Demographics of London
The demography of London is analysed by the Office for National Statistics and data is produced for each of the Greater London wards, the City of London and the 32 London boroughs, the Inner London and Outer London statistical sub-regions, each of the Parliamentary constituencies in London, and for all of Greater London as a whole. Additionally, data is produced for the Greater London Urban Area. Statistical information is produced about the size and geographical breakdown of the population, the number of people entering and leaving country and the number of people in each demographic subgroup. The 2021 population of London was 8,799,800.
History
Creation of Greater London: 1965
Through the London Government Act of 1963, the Greater London region was established officially in 1965.Migration boom: 1991 to today
From 1997 onwards, London has experienced a drastic change in the composition of the city's population, which has off-set the decline of the population which had been occurring. In 1991, 21.7% of the city was foreign born but by 2011 this had risen to 36.7%.In 2011, a historic tipping point occurred with the release of the 2011 census, indicating that the White British population, which had before been the majority, was now no longer a majority of London's population, although it remained by far the largest single ethnic group.
Population
The historical population for the current area of Greater London, divided into the statistical areas of Inner and Outer London is as follows:Age
Fertility
In 2023, 104,252 live births occurred within London. The fertility rate of London in 2023 was 1.35, which is below replacement.| London borough | TFR |
| Barking | 2.00 |
| Redbridge | 1.77 |
| Hillingdon | 1.72 |
| Havering | 1.65 |
| Croydon | 1.63 |
| Waltham Forest | 1.63 |
| Enfield | 1.61 |
| Harrow | 1.61 |
| Newham | 1.60 |
| Hounslow | 1.58 |
| Barnet | 1.57 |
| Brent | 1.53 |
| Bexley | 1.51 |
| Bromley | 1.50 |
| Sutton | 1.49 |
| Ealing | 1.48 |
| Merton | 1.39 |
| Greenwich | 1.38 |
| Haringey | 1.33 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 1.30 |
| Hackney | 1.31 |
| Lewisham | 1.26 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 1.24 |
| Wandsworth | 1.14 |
| Tower Hamlets | 1.11 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1.10 |
| Lambeth | 1.09 |
| Hammersmith | 1.06 |
| Southwark | 1.06 |
| Islington | 1.01 |
| Westminster | 1.00 |
| Camden | 1.00 |
Population density
The population density of London was 5,727 per km2 in 2011.Urban and metropolitan area
At the 2001 census, the population of the Greater London Urban Area was 8,278,251. This area does not include some outliers within Greater London, but extends into the adjacent South East England and East of England regions. In 2004, the London Plan of the Mayor of London defined a metropolitan region with a population of 18 million.Eurostat has developed a harmonising standard for comparing metropolitan areas in the European Union. The population of the London Larger Urban Zone is 11,917,000. It occupies an area of. Another definition gives the 2007 population of the metropolitan area as 13,709,000.
Ethnicity
For the overwhelming majority of London's history, the population of the city was ethnically homogenous with the population being of White British ethnic origin, with small clusters of minority groups such as Jewish people, most notably in areas of the East End. From 1948 onwards and especially since the 1990s, the population has diversified in international terms at an increased rate.In 2011, it was reported for the first time that White British people had become a minority within London, establishing that London was a majority-minority city within the UK. In 2005, a survey of London's ethnic and religious diversity claimed that there were more than 300 languages spoken, and 50 non-indigenous communities with a population of more than 10,000 in London.
Ethnicity overall
The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents from estimates in 1971 and in the 1991–2021 censuses in Greater London.Ethnicity of school pupils
File:White total school children in London.svg|White: Total
File:White British school pupils percentage.svg|White: British
Ethnicity in boroughs
This table shows the proportion of different multi-ethnic groups by London borough, as found in the 2021 census.Detailed Race and Ethnicity by borough (2021 Census):
Country of birth
The 2021 census recorded that 3,575,740 people or 40.7% of London's population are foreign-born, including 27.9% born in a non-European country.NOTE: The sub-categories included for each continent may not add up to their respective total amount because the sub categories are only supposed to show the most numerous country of birth from said area.
Country of birth by borough
This table shows country of birth by London borough according to 2021 census:Languages
In the 2011 Census, 6,083,420 or 77.9% of London's population aged 3 and over spoke English as a main language. A further 1,406,912 spoke it as a second language, or well to very well. 271,693 could not speak English well, while 47,917 could not speak English at all.2,456 spoke other UK minority languages, with the most common being Welsh and 2,926 used British Sign Language. This shows great challenges for TfL and other government services. For example most ticket vending machines use only English, French and up to 2 other western Europe hemisphere languages, while as shown below most demand is for Indian languages, Polish, etc.
The most common main languages spoken in Greater London in the 2011 and 2021 censuses are shown below.
Main language
Proficiency in English
Religion
In 2001, Christians were the majority of London's population, at 58.23%. In 2021, the Christian percentage was 40.66%. The population identifying with no religion rose from 15.76% in 2001, to 27.05% in 2021. This shift suggests a growing trend of secularization in London.The Muslim population increased from 8.46% in 2001, to 14.99% in 2021. The number of individuals who chose not to state their religion fell from 8.66% in 2001, to 7.00% in 2021.
Hindu's were 4.07% of the population in 2001, and were 5.15% in 2021. The Jewish community were 2.09% in 2001, and 1.65% in 2021. Sikhs were 1.45% in 2001, and 1.64% in 2021. Other religions, including Buddhism, collectively accounted for small but fluctuating percentages, with Buddhism specifically ranging from 0.76% in 2001, to 0.88% in 2021.
These changes are influenced by factors including immigration, generational attitudes, and broader social trends.
'''Ethnicity by religion'''
Social issues
Marriage and divorce
In 2019, 29,139 marriages occurred within London.Abortion
In 2020, 27.7% of conceptions were aborted in London.Sexual orientation and gender identity
Health
In 2021, the suicide rate in total was 6.6 for every 100,000 people. For males it was 9.9 and for females it was 3.4.General health
Disability
Income and industry
In 2022, the vast majority of people within London worked in the service sector.Industry
Method of transportation to workNote: The proportion of people working from home in 2021 was distorted by the rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hours worked weekly
Distance to travel to work
Note: The proportion of people working from home in 2021 was distorted by the rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.