City of Edinburgh
Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.
City of Edinburgh supports 367,555 workplace jobs with median earnings 13% above the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 22nd of 391 local authorities.
Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026
Demographics & Population
Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.
Mid-year population estimate of 530,680. Population has grown by 12.9% over five years, above the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (69.6%) is above the England average.
Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026
Earnings & Income
Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.
Median annual earnings of £37,380 are above the England median of £33,080. The 90/10 earnings ratio is 6.0x (England: 6.2x), indicating relatively high wage inequality.
Gender Pay Gap
The gender pay gap is 22.0% (male median £42,883, female median £33,462). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.
Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026
Industry Structure
Location quotients and shift-share analysis for City of Edinburgh's economy.
The most specialised sectors are Financial & insurance (LQ 3.35) and Public administration & defence (LQ 1.56). Financial & insurance shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.
Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026
Housing & Property Market
Estimated house prices for City of Edinburgh vs England, 2015-2025.
The median house price of £311,312 is above the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.
Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026
Benchmark to national figures
Comparing City of Edinburgh to Scotland and Great Britain averages.
City of Edinburgh's median earnings of £37,380 are 15% significantly above the Scotland average of £32,365. House prices are 15% significantly above the Scotland median. The claimant rate of 2.7% is lower than the GB average of 3.5%.
Country averages computed from local authority-level data (Scotland: 32 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.