Official Statistics

Incorporated companies in the UK January to March 2024

Published 25 April 2024

1. Other statistics in this release

In addition to covering register activity for all companies, a range of other statistics are included in the tables that accompany this release. The following information is provided for individual countries and for the UK:

• register activity for public companies
• register activity for limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
• company insolvencies and liquidations
• company removals from the register

We present the statistics within this release based on the financial year, which runs from the beginning of April to the end of the following March. The year is broken down so that:

• April to June is quarter 1
• July to September is quarter 2
• October to December is quarter 3
• January to March is quarter 4

We have identified several minor discrepancies across a number of our statistical tables which we are correcting in this release. These are minor errors that do not change the overall message of the statistics. More information about this correction.

2. Main points

At the end of March 2024, there were 5,350,759 companies on the total register and 4,876,374 on the effective register.

During the period January to March 2024, the total register increased by 83,572 companies (1.6%), and the effective register increased by 80,033 companies (1.7%).

Between January and March 2024, there were 244,717 incorporations and 160,048 dissolutions in the UK.

The number of incorporations between January and March 2024 increased by 22,649 (10.2%) compared with the same period in 2023.

The number of dissolutions between January and March 2024 decreased by 3,749 (2.3%) compared with the same period in 2023.

3. Changes in the size of the register

At the end of March 2024, there were 5,350,759 companies on the total register, which includes those in the course of dissolution and liquidation (474,385).

During the period January to March 2024, the size of the total register increased by 83,572 companies (1.6%) compared with the end of December 2023. Growth in the size of the total register was observed in all constituent countries in the period January to March 2024. England and Wales increased by 1.5%, Scotland by 1.6% and Northern Ireland by 4.8%.

The number of companies on the effective register, which excludes those in the course of dissolution or liquidation, was 4,876,374 at the end of March 2024.

During the period January to March 2024, the size of the effective register increased by 80,033 companies (1.7%) compared with the end of December 2023. Growth in the size of the effective register was observed in all constituent countries in the period January to March 2024. England and Wales increased by 1.6%, Scotland by 1.7% and Northern Ireland by 5.3%.

The sizes of both the total and effective registers have increased at a steady rate. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic there was a large increase in incorporations and a decrease in dissolutions, causing greater growth in the registers. From quarter 4 (January to March) financial year ending (FYE) 2022, there has been a return to pre-pandemic growth rates.

Figure 3.1: The total and effective register sizes increased by 1.6% and 1.7% respectively, during the period January to March 2024

The total and effective register size, UK companies register, quarter 4 FYE 2014 to quarter 4 FYE 2024

Source: Incorporated companies in the UK, January to March 2024, Companies House

Between January and March 2024, there were 244,717 incorporations in the UK. The number of incorporations during the period January to March 2024 increased by 22,649 (10.2%) compared with the same period in 2023. The average number of incorporations during a quarter has increased over time. For example, there were 97,443 more incorporations in the period January to March 2024 compared with the same period in 2014.

During the period January to March 2024, there were 160,048 dissolutions in the UK. The number of dissolutions between January and March 2024 decreased by 3,749 (2.3%) compared with the same period in 2023. The average number of dissolutions in a quarter has increased over time. There were 72,825 more dissolutions in the period January to March 2024 compared with the same period in 2014.

Figure 3.2: Incorporations increased by 10.2% while dissolutions decreased by 2.3% compared with the same period last year

Incorporations and dissolutions, UK companies register, quarter 4 FYE 2014 to quarter 4 FYE 2024

Source: Incorporated companies in the UK, January to March 2024, Companies House

Between January and March 2024, the number of companies in the course of dissolution increased by 3,999 (1.1%) compared with the end of December 2023.

The tables that accompany this release provide a full breakdown of figures for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Figures are provided from April 2012 onwards.

4. About the data

The figures in this release provide information about the population of companies in the UK. A company is defined as a specific legal form of business formed under the Companies Act 2006. Companies are registered at Companies House whether they are trading or dormant. More information on companies and the Companies Act 2006.

The statistics in this release include:

• the total number of registered companies
• the number of companies incorporated
• the number of companies dissolved

The release focuses on the headline messages for the UK. Figures for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are included in the tables that accompany this publication. These documents also include figures for public limited companies (PLCs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs).

5. Glossary

Definitions for the main terms in statistical releases from Companies House.

6. Strengths and limitations

Companies House statistics are used by government, the public, public bodies, and businesses. For example, they are used by:

• government in understanding the likely impact of policy changes and monitoring the impact of economic changes on companies
• businesses in understanding their market share and planning marketing strategies
• banks in developing an understanding of their customer base
• foreign firms in making UK location decisions
• academics to inform research into businesses at local and national level
• a range of public bodies in decision-making and evaluating business-related policies

6.1 Quality

Information about the quality of Companies House official statistics.

This document allows users to decide if the data are of sufficient quality for their intended use. The information is structured in terms of the quality dimensions of the European Statistical System. The document also provides information on how these statistics relate to other business statistics.

6.2 Corrections and revisions to these statistics

We aim to minimise corrections and revisions to our statistical publications but sometimes changes are unavoidable. These changes could be:

• corrections, which are unplanned and occur when errors in either the data or the methodology are found after release of the publication
• revisions, which are generally, but not always, planned, and are the result of improvements in methods or of additional data

We have identified several minor errors across a number of our statistical tables which we are correcting in this release. These are minor errors that do not change the overall message of the statistics. The issues we’ve identified include:

• some figures for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland not totalling the overall UK figure
• some quarterly figures not totalling the overall annual figure
• some totals not equalling the sum of their parts

More information about potential changes to the published data.

The source of these statistics is administrative data, meaning that the data are often used for operational purposes and statistical use is not the main purpose. As the main purpose of collecting the data is operational, it is common that some of the values we report on change.

In this publication of the statistical tables, the corrections will be shown by the addition of the word ‘revised’ in square brackets next to figures that have been corrected. However, in the next publication, these will be removed.

The revisions in the dataset associated with this publication can be found in the following tables:

• Table 1a: Company register activity: all companies, UK
• Table 1d: Insolvencies & liquidations, UK
• Table 2a: Company register activity: all companies, England and Wales
• Table 3a: Company register activity: all companies, Scotland
• Table 3d: Insolvencies & liquidations, Scotland
• Table 3e: Company removals from the register, Scotland
• Table 4a: Company register activity: all companies, Northern Ireland
• Table 4d: Insolvencies & liquidations, Northern Ireland

6.3 Consultation

Results of the most recent consultation on these official statistics.

7. Future releases

Annual statistics for the financial year ending 2024 will be published on 27 June 2024. Statistics for the period 1 April to 30 June 2024 will be published on 25 July 2024. The publication dates have been announced on the GOV.UK release calendar.

If you have a question about Companies House statistics, email statistics@companieshouse.gov.uk.

8. Related links

Statistics at Companies House

Reports released regularly. Annual and quarterly statistics produced by Companies House and published on GOV.UK.

Open data products at Companies House

Data updated regularly. Information about the open data products that Companies House offers is available on GOV.UK.

Find and update company information

Register updated regularly. Company information can be found and updated on GOV.UK. Advanced search capabilities are also available.

Companies House API overview

Service updated regularly. Free, fully documented API, which provides access to real-time updates on companies

API support

Service updated regularly. API support is provided through a developer forum.