London’s population rises

London’s population has hit a total of eight million according to the statistics for the 2011 census, 12 per cent over the previous census in 2001.

This is considerably higher than the average seven per cent increase in the over-all population of the UK in the decade from 2001-2011.

The number of people living in London has increased by 850,000 in the last ten years, about 400,000 more than was anticipated by the unofficial estimates made in 2010.

According to the figures the local authorities in London with the highest increases in population have some of the lowest incomes. For example Tower Hamlets, to the east of the City, has seen a 26.6 per cent rise in its population. However in Kensington and Chelsea, one of the wealthiest areas of the city, the population has gone down.

Census day was 27 March 2011 and the rise of seven per cent in the overall population of the UK is the highest since census figures were first collected in 1801. The increase is attributed both to immigration and to the fact that people are living longer.