Other, 1.1% White Irish, 1.5% Mixed Race, 1.1% Black British, and 1% that are another ethnicity.
Seventy-two percent of the population are Christians, according to data taken from the 2001 Census. Ten percent of the population do not follow a religion, while 8% are Muslim. There are smaller percentages of Sikhs and Hindus.
A survey found that half of all children living within Preston are living with impoverished families. Twenty-one percent of children live in homes where no one works, while 29% live with families that survive on working tax credits. The wards of Deepdale and St. George’s are the most affected by poverty.
The non-metropolitan district of Preston was created in 1974, combining Fulwood Urban District, the County Borough of Preston and the Preston Rural District.
Preston was first mentioned in writing in 1086, and the writing indicates that Preston was already a town of great importance. In the early 1200s, it was the wealthiest town in the county. During the 1600s and 1700s, there were many battles fought here, including the English Civil War.
In the 19th century, Preston, like many other cities and towns, was affected by the Industrial Revolution. The small market town quickly grew into a large industrial town. The town had a local council and was designated as a municipal borough. By the 1900s, over 100,000 people resided in Preston, which was a thriving town. However, the cotton industry fell following World War I and unemployment rates increased.
Over the next few years, the primary industries of Preston were manufacturing and engineering. After the war, the population continued to grow as more immigrants came to the town to work in the manufacturing industry. The city’s economy was bouncing back, but then came a decline when a factory and docks closed.
In 2002, Preston gained city status.
The city of Preston has seen its highs and lows through the years, but despite that, the population has continued to climb, albeit at a much slower rate than when the city was economically sound. The future population growth of the city is uncertain as unemployment rates and poverty continue to plague the city, and only time will tell if the economy of Preston bounces back and with it, brings new residents.
| 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% |