Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK pharmacy businesses rose 46.4% between 2010 and 2026, from 4,475 to 6,550, and most of that rise came after 2021, when the count was 5,295.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/pharmacies/uk-pharmacy-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 6,550 pharmacy businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 46.4% up on 2010 (4,475) and 23.7% up on 2021 (5,295). 67.9% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 15.3 per 100,000 residents. South West has the fewest, 4.7.
Bullet points
- 6,550 UK pharmacy businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 46.4% up on 2010 (4,475).
- Compared with 2021: 23.7% up on 2021 (5,295).
- 67.9% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: London, 15.3 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: South West, 4.7.
Basic explainer
A pharmacy business runs one or more chemist shops that hand out medicines. This page counts how many of these businesses there are in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It also gives the number of pharmacy premises on the register kept by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which covers Great Britain. A chain is one business but many premises, so the two numbers are different.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 6,550 pharmacy businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 46.4% up on 2010 (4,475) and 23.7% up on 2021 (5,295). 67.9% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 15.3 per 100,000 residents; South West has the fewest, 4.7.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. A business that runs several pharmacies is counted once, so this is a count of pharmacy businesses, not of pharmacies.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy businesses (dispensing chemists) (UK, SIC 47730) | 6,550 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +46.4% (from 4,475) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +23.7% (from 5,295) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 4,445 (67.9%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 25 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | London, 15.3 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | South West, 4.7 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Registered pharmacies (premises, Great Britain) | 13,320 | GPhC register, as at 31 October 2026 |
| Registered pharmacists (Great Britain) | 69,342 | GPhC register, as at 31 October 2026 |
| Registered pharmacy technicians (Great Britain) | 28,964 | GPhC register, as at 31 October 2026 |
The ONS and GPhC figures count different things. The ONS counts businesses across the UK, and a chain with many branches is one business. The GPhC counts each registered pharmacy premises in Great Britain.
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4,475 |
| 2011 | 4,420 |
| 2012 | 4,595 |
| 2013 | 4,680 |
| 2014 | 4,915 |
| 2015 | 5,070 |
| 2016 | 5,135 |
| 2017 | 5,115 |
| 2018 | 5,095 |
| 2019 | 5,145 |
| 2020 | 5,170 |
| 2021 | 5,295 |
| 2022 | 5,295 |
| 2023 | 5,460 |
| 2024 | 6,015 |
| 2025 | 6,150 |
| 2026 | 6,550 |
The highest count in this period was 6,550 in 2026. The lowest was 4,420 in 2011. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are pharmacy businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 4,445 | 67.9% |
| 10 to 49 | 1,930 | 29.5% |
| 50 to 249 | 150 | 2.3% |
| 250 or more | 25 | 0.4% |
| Total | 6,550 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 47730 “Dispensing chemist in specialised stores”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where pharmacy businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,035 | 1,175 | 1,395 | 15.3 | +34.8% | +18.7% |
| West Midlands | 440 | 550 | 720 | 11.6 | +63.6% | +30.9% |
| Northern Ireland | 240 | 240 | 215 | 11.1 | -10.4% | -10.4% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 300 | 470 | 625 | 11.0 | +108.3% | +33.0% |
| North West | 480 | 615 | 840 | 10.8 | +75.0% | +36.6% |
| North East | 160 | 190 | 245 | 8.9 | +53.1% | +28.9% |
| East Midlands | 280 | 345 | 450 | 8.8 | +60.7% | +30.4% |
| Scotland | 355 | 355 | 455 | 8.2 | +28.2% | +28.2% |
| East of England | 370 | 455 | 535 | 8.1 | +44.6% | +17.6% |
| Wales | 200 | 200 | 200 | 6.3 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| South East | 405 | 485 | 595 | 6.1 | +46.9% | +22.7% |
| South West | 215 | 220 | 280 | 4.7 | +30.2% | +27.3% |
| United Kingdom | 4,475 | 5,295 | 6,550 | 9.4 | +46.4% | +23.7% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- London has about 3.2 times as many per head as South West (15.3 against 4.7 per 100,000 residents).
- Biggest rise since 2010: Yorkshire and The Humber (+108.3%). Biggest fall: Northern Ireland (-10.4%).
- 10 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 1 have fewer and 1 has the same count.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
In Great Britain, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The GPhC publishes its register numbers each month.
To check a pharmacy yourself, see Whito’s guide: how to check a pharmacy is registered with the GPhC.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other pharmacy pages: AI-recommended pharmacies vs the GPhC register: the check Whito is running, How to check a pharmacy is registered with the GPhC, Prescription costs UK 2026: £9.90, exemptions and the prepayment certificate. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 47730, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how pharmacies compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many pharmacy businesses are there in the UK?
6,550 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 47730). A chain with many branches is counted once.
Is the number of pharmacy businesses growing?
It rose 23.7% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 46.4% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most pharmacy businesses?
By number, London (1,395). Per head, London, with 15.3 per 100,000 residents.
Are most pharmacy businesses small?
Yes. 4,445 of 6,550 (67.9%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- General Pharmaceutical Council, GPhC registers data (figures as at 31 October 2026): https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/about-us/research/gphc-registers-data
