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: 2026-03-28

Key Statistics

5,904,809Total Companies
5,233,040Active Companies
0Dissolved Companies
50,024,066Data Signals
48Government Sources

Top 15 Industries by Active Companies

RankIndustrySIC CodeActive Companies
1Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate68209267,537
2Buying and selling of own real estate68100241,745
3Management consultancy activities other than financial management70229205,755
4None Suppl199,329
5Other business support service activities n.e.c.82990170,512
6Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet47910148,855
7Residents property management98000123,951
8Information technology consultancy activities62020122,014
9Other service activities n.e.c.96090111,402
10Development of building projects41100109,474
11Dormant Company99999107,578
12Activities of other holding companies n.e.c.64209105,882
13Business and domestic software development6201280,049
14Other human health activities8690077,826
15Hairdressing and other beauty treatment9602062,820

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

Active
88.6%
5,233,040
Active - Proposal to Strike off
9.2%
545,082
Liquidation
2%
119,425
In Administration
0.1%
3,546
Live but Receiver Manager on at least one charge
0%
2,090
In Administration/Administrative Receiver
0%
614
Voluntary Arrangement
0%
543
RECEIVERSHIP
0%
181

Key Insights

The United Kingdom hosts 5,904,809 registered companies, of which 5,233,040 (88.6%) are currently active. This makes the UK one of the largest business registries in Europe.

Our database aggregates 50,024,066 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 BORSCH.AI use?

BORSCH.AI 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.