Key population statistics for London and it's sub-regions
| Region | Total population | Population change | Population per km2 | % BME | % not UK-born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London sub-region: Central | 1,564,700 | +13% | 12,129 | 38% | 41% |
| London sub-region: East | 2,836,800 | +16% | 6,154 | 45% | 34% |
| London sub-region: North | 996,600 | +12% | 2,162 | 37% | 38% |
| London sub-region: South | 1,629,100 | +9% | 4,188 | 30% | 28% |
| London sub-region: West | 1,880,800 | +9% | 4,774 | 48% | 42% |
| London | 8,908,000 | +12% | 5,667 | 41% | 36% |
| Rest of England | 47,069,200 | +7% | 366 | 11% | 11% |
Data source: Mid-year population estimates (2018), Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality, Annual Population Survey (2018), ONS. Ethnic group populations from Annual Population Survey ONS, via London Datastore
The size of London’s population has changed dramatically over the past century; falling from a pre-Second World War high of 8.6 million people in 1939 to around 6.8 million in the 1980s. The fall was most pronounced in Inner London, which saw its population reduce by almost half over 50 years.
London’s population has been recovering since the early 1990s and hit a new high of 9 million in 2019. In a reversal of the mid-20th Century trend, both Inner and Outer London have been growing steadily, although Inner London is still a million people short of its population in 1931. By 2030, London’s population is expected to increase, but at a slower rate, with a total population of 9.4 million.