Newport, United Kingdom Population 2024

Newport is a city that is located in Wales, United Kingdom. This city has a history that dates back to the medieval times and today, it is known for being a university city. According to data recorded during the last census, Newport has the third highest population in Wales, with 145,700 residents.

The urban population of the city is more than double that, surpassing 300,000. Newport is also part of the Cardiff-Newport metro region, which has a population that exceeds 1 million people.

City Size and Population Density

The city of Newport in Wales has a total surface area of 73.35 square miles (190 kilometers squared) in the city proper. The population density had reached 1,910 living per square mile (738 residents living per square kilometer) by the census in 2011.

Newport Demographics

Close to 90% of the residents of Newport are White, according to census data. Asians account for 5.5% of the population, followed by 1.7% Black, 1.6% Mixed Race, and 1.4% identifying as another race.

Almost 57% of Newportonians, as the residents of Newport are called, are of the Christian religion. Census data show that 4.7% of residents are Muslim and 1.2% follow other religions. Close to 30% do not follow a religion, while an additional 7.5% did not choose to answer the question.

Newport History

Newport originally was a Celtic settlement approximately 2,000 years ago. During the Medieval times, the area was settled by the Normans. A motte and bailey style of castle was constructed during the 12th century (approximately year 1140), with remains still standing today.

In the late 1300s, the town was granted its first charter. For many years, Newport served as a small seaport. However, during the 19th century, the town’s location made it the ideal spot for exporting coal. Steel production also became popular during this time. The docks constructed in Newport also made Newport a hub for trade.

However, during the early 1900s, the docks went into decline. The Newport Dock Disaster occurred when a trench for construction of an improved port collapsed - trapping and killing workers and it continued to threaten the lives of those attempting to make rescues. Unemployment rates exceeded 34%, although the town was hit quite as badly as other areas.

During the Great Depression, the city continued to struggle, but bounced back fairly quickly. Llanwern Steelworks was built in 1962, roads were built, the public sector began to thrive, and Newport became home to tech companies. In 2002, Newport was granted city status.

Newport Population Growth

Newport has seen steady population growth since the 1800s. At the beginning of the century, there were just over 6,600 residents. This number exceeded 29,000 just 50 years later, then almost reached 50,000 just 30 years later. At the beginning of the 1900s, the city had a population of over 79,000. In the 1940s, the population exceeded 100,000. Now, the population is inching closer to 150,000. Although the rate of growth has slowed in recent years, growth continues to be steady, especially with a growing student population attending the University of South Wales.