# 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 total population of London as of 2021 is 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 the city'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:
London population over time :
| Year | Inner London | Outer London | Greater London |
| 1801 | 879,491 | 131,666 | 1,011,157 |
| 1811 | 1,040,033 | 157,640 | 1,197,673 |
| 1821 | 1,263,975 | 186,147 | 1,450,122 |
| 1831 | 1,515,557 | 214,392 | 1,729,949 |
| 1841 | 1,661,346 | 255,667 | 1,917,013 |
| 1851 | 1,995,846 | 290,763 | 2,286,609 |
| 1861 | 2,634,143 | 460,248 | 3,094,391 |
| 1871 | 3,272,441 | 629,737 | 3,902,178 |
| 1881 | 3,910,735 | 799,225 | 4,709,960 |
| 1891 | 4,422,340 | 1,143,516 | 5,565,856 |
| 1901 | 4,670,177 | 1,556,317 | 6,226,494 |
| 1911 | 4,997,741 | 2,160,134 | 7,157,875 |
| 1921 | 4,936,803 | 2,616,723 | 7,553,526 |
| 1931 | 4,887,932 | 3,211,010 | 8,098,942 |
| 1941 | 4,224,135 | 3,763,801 | 7,987,936 |
| 1951 | 3,680,821 | 4,483,595 | 8,164,416 |
| 1961 | 3,336,557 | 4,444,785 | 7,781,342 |
| 1971 | 3,030,490 | 4,418,694 | 7,449,184 |
| 1981 | 2,425,534 | 4,182,979 | 6,608,513 |
| 1991 | 2,625,245 | 4,262,035 | 6,887,280 |
| 2001 | 2,765,975 | 4,406,061 | 7,172,036 |
| 2011 | 3,231,900 | 4,942,100 | 8,173,900 |
| 2021 | 3,404,300 | 5,395,500 | 8,799,800 |

### Age

* Population pyramid of each borough in London
* Barking and Dagenham
* Bexley
* Brent
* Bromley
* Camden
* City of London
* Croydon
* Ealing
* Enfield
* Hackney
* Greenwich
* Harrow
* Hammersmith and Fulham
* Haringey
* Hillingdon
* Havering
* Hounslow
* Islington
* Kensington and Chelsea
* Kingston upon Thames
* Lambeth
* Lewisham
* Merton
* Newham
* Redbridge
* Richmond upon Thames
* Southwark
* Sutton
* Waltham Forest
* Tower Hamlets
* Wandsworth
* Westminster
* Percentage of the population in age groups
* Under 15s in London
* 15 to 64 year olds
* Over 64 years old

### Fertility

In 2021, a total of 110,961 live births occurred within the city. The fertility rate of London in 2021 was 1.52, which is below replacement.
* Birth statistics in London
* Teenage conception rate in London

### 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 does extend 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 and the population of the London Larger Urban Zone is 11,917,000; it occupies an area of 8,920 square kilometres (3,440 sq mi). Another definition gives the 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 the city, establishing it was a majority-minority city within the country. 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.
Ethnic make-up of Greater London :
| Ethnic Group | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Ethnic Group | 1961 estimations | 1961 estimations | 1966 estimations | 1966 estimations | 1971 estimations | 1971 estimations | 1981 estimations | 1981 estimations | 1991 census | 1991 census | 2001 census | 2001 census | 2011 census | 2011 census | 2021 census | 2021 census |
| Ethnic Group | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| White: Total | 7,602,233 | 97.7% | – | 95.9% | 6,901,596 | 92.6% | 5,893,973 | 86.6% | 5,333,580 | 79.80% | 5,103,203 | 71.15% | 4,887,435 | 59.79% | 4,731,172 | 53.8% |
| White: British | – | – | – | – | 6,500,000 | 87% | – | – | – | – | 4,287,861 | 59.79% | 3,669,284 | 44.89% | 3,239,281 | 36.8% |
| White: Irish | – | – | – | 3.6% | 401,596 | 5.4% | – | – | 256,470 | 3.83% | 220,488 | 3.07% | 175,974 | 2.15% | 156,333 | 1.8% |
| White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | 401,596 | 5.4% | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,196 | 0.10% | 7,031 | 0.1% |
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | 401,596 | 5.4% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 37,689 | 0.4% |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | 401,596 | 5.4% | – | – | – | – | 594,854 | 8.29% | 1,033,981 | 12.65% | 1,290,838 | 14.7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | – | – | – | 1.5% | – | – | 425,426 | 6.3% | 690,031 | 10.33% | 946,894 | 13.20% | 1,511,546 | 18.49% | 1,817,640 | 20.8% |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | – | – | – | – | – | – | 232,881 | 3.4% | 347,091 | 5.19% | 436,993 | 6.09% | 542,857 | 6.64% | 656,272 | 7.5% |
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | – | – | – | – | 59,440 | 0.9% | 87,816 | 1.31% | 142,749 | 1.99% | 223,797 | 2.74% | 290,549 | 3.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | – | – | – | – | 41,792 | 0.6% | 85,738 | 1.28% | 153,893 | 2.15% | 222,127 | 2.72% | 322,054 | 3.7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | – | – | – | – | – | – | 35,938 | 0.5% | 56,579 | 0.84% | 80,201 | 1.12% | 124,250 | 1.52% | 147,520 | 1.7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | – | – | – | – | – | – | 55,375 | 0.8% | 112,807 | 1.68% | 133,058 | 1.86% | 398,515 | 4.88% | 401,245 | 4.6% |
| Black or Black British: Total | – | – | – | 2.6% | – | – | 405,394 | 6% | 535,216 | 8.01% | 782,849 | 10.92% | 1,088,640 | 13.32% | 1,188,370 | 13.5% |
| Black or Black British: African | – | – | – | 0.6% | – | – | 102,230 | 1.5% | 163,635 | 2.44% | 378,933 | 5.28% | 573,931 | 7.02% | 697,054 | 7.9% |
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | – | – | – | 2% | – | – | 239,956 | 3.5% | 290,968 | 4.35% | 343,567 | 4.79% | 344,597 | 4.22% | 345,405 | 3.9% |
| Black or Black British: Other Black | – | – | – | – | – | – | 63,208 | 0.9% | 80,613 | 1.20% | 60,349 | 0.84% | 170,112 | 2.08% | 145,911 | 1.7% |
| Mixed or British Mixed: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 226,111 | 3.15% | 405,279 | 4.96% | 505,775 | 5.7% |
| Mixed: White and Black Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 70,928 | 0.99% | 119,425 | 1.46% | 132,555 | 1.5% |
| Mixed: White and Black African | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 34,182 | 0.48% | 65,479 | 0.80% | 77,341 | 0.9% |
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 59,944 | 0.84% | 101,500 | 1.24% | 125,188 | 1.4% |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 61,057 | 0.85% | 118,875 | 1.45% | 170,691 | 1.9% |
| Other: Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | 80,793 | 1.2% | 120,872 | 1.81% | 113,034 | 1.58% | 281,041 | 3.44% | 556,768 | 6.3% |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 106,020 | 1.30% | 139,791 | 1.6% |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 113,034 | 1.58% | 175,021 | 2.14% | 416,977 | 4.7% |
| Non-White: Total | 179,109 | 2.3% | – | 4.1% | 547,588 | 7.4% | 911,626 | 13.4% | 1,346,119 | 20.2% | 2,068,888 | 28.85% | 3,286,506 | 40.2% | 4,068,553 | 46.2% |
| Total | 7,781,342 | 100% | – | 100% | 7,449,184 | 100% | 6,805,599 | 100% | 6,679,699 | 100.00% | 7,172,091 | 100.00% | 8,173,941 | 100.00% | 8,799,725 | 100% |
* 1 2 3 New category created for the 2001 census
* 1 2 New category created for the 2011 census
* ↑ In 2001, listed under the 'Other ethnic group' heading.
* White (2001-2021)
* White-British (2021)
* White-Irish (2021)
* White-Other White (2021)
* Asian (2001-2021)
* Asian-Bangladeshi (2021)
* Asian-Chinese (2021)
* Asian-Indian (2021)
* Asian-Pakistani (2021)
* Black (2001-2021)
* Black-African (2021)
* Black-Caribbean (2021)
* Other-Arab (2021)
* Other-Any Other Ethnic Group (2021)
* Population pyramids of each ethnic group in London
* White: Total
* White British
* White Irish
* White Other
* Asian: Total
* Asian Bangladeshi
* Asian Indian
* Asian Pakistani
* Asian Chinese
* Other Asian
* Black: Total
* Black: Caribbean
* Black: African
* Other Black
* Mixed: Total
* Other: Total
* Other: Any other ethnic group
* Other: Arabs
Ethnicity of school pupils
Ethnicity of school pupils within London :
| Ethnic group | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year |
| Ethnic group | 1999 | 1999 | 2004 | 2004 | 2008 | 2008 | 2012 | 2012 | 2015/16 | 2015/16 | 2017/18 | 2017/18 | 2019/20 | 2019/20 | 2021/2022 | 2021/2022 |
| Ethnic group | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| White: Total | 521,332 | 59% | 467,230 | 51.4% | 431,040 | 46.7% | 416,490 | 42.8% | 443,621 | 41.1% | 522,187 | 40.4% | 520,767 | 39.8% | 506,271 | 38.7% |
| White: British | – | – | 389,350 | 42.9% | 339,610 | 36.8% | 305,805 | 31.4% | 295,572 | 27.4% | 333,497 | 25.8% | 324,358 | 24.8% | 312,522 | 23.9% |
| White: Irish | – | – | 10,610 | 1.2% | 8,610 | 0.9% | 7,610 | 0.8% | 6,939 | 0.6% | 7,322 | 0.6% | 6,759 | 0.5% | 6,268 | 0.5% |
| White: Traveller of Irish heritage | – | – | 1,090 | 0.1% | 920 | 0.1! | 1,000 | 0.1% | 1,031 | 0.1% | 1,183 | 0.1% | 1,205 | 0.1% | 1,182 | 0.1% |
| White: Gypsy/Roma | – | – | 780 | 0.09%% | 950 | 0.1% | 1,505 | 0.2% | 1,643 | 0.2% | 2,074 | 0.2% | 2,359 | 0.2% | 2,358 | 0.2% |
| White: Other | – | – | 65,410 | 7.2% | 80,950 | 8.8% | 100,570 | 10.3% | 138,436 | 12.8% | 178,111 | 13.8% | 186,086 | 14.2% | 183,941 | 14.0% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | 134,872 | 15.3% | 159,370 | 17.5% | 174,380 | 18.9% | 198,280 | 20.4% | 228,767 | 21.2% | 283,443 | 22% | 296,324 | 22.6% | 305,069 | 23.2% |
| Asian / Asian British: Indian | 65,151 | | 57,990 | 6.4% | 54,570 | 5.9% | 54,490 | 5.6% | 62,065 | 5.7% | 78,700 | 6.1% | 85,521 | 6.5% | 89,639 | 6.8% |
| Asian / Asian British: Pakistani | 28,215 | | 31,220 | 3.4% | 34,680 | 3.8% | 41,235 | 4.2% | 47,931 | 4.4% | 59,047 | 4.6% | 60,415 | 4.6% | 60,707 | 4.6% |
| Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi | 33,846 | | 38,880 | 4.2% | 44,100 | 4.8% | 51,300 | 5.3% | 59,691 | 5.5% | 73,994 | 5.7% | 77,408 | 5.9% | 79,954 | 6.1% |
| Asian / Asian British: Chinese | 7,660 | | 7,220 | 0.8% | 6,970 | 0.8% | 6,920 | 0.7% | 7,883 | 0.7% | 10,116 | 0.8% | 10,475 | 0.8% | 12,267 | 0.9% |
| Asian / Asian British: Other Asians | – | | 24,060 | 2.6% | 34,060 | 3.7% | 44,335 | 4.6% | 51,197 | 4.7% | 61,586 | 4.8% | 62,505 | 4.8% | 62,502 | 4.8% |
| Black / Black British: Total | 148,040 | 16.7% | 170,780 | 18.8% | 188,750 | 20.5% | 208,375 | 21.4% | 226,215 | 20.9% | 254,081 | 19.7% | 244,988 | 18.7% | 234,822 | 17.9% |
| Black: Caribbean | 57,956 | | 63,020 | 6.9% | 59,750 | 6.5% | 57,980 | 5.9% | 55,414 | 5.1% | 57,862 | 4.5% | 53,733 | 4.1% | 50,178 | 3.8% |
| Black: African | 61,983 | | 91,020 | 10% | 110,090 | 11.92% | 128,295 | 13.1% | 145,447 | 13.5% | 167,058 | 12.9% | 162,680 | 12.4% | 156,883 | 12.0% |
| Black: Other Blacks | 28,101 | | 16,740 | 1.8% | 18,930 | 2.1% | 22,100 | 2.3% | 25,354 | 2.3% | 29,161 | 2.3% | 28,575 | 2.2% | 27,761 | 2.1% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | – | | 57,720 | 6.4% | 70,330 | 7.6% | 84,615 | 8.7% | 104,470 | 9.7% | 134,226 | 10.4% | 142,135 | 10.8% | 150,285 | 11.3% |
| Other: Total | 62,014 | 7% | 34,750 | 3.8% | 44,290 | 4.8% | 52,640 | 5.4% | 60,865 | 5.6% | 74,589 | 5.7% | 77,413 | 5.9% | 82,516 | 6.3% |
| Unclassified | 17,909 | 2% | 18,760 | 2.1% | 6,750 | 0.7% | 13,470 | 1.4% | 16,194 | 1.5% | 22,232 | 1.7% | 27,935 | 2.1% | 30,359 | 2.3% |
| Total: | 884,167 | 100% | 908,600 | 100% | 922,890 | 100% | 973,875 | 100% | 1,080,132 | 100% | 1,290,758 | 100% | 1,309,562 | 100% | 1,309,322 | 100% |
* School pupils as a percentage of the school population in each borough in 2021/2022 school year
* White: Total
* White: British
Ethnicity of births
| Ethnic Group | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Ethnic Group | 1981 estimates | 1981 estimates | 2007 | 2007 | 2010 | 2010 | 2015 | 2015 | 2019 | 2019 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Ethnic Group | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| White: Total | – | 80% | 58,024 | 46.4% | 65,117 | 49.5% | 61,716 | 47.8% | 57,405 | 48.7% | 53,141 | 48% |
| White: British | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25,827 | 23.3% |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 27,314 | 24.7% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | – | – | 21,701 | 17.3% | 24,445 | 18.5% | 26,957 | 20.9% | 24,616 | 20.9% | 24,426 | 22.1% |
| Asian / Asian British: Indian | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,259 | 7.5% |
| Asian / Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,341 | 3.9% |
| Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5,458 | 4.9% |
| Asian / Asian British: Other Asians | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6,368 | 5.8% |
| Black / Black British: Total | – | – | 22,036 | 17.6% | 22,293 | 16.9% | 18,526 | 14.3% | 15,319 | 13% | 13,476 | 12.2% |
| Black: Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,893 | 2.6% |
| Black: African | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8,697 | 7.9% |
| Black: Other Blacks | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,886 | 1.7% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | – | – | 7,967 | 6.3% | 9,424 | 7.1% | 11,979 | 9.3% | 12,041 | 10.2% | 12,502 | 11.3% |
| Other: Total | – | – | 6,337 | 5% | 5,831 | 4.4% | 6,770 | 5.2% | 6,494 | 5.5% | 5,367 | 4.8% |
| Not Stated | – | – | 9,055 | 7.2% | 4,391 | 3.3% | 3,170 | 2.4% | 1,880 | 1.5% | 1,787 | 1.6% |
| Non-White: Total (not including Not stated) | – | 20% | 58,041 | 46.2% | 61,993 | 46.9% | 64,232 | 49.7% | 58,470 | 49.6% | 55,771 | 50.4% |
| Total: | – | 100% | 125,120 | 100% | 131,501 | 100% | 129,118 | 100% | 117,755 | 100% | 110,699 | 100% |
* Ethnicity of births as a percentage of total births in 2021
* White (49.6% including Not stated)
* White: British (24.9% including Not stated)
* Asian (22.1%)
* Black (12.2%)
* Mixed (11.3%)

### Ethnicity in boroughs

This table shows the proportion of different multi-ethnic groups by London borough, as found in the 2021 census.
Broad multi-ethnic group make-up of London boroughs (2021) :
| Local authority | White | Mixed | Asian | Black | Other |
| Barnet | 57.7 | 5.4 | 19.3 | 7.9 | 9.8 |
| Barking and Dagenham | 44.9 | 4.3 | 25.9 | 21.4 | 3.6 |
| Bexley | 71.9 | 3.5 | 9.9 | 12.2 | 2.5 |
| Brent | 34.6 | 5.1 | 32.8 | 17.5 | 10 |
| Bromley | 76.5 | 5.4 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 2.3 |
| Camden | 59.5 | 6.6 | 18.1 | 9.0 | 6.8 |
| City of London | 69.4 | 5.5 | 16.8 | 2.7 | 5.6 |
| Croydon | 48.4 | 7.6 | 17.5 | 22.6 | 3.9 |
| Ealing | 43.2 | 5.2 | 30.3 | 10.8 | 10.6 |
| Enfield | 52.1 | 5.9 | 11.5 | 18.3 | 12.1 |
| Greenwich | 55.7 | 6.0 | 13.2 | 21 | 4.2 |
| Hackney | 53.1 | 6.7 | 10.4 | 21.1 | 8.7 |
| Haringey | 57 | 7 | 8.7 | 17.6 | 9.7 |
| Harrow | 36.5 | 3.8 | 45.2 | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Havering | 75.3 | 3.7 | 10.7 | 8.2 | 2 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 63.2 | 6.7 | 10.5 | 12.3 | 7.3 |
| Hillingdon | 48.2 | 4.4 | 33.3 | 7.8 | 6.3 |
| Hounslow | 44.1 | 4.7 | 36.7 | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| Islington | 62.2 | 7.5 | 9.9 | 13.3 | 7.1 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 63.7 | 6.6 | 11.9 | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 68.3 | 5.4 | 17.8 | 2.8 | 5.7 |
| Lambeth | 55 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 24 | 5.7 |
| Lewisham | 51.5 | 8.1 | 9 | 26.8 | 4.7 |
| Merton | 60.2 | 5.9 | 18.6 | 10.6 | 4.6 |
| Newham | 30.8 | 4.7 | 42.2 | 17.5 | 4.9 |
| Redbridge | 34.8 | 4.1 | 47.3 | 8.4 | 5.4 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 80.5 | 5.5 | 8.9 | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| Southwark | 51.4 | 7.2 | 9.9 | 25.1 | 6.3 |
| Sutton | 68.3 | 4.8 | 17.5 | 5.9 | 3.4 |
| Tower Hamlets | 39.4 | 5 | 44.4 | 7.3 | 3.9 |
| Waltham Forest | 52.8 | 6.5 | 19.9 | 15 | 5.8 |
| Wandsworth | 67.8 | 6.3 | 11.7 | 10.1 | 4.1 |
| Westminster | 55.2 | 6.5 | 16.8 | 8.1 | 13.5 |
* White multi-ethnic group over time
* 1991 (79.8%)
* 2001 (71.2%)
* 2011 (59.8%)
* 2021 (53.8%)
* Asian multi-ethnic group over time
* 1991 (10.3%)
* 2001 (13.2%)
* 2011 (18.5%)
* 2021 (20.8%)
* Black multi-ethnic group over time
* 1991 (8%)
* 2001 (10.9%)
* 2011 (13.3%)
* 2021 (13.5%)

## 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).
| Country of Birth | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Country of Birth | 1951 (County of London) | 1951 (County of London) | 1971 census | 1971 census | 1981 census | 1981 census | 1991 census | 1991 census | 2001 census | 2001 census | 2011 census | 2011 census | 2021 census | 2021 census |
| Country of Birth | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Europe | 3,239,240 | 96.8% | 6,568,348 | 90.76% | 5,787,624 | 87.57% | 5,639,192 | 84.4% | 5,741,636 | 80% | 6,174,371 | 75.5% | 6,346,649 | 72.1% |
| United Kingdom | 3,018,418 | 90.2% | 6,133,105 | 84.74% | 5,405,576 | 81.79% | 5,228,658 | 78.3% | 5,231,701 | 72.9% | 5,175,677 | 63.3% | 5,223,986 | 59.3% |
| England | 2,871,072 | 85.8% | | | 5,175,884 | 78.3% | 5,001,658 | 74.9% | 5,010,969 | 69.9% | 4,997,072 | 61.1% | 5,075,165 | 57.7% |
| Scotland | 62,980 | | | | 109,935 | 1.7% | 113,117 | 1.7% | 108,682 | 1.5% | 89,527 | 1.1% | 75,004 | 0.9% |
| Wales | 59,416 | | | | 79,000 | 1.2% | 70,532 | 1.1% | 71,962 | 1.0% | 53,828 | 0.7% | 44,806 | 0.5% |
| Northern Ireland | | | | | | | 42,243 | 0.6% | 37,574 | 0.5% | 32,774 | 0.4% | 28,248 | 0.3% |
| Ireland | 89,895 | | 236,396 | 3.26% | 199,460 | 3.01% | 214,033 | 3.2% | 157,556 | 2.2% | 129,807 | 1.6% | 96,566 | 1.1% |
| European Community or Other Europe | 130,927 | 3.9% | 198,847 | 2.74% | 182,588 | 2.76% | 196,501 | | 352,379 | | 865,681 | | 1,122,663 | 12.8% |
| Germany | 18,024 | | | | | | 32,027 | 0.5% | 39,818 | 0.6% | 55,476 | 0.7% | 50,364 | 0.6% |
| France | 8,081 | | | | | | 20,923 | 0.3% | 38,130 | 0.5% | 66,654 | 0.8% | 77,715 | 0.9% |
| Italy | 9,603 | | | | | | 30,052 | 0.4% | 38,694 | 0.5% | 62,050 | 0.8% | 126,059 | 1.4% |
| Spain | | | | | | | 19,047 | 0.3% | 22,480 | 0.3% | 35,880 | 0.4% | 68,114 | 0.8% |
| Poland | 32,787 | | | | | | 21,823 | 0.3% | 22,224 | 0.3% | 158,300 | 1.9% | 149,397 | 1.7% |
| Romania | 1,737 | | | | | | 1,774 | 0.0% | 3,049 | 0.0% | 44,848 | 0.5% | 175,991 | 2.0% |
| Cyprus | 6,799 | | | | | | 50,684 | 0.8% | 45,888 | 0.6% | | | 35,300 | 0.4% |
| Russia | 16,046 | | | | | | 5,234 | 0.1% | 10,361 | 0.1% | 16,757 | 0.2% | 25,770 | 0.3% |
| Turkey | 1,080 | | | | | | 20,426 | 0.3% | 39,128 | 0.5% | 59,596 | 0.7% | 72,867 | 0.8% |
| Asia | 20,999 | 0.6% | 161,777 | 2.23% | 234,599 | 3.54% | 435,819 | 6.5% | 634,917 | 8.9% | 966,990 | 11.8% | 1,146,247 | 13% |
| India | 16,370 | | 104,001 | 1.43% | 139,123 | 2.10% | 151,619 | 2.3% | 172,661 | 2.4% | 262,247 | 3.2% | 322,644 | 3.7% |
| Pakistan | 1,578 | | 29,395 | 0.40% | 35,625 | 0.53% | 44,741 | 0.7% | 66,658 | 0.9% | 112,457 | 1.4% | 129,774 | 1.5% |
| Bangladesh | 1,578 | | 29,395 | 0.40% | 22,108 | 0.33% | 56,657 | 0.8% | 84,565 | 1.2% | 109,948 | 1.3% | 138,895 | 1.6% |
| Sri Lanka | | | | | | | 25,818 | 0.4% | 49,932 | 0.7% | 84,542 | 1.0% | 80,379 | 0.9% |
| China | 1,350 | | | | | | 6,996 | 0.1% | 13,776 | 0.2% | 39,452 | 0.5% | 56,116 | 0.6% |
| Hong Kong | 586 | | | | | | 18,398 | 0.3% | 23,328 | 0.3% | 26,435 | 0.3% | 33,760 | 0.4% |
| Other Asia | – | – | 28,381 | 0.39% | 37,741 | 0.57% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Old Commonwealth | 14,233 | 0.4% | 38,738 | 0.53% | 37,064 | 0.56% | 53,320 | 0.8% | 84,264 | | – | – | 84,248 | |
| Australia | 6,536 | | | | | | 23,315 | 0.3% | 41,488 | 0.6% | 53,959 | 0.7% | 43,418 | 0.5% |
| Canada | 5,339 | | | | | | 11,626 | 0.2% | 15,282 | 0.2% | 21,288 | 0.3% | 21,772 | 0.2% |
| New Zealand | 2,358 | | | | | | 18,379 | 0.3% | 27,494 | 0.4% | 28,547 | 0.3% | 19,058 | 0.2% |
| Africa | 10,783 | 0.3% | 74,660 | 1.03% | 144,072 | 2.18% | 246,025 | | 454,536 | | 621,613 | | 625,071 | 7.1% |
| South Africa | 4,668 | | | | | | 6,471 | 0.1% | 45,507 | 0.6% | 57,765 | 0.7% | 47,964 | 0.5% |
| Nigeria | 1,261 | | | | | | 36,047 | 0.5% | 68,907 | 1.0% | 114,718 | 1.4% | 117,145 | 1.3% |
| Kenya | 314 | | | | | | 56,993 | 0.9% | 66,311 | 0.9% | 64,212 | 0.8% | 58,020 | 0.7% |
| Ghana | | | | | | | 26,925 | 0.4% | | | 62,896 | 0.8% | 65,905 | 0.7% |
| Somalia | 50 | | | | | | | | 33,831 | 0.5% | 65,333 | 0.8% | 66,288 | 0.8% |
| America/Caribbean (NCWP for 1971) | 12,241 | 0.4% | 165,369 | 2.28% | 167,399 | 2.53% | | | 249,191 | | 326,280 | | 367,664 | 4.2% |
| Jamaica | 2,139 | | | | | | 76,445 | 1.1% | 80,319 | 1.1% | 87,467 | 1.1% | 52,613 | 0.6% |
| United States | 5,942 | | | | | | 32,667 | 0.5% | 44,622 | 0.6% | 63,920 | 0.8% | 71,127 | 0.8% |
| Brazil | 357 | | | | | | – | | | | 31,357 | 0.4% | 55,787 | 0.6% |
| Antarctica and Oceania (including Australasia) and Other | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 70,632 | | 84,661 | | 64,228 | 0.7% |
| British Overseas | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 5,994 | – |
| Other: Total | – | – | 227,829 | 3.14% | 237,840 | 3.59% | 1,118 | | 21,179 | | 26 | | – | – |
| Foreign born: Total | 224,801 | 9.8% | 1,103,616 | | | | 1,451,041 | 21.7% | 1,940,390 | 27.1% | 2,998,264 | 36.7% | 3,575,740 | 40.7% |
| Total | 3,347,982 | 100% | 7,236,721 | 100.00% | 6,608,598 | 100.00% | 6,679,699 | 100% | 7,172,091 | 100% | 8,173,941 | 100% | 8,799,726 | 100% |
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.
* Foreign born in the County of London (excluding Irish born in images)
* 1901 (5% overall including Irish born)
* 1911 (5% overall including Irish born)
* 1921 (4% overall including Irish born)
* 1931 (5% overall including Irish born)
* 1951 (8% overall including Irish born)
* Foreign born in London over time
* 1961 (9.8%)
* 1971 (15.3%)
* 1981 (18.2%)
* 1991 (21.7%)
* 2001 (27.1%)
* 2011 (36.7%)
* 2021 (40.7%)
| Region of birth of mother | 2001 | 2001 | 2006 | 2006 | 2011 | 2011 | 2016 | 2016 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Region of birth of mother | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| United Kingdom | 59,104 | 56.7% | 57,376 | 47.5% | 57,450 | 43.2% | 53,866 | 41.8% | 47,958 | 43.2% |
| Foreign born | 45,058 | 43.3% | 63,522 | 52.5% | 75,383 | 56.7% | 74,923 | 58.2% | 62,986 | 56.8% |
| EU | 6,977 | 6.7% | 11,309 | 9.4% | 18,402 | 13.8% | 22,573 | 17.5% | 18,365 | 16.5% |
| Rest of Europe | 3,380 | 3.2% | 4,090 | 3.4% | 4,160 | 3.1% | 5,382 | 4.2% | 5,933 | 5.3% |
| Middle East and Asia | 13,489 | 13% | 18,206 | 15% | 25,478 | 19.2% | 24,235 | 18.8% | 21,394 | 19.2% |
| Africa | 13,600 | 13.1% | 20,043 | 16.6% | 19,866 | 15% | 15,600 | 12.1% | 10,725 | 9.7% |
| Rest of the world | 7,612 | 7.3% | 9,874 | 8.2% | 7,477 | 5.6% | 7,133 | 5.5% | 6,569 | 5.9% |
| Total | 104,162 | 1000% | 120,898 | 100% | 132,843 | 100% | 128,803 | 100% | 110,961 | 100% |
* Born to foreign born mothers
* 2007
* 2014
* 2021
* Population pyramids of country of birth groupings in 2021
* UK born
* Foreign born: Total

## Languages

According to the 2011 Census, 6,083,420 or 77.9% of London's population aged 3 and over spoke English as a main language, with a further 1,406,912 (19.8%) speaking it as a second language or well to very well. 271,693 (3.5%) could not speak English well, while 47,917 (0.6%) could not speak English at all. 2,456 (<0.1%) spoke other UK minority languages, with the most common being Welsh and 2,926 (<0.1%) used British Sign Language. This shows also 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 according to the 2011 and 2021 censuses are shown below.

### Main language

Languages spoken in London by usual residents aged 3+ :
| 2011 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Language | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage |
| English | 6,083,420 | 77.90% | 6,650,973 | 78.40% |
| Romanian | 39,653 | 0.50% | 159,338 | 1.90% |
| Spanish | 71,192 | 0.90% | 117,457 | 1.40% |
| Polish | 147,816 | 1.90% | 112,068 | 1.30% |
| Bengali | 114,267 | 1.50% | 101,975 | 1.20% |
| Portuguese | 71,525 | 0.90% | 94,205 | 1.10% |
| Gujarati | 101,676 | 1.30% | 82,610 | 1.00% |
| Italian | 49,484 | 0.60% | 81,293 | 1.00% |
| Punjabi | 68,525 | 0.90% | 74,205 | 0.90% |
| Arabic | 70,602 | 0.90% | 72,102 | 0.80% |
| Tamil | 70,565 | 0.90% | 70,673 | 0.80% |
| Turkish | 71,242 | 0.90% | 69,641 | 0.80% |
| French | 84,191 | 1.10% | 67,049 | 0.80% |
| Urdu | 78,667 | 1.00% | 63,626 | 0.80% |
| Bulgarian | | | 47,648 | 0.60% |
| Persian | 39,645 | 0.50% | 39,233 | 0.50% |
| Somali | 54,852 | 0.70% | 37,346 | 0.40% |
| Malayalam | 26,924 | 0.30% | 36,015 | 0.40% |
| Russian | 26,603 | 0.30% | 31,906 | 0.40% |
| Lithuanian | 35,341 | 0.50% | 30,768 | 0.40% |
| German | 31,306 | 0.40% | 19,074 | 0.20% |
| Other | 441,968 | 5.66% |

### Proficiency in English

| Language proficiency | London (aged 3 and over) | London (aged 3 and over) | London (aged 3 and over) | London (aged 3 and over) |
| Language proficiency | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Language proficiency | Number | % | Number | % |
| Main language is English | 6,083,420 | 77.9% | 6,650,973 | 78.4% |
| Main language is not English | 1,726,522 | 22.1% | 1,831,690 | 21.6% |
| Can speak English very well | 763,502 | 9.8% | 840,463 | 9.9% |
| Can speak English well | 643,410 | 8.2% | 636,226 | 7.5% |
| Cannot speak English well | 271,693 | 3.5% | 303,265 | 3.6% |
| Cannot speak English | 47,917 | 0.6% | 51,736 | 0.6% |
| Total | 7,809,942 | 100% | 8,482,663 | 100% |

## Religion

London's religious landscape over the past two decades has undergone significant change. In 2001, Christians constituted the majority at 58.23%, but by 2021, this percentage had declined to 40.66%. Meanwhile, the population identifying with no religion saw a significant increase, rising from 15.76% in 2001 to 27.05% in 2021. This shift suggests a growing trend of secularization in the city.
The Muslim population also experienced notable growth, increasing from 8.46% in 2001 to 14.99% in 2021. The number of individuals who chose not to state their religion slightly fluctuated during these years, from 8.66% in 2001 to 7.00% in 2021.
Hinduism saw steady growth, constituting 4.07% of the population in 2001 and rising to 5.15% in 2021. The Jewish community remained relatively stable but saw a slight decline from 2.09% to 1.65% over the same period. Sikhism also experienced growth, albeit modest, from 1.45% in 2001 to 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 various factors, including immigration, generational attitudes, and broader social trends.
Religious affiliation of Londoners :
| Religion | 1950 estimates | 1950 estimates | 1960 estimates | 1960 estimates | 1975 estimates | 1975 estimates | 1984 estimates | 1984 estimates | 1995 estimates | 1995 estimates | 2001 census | 2001 census | 2011 census | 2011 census | 2021 census | 2021 census |
| Religion | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Christian | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,176,175 | 58.23% | 3,957,984 | 48.42% | 3,577,681 | 40.66% |
| No religion | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,130,616 | 15.76% | 1,694,372 | 20.73% | 2,380,404 | 27.05% |
| Muslim | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 607,083 | 8.46% | 1,012,823 | 12.39% | 1,318,754 | 14.99% |
| Religion not stated | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 621,366 | 8.66% | 692,739 | 8.47% | 615,662 | 7.00% |
| Hindu | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 291,977 | 4.07% | 411,291 | 5.03% | 453,034 | 5.15% |
| Jewish | 250,000 | – | 280,000 | – | 228,000 | – | 210,000 | – | 196,000 | – | 149,789 | 2.09% | 148,602 | 1.82% | 145,466 | 1.65% |
| Sikh | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 104,230 | 1.45% | 126,134 | 1.54% | 144,543 | 1.64% |
| Other religion | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 36,558 | 0.51% | 47,970 | 0.59% | 86,759 | 0.99% |
| Buddhist | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 54,297 | 0.76% | 82,026 | 1.00% | 77,425 | 0.88% |
| Total | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7,172,091 | 100% | 8,173,941 | 100% | 8,799,728 | 100% |
* Christianity
* Islam
* Hinduism
* Judaism
* Sikhism
* Buddhism
* Other religion
* No religion
* Population pyramids of each religious group in London
* Christian
* No religion
* None stated
* Muslim
* Hindu
* Buddhist
* Sikh
* Jewish
* Other religion
Ethnicity by religion
| Ethnic Group | 2021 census | 2021 census | 2021 census | 2021 census | 2021 census | 2021 census |
| Ethnic Group | Christian | Muslim | Hindu | Other | No religion | Undeclared |
| Ethnic Group | Number | Number | Number | Number | Number | Number |
| White: Total | 2,271,066 | 113,038 | 1,450 | 164,195 | 1,837,754 | 343,671 |
| White: British | 1,426,511 | 37,544 | 841 | 112,911 | 1,446,794 | 214,682 |
| White: Irish | 109,149 | 604 | 60 | 1,720 | 35,793 | 9,007 |
| White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller | 4,852 | 141 | 16 | 130 | 1,445 | 447 |
| White: Roma | 25,646 | 890 | 20 | 455 | 7,680 | 2,998 |
| White: Other | 704,908 | 73,859 | 513 | 48,979 | 346,042 | 116,537 |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | 205,801 | 716,586 | 421,063 | 197,465 | 175,004 | 101,716 |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | 75,625 | 66,763 | 329,329 | 122,742 | 31,289 | 30,524 |
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | 3,601 | 264,201 | 548 | 582 | 5,195 | 16,421 |
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | 1,057 | 295,963 | 3,570 | 442 | 4,175 | 16,843 |
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | 26,018 | 603 | 162 | 16,722 | 89,546 | 14,469 |
| Asian or Asian British: Other Asian | 99,500 | 89,056 | 87,454 | 56,977 | 44,799 | 23,459 |
| Black or Black British: Total | 775,655 | 216,758 | 976 | 9,382 | 103,015 | 82,586 |
| Black or Black British: African | 434,796 | 196,647 | 375 | 2,965 | 25,603 | 36,667 |
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | 241,736 | 3,875 | 399 | 4,851 | 60,825 | 33,719 |
| Black or Black British: Other Black | 99,123 | 16,236 | 202 | 1,566 | 16,587 | 12,200 |
| Mixed or British Mixed: Total | 197,939 | 47,532 | 3,943 | 14,004 | 194,909 | 47,449 |
| Mixed: White and Black Caribbean | 57,671 | 1,964 | 75 | 1,809 | 59,103 | 11,933 |
| Mixed: White and Black African | 39,137 | 9,631 | 98 | 975 | 21,121 | 6,380 |
| Mixed: White and Asian | 36,027 | 12,648 | 2,648 | 5,118 | 56,599 | 12,148 |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | 65,104 | 23,289 | 1,122 | 6,102 | 58,086 | 16,988 |
| Other: Total | 127,219 | 224,840 | 25,602 | 69,143 | 69,722 | 40,241 |
| Other: Arab | 6,420 | 113,809 | 61 | 1,174 | 7,394 | 10,932 |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | 120,799 | 111,031 | 25,541 | 67,969 | 62,328 | 29,309 |
| Total | 3,577,681 | 1,318,754 | 453,034 | 454,193 | 2,380,404 | 615,662 |
* ↑ New category created for the 2011 census

## Social issues
### Marriage and divorce

In 2019, a total of 29,139 marriages occurred within London.

### Abortion

In 2020, 27.7% of conceptions were aborted in the city.
* Abortion in London
* Percentage of conceptions aborted in London by each borough in 2020
* Abortion rates by age group in London

### Sexual orientation and gender identity

| Sexual orientation | London (aged 16 and over) | London (aged 16 and over) |
| 2021 ||
| Sexual orientation | Number | % |
| Straight or Heterosexual | 6,123,195 | 86.2% |
| Gay or Lesbian | 158,760 | 2.2% |
| Bisexual | 108,140 | 1.5% |
| All other sexual orientations | 37,482 | 0.5% |
| Not answered | 676,408 | 9.5% |
| Total | 7,103,985 | 100% |
| Gender identity | London (aged 16 and over) | London (aged 16 and over) |
| 2021 ||
| Gender identity | Number | % |
| Gender identity the same as sex registered at birth | 6,479,664 | 91.2 |
| Gender identity different from sex registered at birth but no specific identity given | 32,753 | 0.5% |
| Trans woman | 11,266 | 0.2% |
| Trans man | 11,480 | 0.2% |
| All other gender identities | 8,862 | 0.1% |
| Not answered | 559,960 | 7.9% |
| Total | 7,103,985 | 100% |

## Health

In 2021, the suicide rate in total was 6.6 for every 100,000 people. For males this was 9.9 and for females this was 3.4.
* Variety of health issues in graphs
* Suicide rates in London
* Drug misuse rate in London
* Percentage of Year 6s obese in 2020 in London
* Percentage of Reception age children obese in 2020

### General health

| General health (self-identified) | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| General health (self-identified) | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Very good health | 5,078,978 | 70.8% | 4,127,788 | 50.5% | 4,712,358 | 53.6% |
| Good health | 5,078,978 | 70.8% | 2,725,645 | 33.3% | 2,802,395 | 31.8% |
| Fair health | 1,499,198 | 20.9% | 915,035 | 11.2% | 908,941 | 10.3% |
| Bad health | 593,915 | 8.3% | 305,343 | 3.7% | 283,864 | 3.2% |
| Very bad health | 593,915 | 8.3% | 100,130 | 1.2% | 92,170 | 1.0% |
| Total | 7,172,091 | 100% | 8,173,941 | 100% | 8,799,728 | 100% |

#### Disability

| Disability status | London | London | London | London | London | London | London | London |
| Disability status | 1991 (long term illness) | 1991 (long term illness) | 2001 (limiting long term illness) | 2001 (limiting long term illness) | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Disability status | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Disabled (under the Equality Act) | 742,870 | 10.7% | 1,111,284 | 15.5% | 1,157,16 | 14.1% | 1,164,456 | 13.2% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a little | – | – | – | – | 605,501 | 7.4% | 658,547 | 7.5% |
| Disabled under the Equality Act: Day-to-day activities limited a lot | – | – | – | – | 551,664 | 6.7% | 505,909 | 5.7% |
| Not disabled (under the Equality Act) | – | – | – | – | 7,016,776 | 85.8% | 7,635,272 | 86.8% |
| Not disabled under the Equality Act: No long term physical or mental health conditions | – | – | – | – | 7,016,776 | 85.8% | 7,175,718 | 81.5% |
| Not disabled under the Equality Act: Has long term physical or mental health condition but day-to-day activities are not limited | – | – | – | – | – | – | 459,554 | 5.2% |
| Total | 6,887,280 | 100% | 7,172,091 | 100% | 8,173,941 | 100% | 8,799,728 | 100% |

## Income and industry

The vast majority of people within London work in the service sector.
* Income and industry of London in images
* Employment rate in London
* Unemployment rate in London
* Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) across London in 2020
* Employment in public or private sector in London

### Industry

| Industry sector | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) |
| Industry sector | 1961 (10% sample) | 1961 (10% sample) | 1981 (10% sample) | 1981 (10% sample) | 1991 (10% sample) | 1991 (10% sample) | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Industry sector | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| A: Agriculture, Forestry and fishing | 772 | 0.2% | 445 | – | 613 | – | 11,033 | 0.3% | 2,363 | 0.1% | 2,827 | 0.1% |
| B: Mining and quarrying | 296 | – | – | – | 2,961 | 1% | 4,487 | 0.1% | 5,606 | 0.1% | 4,957 | 0.1% |
| C: Manufacturing | 156,035 (Production) | 41.5% | 58,649 | 19.1% | 29,889 | 10.5% | 253,358 | 7.6% | 128,905 | 3.2% | 131,674 | 3.0% |
| D: Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 156,035 (Production) | 41.5% | 5,181 | 1.7% | 3,195 | 1.1% | 11,035 | 0.3% | 10,358 | 0.3% | 15,040 | 0.3% |
| E: Water supply; Sewerage, Waste management and Remediation activities | 156,035 (Production) | 41.5% | 5,181 | 1.7% | 3,195 | 1.1% | 11,035 | 0.3% | 14,207 | 0.4% | 12,732 | 0.3% |
| F: Construction | 156,035 (Production) | 41.5% | 20,347 | 6.6% | 18,395 | 6.5% | 174,731 | 5.3% | 262,356 | 6.6% | 340,992 | 7.8% |
| G: Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles | – | – | – | – | – | – | 478,374 | 14.4% | 522,204 | 13.1% | 531,842 | 12.2% |
| H: Transport and storage | – | – | 29,760 | 9.7% | 25,056 | 8.9% | 270,358 | 8.1% | 200,336 | | 205,733 | 4.7% |
| J: Information and communication | – | – | – | – | – | – | 270,358 | 8.1% | 276,355 | 6.9% | 332,394 | 7.6% |
| I: Accommodation and food service activities (Distribution or catering; 1981 + 1991) | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | 58,778 | 19.2% | 54,123 | 19.1% | 153,357 | 4.6% | 251,574 | | 237,887 | 5.5% |
| K: Financial and insurance activities | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | 57,672 | 20.4% | 937,377 | 28.3% | 306,443 | | 288,113 | 6.6% |
| L: Real estate activities | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | 57,672 | 20.4% | 937,377 | 28.3% | 79,520 | | 92,403 | 2.1% |
| M: Professional, scientific and technical activities | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | 57,672 | 20.4% | 937,377 | 28.3% | 434,405 | | 456,965 | 10.5% |
| N: Administrative and support service activities | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | 57,672 | 20.4% | 937,377 | 28.3% | 234,191 | | 262,952 | 6.0% |
| P: Education | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | – | – | 247,767 | 7.5% | 384,156 | | 418,765 | 9.6% |
| Q: Human health and social work activities | 213,766 (Services) | 56.9% | – | – | – | – | 334,783 | 10.1% | 428,586 | | 563,238 | 12.9% |
| O: Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 4,795 | 1.3% | – | – | – | – | 178,261 | 5.4% | 201,545 | | 209,607 | 4.8% |
| R, S, T, U: Other and not stated | – | – | 131,194 | 42.6% | 90,740 | 32.1% | 264,213 | 8.0% | 255,787 | | 251,958 | 5.8% |
| Total | 375,664 | 100% | 307,857 | 100% | 282,644 | 100% | 3,319,134 | 100% | 3,998,897 | 100% | 4,360,079 | 100% |
Method of transportation to work
| Method of transportation | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) |
| Method of transportation | 1981 (10% sample) | 1981 (10% sample) | 1991 (10% sample) | 1991 (10% sample) | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Method of transportation | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Work mainly at or from home | 9,593 | 3.1% | 12,433 | 4.4% | 285,935 | 7.5% | 202,679 | 5.1% | 1,836,823 | 42.1% |
| Underground, metro, light rail, tram | 39,035 | 12.7% | – | – | 642,476 | 16.9% | 902,263 | 22.6% | 431,842 | 9.9% |
| Train | 32,638 | 10.6% | 74,262 | 26.3% | 661,166 | 17.4% | 532,720 | 13.3% | 231,074 | 5.3% |
| Bus, minibus or coach | 51,409 | 16.7% | 32,131 | 11.4% | 376,926 | 9.9% | 561,605 | 14.0% | 386,068 | 8.9% |
| Taxi | – | – | – | – | 21,962 | 0.6% | 20,314 | 0.5% | 22,544 | 0.5% |
| Motorcycle, scooter or moped | 6,481 | 2.1% | 3,239 | 1.1% | 55,752 | 1.5% | 45,976 | 1.1% | 30,404 | 0.7% |
| Driving a car or van | 90,522 | 29.4% | 108,546 | 38.4% | 1,294,081 | 34.0% | 1,120,826 | 28.0% | 897,111 | 20.6% |
| Passenger in a car or van | 22,903 | 7.4% | 10,068 | 3.6% | 92,819 | 2.4% | 69,659 | 1.7% | 63,883 | 1.5% |
| Bicycle | 7,308 | 2.4% | 5,783 | 2.0% | 78,804 | 2.1% | 161,705 | 4.0% | 128,833 | 3.0% |
| On foot | 40,563 | 13.2% | 27,523 | 9.7% | 281,338 | 7.4% | 352,612 | 8.8% | 279,453 | 6.4% |
| Other method of travel to work (or Not stated) | 7,405 | 2.4% | 8,659 | 3.1% | 14,396 | 0.4% | 28,538 | 0.7% | 52,040 | 1.2% |
| Total | 307,857 | 100% | 282,644 | 100% | 3,805,655 | 100% | 3,998,897 | 100% | 4,360,075 | 100% |
Note: The proportion of people working from home in 2021 was distorted by the rules surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Hours worked weekly
| Hours worked weekly | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) | London (aged 16 and over in employment) |
| Hours worked weekly | 1991 (10% sample) | 1991 (10% sample) | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Hours worked weekly | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Full-time | 224,494 | 79.4% | 2,651,793 | 79.9% | 2,973,844 | 74.4% | 3,137,424 | 72% |
| Full-time: 31 to 48 hours worked | 224,494 | 79.4% | 2,063,598 | 62.2% | 2,338,716 | 58.4% | 2,555,494 | 58.6% |
| Full-time: 49 or more hours worked | 224,494 | 79.4% | 588,195 | 17.7% | 635,128 | 15.9% | 581,930 | 13.3% |
| Part-time | 46,319 | 16.4% | 667,341 | 20.1% | 1,025,053 | 25.6% | 1,222,653 | 28% |
| Part-time: 15 hours or less worked | 15,812 | 5.6% | 224,349 | 6.8% | 346,106 | 8.7% | 464,497 | 10.7% |
| Part-time: 16 to 30 hours worked | 30,507 | 10.8% | 442,992 | 13.3% | 678,947 | 17% | 758,156 | 17.3% |
| Not stated | 11,831 | 4.1% | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 282,644 | 100% | 3,319,134 | 100% | 3,998,897 | 100% | 4,360,077 | 100% |
Distance to travel to work
| Distance to travel to work | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Distance to travel to work | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Less than 2 km | 475,102 | 14.3% | 474,585 | 11.9% | 331,191 | 7.6% |
| 2 km to less than 5 km | 659,230 | 19.9% | 715,936 | 17.9% | 484,894 | 11.1% |
| 5 km to less than 10 km | 803,143 | 24.2% | 926,646 | 23.2% | 533,671 | 12.2% |
| 10 km to less than 20 km | 686,960 | 20.7% | 795,833 | 19.9% | 409,530 | 9.4% |
| 20 km to less than 30 km | 128,560 | 3.9% | 154,589 | 3.9% | 79,897 | 1.8% |
| 30 km to less than 40 km | 32,812 | 1.0% | 38,310 | 1.0% | 23,145 | 0.5% |
| 40 km to less than 60 km | 25,001 | 0.8% | 28,294 | 0.7% | 15,808 | 0.4% |
| 60 km and over | 36,282 | 1.1% | 52,083 | 1.3% | 29,917 | 0.7% |
| Works mainly from home | 285,935 | 8.6% | 380,665 | 9.5% | 1,836,823 | 42.1% |
| Works mainly at an offshore installation, in no fixed place, or outside the UK | 186,109 | 5.6% | – | – | 615,201 | 14.1% |
| Other | – | – | 431,956 | 10.8% | – | – |
| Total | 3,319,134 | 100% | 3,998,897 | 100% | 4,360,077 | 100% |
Note: The proportion of people working from home in 2021 was distorted by the rules surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

## National identity

| National identity | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| National identity | Number | % | Number | % |
| British only | 2,526,808 | 30.9% | 5,011,396 | 56.9% |
| English only | 3,035,090 | 37.1% | 717,894 | 8.2% |
| Welsh only | 31,952 | 0.4% | 19,167 | 0.2% |
| Scottish only | 53,531 | 0.7% | 29,943 | 0.3% |
| Northern Irish only | 19,943 | 0.2% | 13,917 | 0.2% |
| Any combination of UK only identities | – | – | 14,484 | 0.2% |
| English and British only | 444,115 | 5.4% | 594,149 | 6.8% |
| Welsh and British only | 7,081 | 0.1% | 10,161 | 0.1% |
| Scottish and British only | 11,344 | 0.1% | 15,665 | 0.2% |
| Northern Irish and British only | 2,530 | 0.0% | 4,504 | 0.1% |
| Irish only | 125,733 | 1.5% | 99,780 | 1.1% |
| Irish and at least one UK identity | 7,169 | 0.1% | 16,941 | 0.2% |
| Other identity only | 1,830,912 | 22.4% | 1,878,830 | 21.4% |
| Other identity and at least one UK identity | 191,771 | 2.3% | 372,898 | 4.2% |
| Total | 8,173,941 | 100% | 8,799,729 | 100% |
Note: The order of options for the census question on national identity was changed between 2011 and 2021. In 2011 "English only" was the first group listed whereas in 2021 "British only" was first instead.
* Population pyramids of identity groupings in 2021
* English only identity
* English and British identity
* British only identity
* UK and non-UK identity
* Non-UK only identity

## Housing

| Tenure | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Tenure | 1961 census | 1961 census | 1981 census | 1981 census | 1991 census | 1991 census | 2001 census | 2001 census | 2011 census | 2011 census | 2021 census | 2021 census |
| Tenure | Households | % | Households | % | Households | % | Households | % | Households | % | Households | % |
| Owned | 964,934 | 36.3% | 1,217,525 | 48.6% | 1,579,177 | 57.2% | 1,704,719 | 56.5% | 1,618,315 | 49.5% | 1,601,042 | 46.8% |
| Owned: outright | – | – | – | – | 491,232 | | 665,061 | | 689,898 | | 710,052 | |
| Owned: with a mortgage or loan | – | – | – | – | 1,087,945 | | 1,010,629 | | 886,309 | | 838,494 | |
| Shared ownership | – | – | – | – | – | – | 29,029 | | 42,108 | | 52,496 | |
| Privately renting | 1,146,807 | 42.4% | 415,247 | 16.6% | 382,785 | | 520,907 | | 819,085 | | 1,025,533 | 30% |
| Held due to employment | 61,433 | | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lives rent free | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 42,780 | | 6,356 | |
| Social renting | 484,992 | 18.2% | 872,449 | 34.8% | 799,167 | 28.9% | 790,371 | 26.2% | 785,993 | 24.1% | 790,958 | 23.1% |
| Total | 2,658,166 | 100% | 2,505,221 | 100% | 2,761,129 | 100% | 3,015,997 | 100% | 3,266,173 | 100% | 3,423,889 | 100% |

### Tenure by country of birth

2021 census tenure by country of birth :
| Country of birth | Owned | Owned | Privately renting | Privately renting | Social renting | Social renting |
| Country of birth | Households | % | Households | % | Households | % |
| Europe: United Kingdom: England | 956,436 | 57.1% | 317,375 | 19.0% | 400,222 | 23.9% |
| Europe: United Kingdom: Northern Ireland | 9,249 | 55.5% | 4,482 | 26.9% | 2,927 | 17.6% |
| Europe: United Kingdom: Scotland | 25,465 | 57.4% | 10,838 | 24.4% | 8,081 | 18.2% |
| Europe: United Kingdom: Wales | 16,209 | 64.2% | 6,165 | 24.4% | 2,874 | 11.4% |
| Europe: United Kingdom: Great Britain not otherwise specified | 21 | 33.3% | 15 | 23.8% | 27 | 42.9% |
| Europe: United Kingdom: United Kingdom not otherwise specified | 97 | 37.7% | 85 | 33.1% | 75 | 29.2% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Ireland | 30,748 | 52.1% | 12,380 | 21.0% | 15,879 | 26.9% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: France | 13,083 | 37.2% | 19,451 | 55.3% | 2,621 | 7.5% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Germany | 11,157 | 46.8% | 10,417 | 43.6% | 2,291 | 9.6% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Italy | 19,356 | 36.6% | 29,912 | 56.6% | 3,566 | 6.7% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) | 5,282 | 21.7% | 12,587 | 51.7% | 6,482 | 26.6% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Spain (including Canary Islands) | 7,483 | 29.7% | 15,014 | 59.6% | 2,675 | 10.6% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Member countries in March 2001: Other member countries in March 2001 | 15,637 | 37.2% | 23,300 | 55.5% | 3,071 | 7.3% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011: Lithuania | 4,516 | 23.5% | 12,316 | 64.0% | 2,416 | 12.6% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011: Poland | 16,179 | 24.7% | 41,925 | 63.9% | 7,475 | 11.4% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011: Romania | 7,524 | 13.2% | 47,171 | 82.7% | 2,351 | 4.1% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011: Other EU countries | 24,334 | 32.9% | 40,668 | 55.0% | 8,873 | 12.0% |
| Europe: Other Europe: EU countries: Countries that joined the EU between April 2011 and March 2021: Croatia | 982 | 37.2% | 1,124 | 42.5% | 536 | 20.3% |
| Europe: Other Europe: Rest of Europe: Turkey | 8,867 | 24.6% | 13,905 | 38.5% | 13,346 | 37.0% |
| Europe: Other Europe: Rest of Europe: Other Europe | 22,162 | 30.0% | 38,609 | 52.2% | 13,142 | 17.8% |
| Africa: North Africa | 8,080 | 22.6% | 12,762 | 35.7% | 14,880 | 41.7% |
| Africa: Central and Western Africa: Ghana | 9,366 | 25.0% | 9,814 | 26.2% | 18,269 | 48.8% |
| Africa: Central and Western Africa: Nigeria | 18,150 | 28.4% | 19,731 | 30.9% | 25,992 | 40.7% |
| Africa: Central and Western Africa: Other Central and Western Africa | 4,846 | 11.2% | 12,535 | 29.1% | 25,696 | 59.7% |
| Africa: South and Eastern Africa: Kenya | 22,667 | 75.4% | 3,564 | 11.9% | 3,833 | 12.7% |
| Africa: South and Eastern Africa: Somalia | 968 | 2.7% | 8,367 | 23.4% | 26,371 | 73.9% |
| Africa: South and Eastern Africa: South Africa | 12,381 | 48.9% | 11,002 | 43.5% | 1,934 | 7.6% |
| Africa: South and Eastern Africa: Zimbabwe | 3,405 | 36.6% | 3,246 | 34.9% | 2,645 | 28.5% |
| Africa: South and Eastern Africa: Other South and Eastern Africa | 27,493 | 42.5% | 11,893 | 18.4% | 25,251 | 39.1% |
| Africa: Africa not otherwise specified | 511 | 48.3% | 166 | 15.7% | 381 | 36.0% |
| Middle East and Asia: Middle East: Iran | 8,742 | 34.7% | 10,823 | 43.0% | 5,626 | 22.3% |
| Middle East and Asia: Middle East: Iraq | 4,575 | 27.8% | 6,617 | 40.2% | 5,261 | 32.0% |
| Middle East and Asia: Middle East: Other Middle East | 9,968 | 30.9% | 16,483 | 51.0% | 5,840 | 18.1% |
| Middle East and Asia: Eastern Asia: China | 12,700 | 50.3% | 10,363 | 41.1% | 2,170 | 8.6% |
| Middle East and Asia: Eastern Asia: Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | 9,597 | 61.6% | 4,802 | 30.8% | 1,184 | 7.6% |
| Middle East and Asia: Eastern Asia: Other Eastern Asia | 6,051 | 38.7% | 8,634 | 55.3% | 932 | 6.0% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: Afghanistan | 3,321 | 17.4% | 9,042 | 47.4% | 6,726 | 35.2% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: India | 74,556 | 57.0% | 47,241 | 36.1% | 8,964 | 6.9% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: Pakistan | 23,156 | 43.3% | 20,625 | 38.5% | 9,726 | 18.2% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: Bangladesh | 15,991 | 26.1% | 18,171 | 29.6% | 27,194 | 44.3% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: Sri Lanka | 18,435 | 49.3% | 13,811 | 37.0% | 5,125 | 13.7% |
| Middle East and Asia: Southern Asia: Other Southern Asia | 3,493 | 48.4% | 3,154 | 43.7% | 577 | 8.0% |
| Middle East and Asia: South-East Asia: Philippines | 7,381 | 31.8% | 10,239 | 44.1% | 5,581 | 24.1% |
| Middle East and Asia: South-East Asia: Malaysia | 6,654 | 64.8% | 2,768 | 26.9% | 851 | 8.3% |
| Middle East and Asia: South-East Asia: Singapore | 2,942 | 59.5% | 1,682 | 34.0% | 320 | 6.5% |
| Middle East and Asia: South-East Asia: Other South-East Asia | 6,848 | 38.6% | 4,961 | 28.0% | 5,937 | 33.5% |
| Middle East and Asia: Central Asia | 818 | 31.0% | 1,500 | 56.8% | 321 | 12.2% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: North America: United States | 12,397 | 41.1% | 16,279 | 54.0% | 1,464 | 4.9% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: North America: Canada | 5,223 | 47.3% | 5,296 | 48.0% | 522 | 4.7% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: North America: Other North America | 172 | 32.8% | 309 | 58.9% | 44 | 8.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: Central America: All Central American countries | 1,051 | 30.1% | 2,145 | 61.5% | 294 | 8.4% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: South America: All South American countries | 15,468 | 23.7% | 37,044 | 56.8% | 12,693 | 19.5% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: The Caribbean: Jamaica | 18,376 | 36.0% | 7,625 | 14.9% | 25,010 | 49.0% |
| The Americas and the Caribbean: The Caribbean: Other Caribbean | 13,724 | 42.4% | 5,723 | 17.7% | 12,895 | 39.9% |
| Antarctica and Oceania: Australasia: Australia | 10,400 | 46.7% | 11,061 | 49.7% | 798 | 3.6% |
| Antarctica and Oceania: Australasia: New Zealand | 5,641 | 53.6% | 4,364 | 41.4% | 525 | 5.0% |
| Antarctica and Oceania: Australasia: Other Australasia | 5 | 45.5% | 5 | 45.5% | 1 | 9.1% |
| Antarctica and Oceania: Other Oceania and Antarctica | 695 | 58.4% | 305 | 25.6% | 190 | 16.0% |
| Other | 7 | 58.3% | 1 | 8.3% | 4 | 33.3% |

## Education
### Level of qualification

| Level of qualification | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) | London (aged 16 and over, not in education) |
| Level of qualification | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Level of qualification | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| No qualifications | 1,257,929 | 23.7% | 1,152,517 | 17.6% | 1,151,250 | 16.2% |
| Level 1 and entry level qualifications | 689,228 | 13.0% | 702,687 | 10.7% | 545,269 | 7.7% |
| Level 2 qualifications | 904,205 | 17.1% | 775,928 | 11.8% | 707,518 | 10.0% |
| Apprenticeship | – | – | 107,665 | 1.6% | 227,622 | 3.2% |
| Level 3 qualifications | 518,624 | 9.8% | 685,508 | 10.5% | 937,875 | 13.2% |
| Level 4 qualifications or above | 1,642,467 | 31.0% | 2,470,225 | 37.7% | 3,316,829 | 46.7% |
| Other qualifications | 287,879 | 5.4% | 654,643 | 10.0% | 217,622 | 3.1% |
| Total | 5,300,332 | 100% | 6,549,173 | 100% | 7,103,985 | 100% |