London population grows by 7.7% according to census
Tower Hamlets' population grew 22.1% in the last decade, the biggest increase in England
The population of London has increased by 7.7% over the last decade according to data from the 2021 Census which has been released today.
The data also shows London's population has got a bit older and that the number of people living here who were born outside the UK has also gone up
Whilst the number of people overall went up, Tower Hamlets saw the largest percentage growth in population in the entire of England, increasing 22.1% between 2011 and 2021. Dartford was second highest in England, increasing 20.0%.
According to the census, Tower Hamlets is the most densely populated of London's 33 local authority areas, with around 112 people living on each football pitch-sized area of land.
At the other end of the scale, some London areas have seen their populations decline.
Kensington and Chelsea had an estimated population of 143,400 in 2021, which was around 15,200 fewer than in 2011 - a decrease of 9.6%.
More than 4 in 10 usual residents in London were non-UK born
The latest data shows that London has the largest proportion of people born outside the UK and the largest proportion of people with non-UK passports.
In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (40.6%) usual residents in London were non-UK born, an increase from 36.7% in 2011.
More than 1 in 5 people in London (23.3%) had a non-UK passport, an increase from 21% a decade ago.
London is getting older
The new census data has also shown that the population in London is getting older as most people are now in the 30-34 age bracket, whereas ten years ago most people were aged 25-29.
Commenting on the new figures, census deputy director Jon Wroth-Smith said:
"The census paints a picture of how the make-up of the population has changed in the past decade. That decade, of course, saw us leave the EU as well as live with the pandemic.
"While these events may have had an impact on people's decisions or ability to migrate or travel at a given time, the census tells us about the change over the whole decade - who was living here in March 2021, compared with March 2011."