UK Company Statistics 2026

Comprehensive overview of the UK business landscape based on 5.9M companies and 50M+ data signals from 53 government sources.

Last updated: 2026-04-24

Key Statistics

16,677,531Total Companies
5,241,727Active Companies
10,742,846Dissolved Companies
54,522,275Data Signals
48Government Sources

Top 15 Business Locations

RankLocationActive Companies
1LONDON1,030,129
2MANCHESTER97,939
3BIRMINGHAM88,502
4GLASGOW67,872
5EDINBURGH56,464
6BRISTOL54,901
7LEEDS48,943
8LIVERPOOL43,541
9NOTTINGHAM42,677
10LEICESTER42,301
11SHEFFIELD33,922
12CARDIFF30,445
13HARROW28,979
14ILFORD27,538
15COVENTRY27,411

Company Status Breakdown

Dissolved
64.4%
10,742,846
Active
31.4%
5,241,727
Active - Proposal to Strike off
3.3%
545,082
Liquidation
0.7%
119,427
Converted/Closed
0.1%
18,602
In Administration
0%
3,546
dissolved
0%
2,562
Live but Receiver Manager on at least one charge
0%
2,090

Key Insights

The United Kingdom hosts 16,677,531 registered companies, of which 5,241,727 (31.4%) are currently active. This makes the UK one of the largest business registries in Europe.

Our database aggregates 54,522,275 data signals from 48 government sources including Companies House, FCA, Land Registry, ICO, CQC, and more. Each signal provides a unique data point for due diligence and risk assessment.

London dominates as the UK's primary business hub, but cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Edinburgh show strong growth trajectories, particularly in technology and professional services sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in the UK?

As of 2026, the UK has approximately 5.9 million registered companies according to Companies House data. Of these, roughly 57% are currently active, with the remainder being dissolved, liquidated, or in administration.

What data sources does UVAGATRON use?

UVAGATRON aggregates data from 53 UK government and regulatory sources, including Companies House, FCA, Land Registry, ICO, CQC, HMRC, and more, totalling over 50 million data signals.

How often is this data updated?

Company data is synchronised daily from Companies House via bulk data feeds. Signal data from other sources is refreshed on varying schedules, typically weekly or monthly. This report page is regenerated daily.