What official 2025 business data shows across 12 UK city authorities
By Decised editorial · Reviewed by Decised methodology review · Published 2026-09-01 · Updated 2026-09-01
A factual comparison of registered-business counts, population, density and sector mix across twelve selected UK local authority districts. Not a national index or ranking.
Scope
This release summarises frozen public snapshots for twelve selected UK local authority districts, not a national index. Figures are registered-business and population counts from Nomis and ONS releases with 2025 data years in the current snapshot build.
Decised does not rank these cities as winners or losers. Changes are reported as observed year-on-year percentages without calling them good or bad.
District snapshots (selected)
- Manchester: 23,715 registered businesses, density 40.3 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Leeds: 29,340 registered businesses, density 34.9 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Bristol: 18,005 registered businesses, density 36.4 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Birmingham: 37,810 registered businesses, density 32.1 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Glasgow: 19,860 registered businesses, density 30.4 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Liverpool: 14,475 registered businesses, density 28.5 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Sheffield: 16,755 registered businesses, density 28.9 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Newcastle upon Tyne: 8,885 registered businesses, density 27.7 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Cardiff: 11,825 registered businesses, density 31.0 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Edinburgh: 18,390 registered businesses, density 34.6 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Nottingham: 9,580 registered businesses, density 29.4 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
- Leicester: 13,315 registered businesses, density 34.8 per 1,000 residents (data year 2025).
Caveats
District totals do not describe a specific street or unit. Demand, rent, footfall and trading performance are not included. For methodology and sources, see the linked city profiles and data register.
- Use local angles for journalism without declaring a ‘best’ city.
- Cite the data year and LAD name in every figure.
- Contact us for corrections at the email on the About page.
Limitations
This article is general guidance, not advice to proceed. Figures on city profiles are district-level registered-business statistics unless stated otherwise. Missing data in Decised stays missing.