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Map showing the location of the settlements within Devon. The size of the red circle corresponds to the size of its population.

This list is of towns and cities in Devon in order of their population, according to the 2001 census data from the Office for National Statistics. It comprises the Key Statistics for local authorities, civil parishes and wards that attempt to show their populations. The largest settlement in Devon is the city and unitary authority of Plymouth with a population of 240,720, whereas the smallest settlement was the town and civil parish of Hatherleigh with a population of 1,306. The city of Exeter, which is home to Exeter Cathedral, is the county town and headquarters of Devon County Council. The ceremonial county of Devon includes unitary authority areas such as Plymouth and Torbay, but the non-metropolitan county of Devon excludes such unitary authority areas. It is governed by Devon County Council, whereas Plymouth and Torbay can govern themselves on matters such as transport and education.

Traditionally a town is any settlement which has received a charter of incorporation, more commonly known as a town charter, approved by the monarch. However, since 1974, any civil parish has the right to declare itself as a town. Prior to 1888, city status was given to settlements home to a cathedral of the Church of England such as Exeter. After 1888, it was no longer a factor leading to Plymouth's status in 1928. Historicals towns such as Plympton, Stonehouse and Devonport, which were merged into the city of Plymouth, have not been included, as well as Topsham, which became a part of Exeter's urban district, and St Marychurch, which was annexed by Torquay. However, the unitary authority area of Torbay recognises the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. The ward for Ottery St Mary is also included, as it is titled Ottery St Mary Town.

Rank	Population	Town/city	Notes	Image
1	240,720[1]	Plymouth	City and unitary authority, which includes the suburbs of Plympton and Plymstock. Plympton used to be a separate town and Plymstock is a parish.
2	111,076[2]	Exeter	City, urban district and the county town (capital) of Devon
3	63,998[3]	Torquay	Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
4	48,251[3]	Paignton	Part of the unitary authority of Torbay
5	32,972[4]	Exmouth	Civil Parish
6	23,580[5]	Newton Abbot	Civil Parish
7	20,724[6]	Barnstaple	Civil Parish
8	18,621[7]	Tiverton	Civil Parish
9	17,457[3]	Brixham	Civil Parish; part of the unitary authority of Torbay.[8]
10	14,413[9]	Teignmouth	Civil Parish
11	14,407[10]	Bideford	Civil Parish
12	14,407[11]	Sidmouth	Civil Parish
13	13,135[12]	Dawlish	Civil Parish
14	12,056[13]	Ivybridge	Civil Parish
15	11,604[14]	Northam	Civil Parish
16	11,018[15]	Tavistock	Civil Parish
17	10,857[16]	Honiton	Civil Parish
18	10,840[17]	Ilfracombe	Civil Parish
19	7,609[18]	Cullompton	Civil Parish
20	7,444[19]	Totnes	Civil Parish
21	6,929[20]	Bovey Tracey	Civil Parish
22	6,837[21]	Crediton	Civil Parish
23	6,798[22]	Seaton	Civil Parish
24	5,846[23]	Okehampton	Civil Parish
25	5,626[24]	Axminster	Civil Parish
26	5,521[25]	Kingsbridge	Civil Parish
27	5,512[26]	Dartmouth	Civil Parish
28	5,279[27]	Great Torrington	Civil Parish
29	4,801[28]	Budleigh Salterton	Civil Parish
30	4,366[29]	Ottery St Mary	Ward, which refers to Ottery St Mary as a "town".
31	4,093[30]	South Molton	Civil Parish
32	3,909[31]	Ashburton	Civil Parish
33	3,846[32]	Chudleigh	Civil Parish
34	3,661[33]	Buckfastleigh	Civil Parish
35	3,310[34]	Exminster	Civil Parish
36	2,964[35]	Colyton	Civil Parish including Colyford
37	2,256[36]	Holsworthy	Civil Parish
38	1,916[37]	Bradninch	Civil Parish
39	1,893[38]	Salcombe	Civil Parish
40	1,676[39]	Hartland	Civil Parish
41	1,570[40]	North Tawton	Civil Parish
42	1,536[41]	Moretonhampstead	Civil Parish
43	1,470[42]	Chagford	Civil Parish
44	1,381[43]	Beer	Civil Parish
45	1,308[44]	Chulmleigh	Civil Parish
46	1,306[45]	Hatherleigh	Civil Parish

See also

• List of largest United Kingdom settlements by population
• List of English districts by population
• List of Scottish council areas by population (2004)
• List of Welsh principal areas by population
• Local Councils in Northern Ireland by population
• List of conurbations in the United Kingdom
• Travel to Work Area

References

Coordinates: 50°42′N 3°48′W / 50.7°N 3.8°W / 50.7; -3.8