The Leicester Built Up Area (BUA), Leicester Urban Area, or Greater Leicester is an urban agglomeration defined by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), centred on the City of Leicester in the East Midlands, England. With a population of 559,017 at the time of the 2021 census, Greater Leicester BUA is the eleventh largest in England and thirteenth largest in the United Kingdom. It comprises Leicester itself and its suburbs, all of which are contiguous with or situated in close proximity to the city. As at 2011 the Greater Leicester BUA was home to 51.8% of the total population of Leicestershire (2001: 48.5%). A 2017 quote from the Leicester City Council website states that "The Greater Leicester urban area is one of the fastest growing in the country, with a population of about 650,000, of which 350,000 live within the city council area".

Analysis: 2011

[[File:Leicester-BUA-2011.jpg|400px|thumb|Leicester built-up area in 2011. Directly contiguous outer suburbs now merged into Leicester. Syston now a subdivision; Ratby removed completely; new south western areas included. {{legend|#b6b7bc|Leicester subdivision|outline=#606060}} {{legend|#dddce1|Other subdivisions|outline=#606060}} ]]

Analysis: 2001

[Leicester urban area in 2001. Northern Beaumont Leys included.

{{legend|#F29F9F|Leicester subdivision|outline=#606060}} {{legend|#7CC4FF|Other subdivisions|outline=#606060}} | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/LeicesterUrbanArea.svg]

Analysis: 1991

[Leicester urban area in 1991, with newly added southern subdivisions.

{{legend|#FffffF|Leicester subdivision|outline=#606060}} {{legend|#000000|Other subdivisions|outline=#606060|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Leicester///Urban///Area///1991.svg]

Analysis: 1981

[Leicester urban area in 1981, showing shaded 'outer suburbs' subdivisions. The small text lists 'inner suburbs' within the Leicester ONS subdivision, but outside the unitary authority (city council) area.

{{legend|#FffffF|Leicester subdivision|outline=#606060}} {{legend|#000000|Other subdivisions|outline=#606060|undefined | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Leicester///Urban///Area///1981.svg]

Analysis: Notes

The Leicester ONS sub-totals are explained with reference to the following: The Kirby Muxloe figures up to 2001 includes the portion of Leicester Forest East which is to the west of the M1 motorway. The eastern section is part of the Leicester ONS subdivision, and is listed separately in the 2001 table. Although Stoughton is shown as a small leg of the urban area, its figures are not counted.