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: 2026-09-09

Key Statistics

17,016,101Total Companies
5,201,370Active Companies
11,199,479Dissolved Companies
76,596,039Data Signals
49Government Sources

Top 15 Business Locations

RankLocationActive Companies
1LONDON1,020,438
2MANCHESTER98,154
3BIRMINGHAM86,494
4GLASGOW66,954
5EDINBURGH56,975
6BRISTOL54,381
7LEEDS48,152
8LIVERPOOL43,376
9LEICESTER42,274
10NOTTINGHAM42,157
11SHEFFIELD33,661
12CARDIFF29,523
13HARROW28,917
14COVENTRY26,993
15ILFORD26,669

Company Status Breakdown

Dissolved
65.8%
11,199,479
Active
30.6%
5,201,370
Active - Proposal to Strike off
2.8%
471,110
Liquidation
0.6%
108,223
Converted/Closed
0.1%
19,541
In Administration
0%
3,742
dissolved
0%
2,562
Live but Receiver Manager on at least one charge
0%
1,970

Key Insights

The United Kingdom hosts 17,016,101 registered companies, of which 5,201,370 (30.6%) are currently active. This makes the UK one of the largest business registries in Europe.

Our database aggregates 76,596,039 data signals from 49 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.