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People and census in Southwark

London borough

Central London. 312,366 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 29 square kilometres, the 7th most densely populated council in the UK.

24 layers about people and census for Southwark, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

Southwark’s 959 output areas range from 102 to 1,025.

What is the population of Southwark?

Southwark had 307,637 usual residents at the census.

Southwark is the 51st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
307,637
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Southwark had 307,637 usual residents at the census.

Southwark is the 51st most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Southwark among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Southwark is 307,637.

Population estimate

Council
312,366
ONS population estimates · 2025

Southwark’s population was an estimated 312,366 in mid-2025.

The population fell 1.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Southwark is 54th most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Southwark among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Southwark is 312,366.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
75.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

75.9% of residents in Southwark were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In London the figure is 70.0%.

Against London
8% higher70.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Southwark among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Southwark is 75.9%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
8.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

8.3% of residents in Southwark were aged 65 or over at the census.

In London the figure is 11.9%.

Against London
30% lower11.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Southwark among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Southwark is 8.3%.

Aged under 15

Council
15.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.8% of residents in Southwark were aged under 15 at the census.

In London the figure is 18.1%.

Against London
13% lower18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Southwark among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Southwark is 15.8%.

Born outside the UK

Council
40.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

40.7% of residents in Southwark were born outside the UK.

In London the figure is 40.6%.

Against London
About the same40.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Southwark among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Southwark is 40.7%.

Disability

Council
13.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.7% of residents in Southwark had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In London the figure is 13.2%.

Against London
4% higher13.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Southwark among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Southwark is 13.7%.

Good or very good health

Council
86.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

86.1% of residents in Southwark said their health was good or very good.

In London the figure is 85.4%.

Against London
1% higher85.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Southwark among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Southwark is 86.1%.

Households

Council
130,818
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Southwark had 130,818 households at the census.

Southwark is 43rd highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Southwark among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Southwark is 130,818.

Households without a car or van

Council
60.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

60.3% of households in Southwark had no car or van at the census.

In London the figure is 42.1%.

Against London
43% higher42.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Southwark among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Southwark is 60.3%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
31.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

31.3% of households in Southwark owned their home at the census.

In London the figure is 46.8%.

Against London
33% lower46.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Southwark among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Southwark is 31.3%.

Population density

Council
10,652 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Southwark had 10,652 people per square kilometre at the census.

In London the figure is 5,593 per km².

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

Against London
1.9 times5,593 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Southwark among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Southwark is 10,652 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
28.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

28.7% of households in Southwark rented privately at the census.

In London the figure is 30.0%.

Against London
4% lower30.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Southwark among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Southwark is 28.7%.

Social rented homes

Council
39.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

39.7% of households in Southwark rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In London the figure is 23.1%.

Against London
1.7 times23.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Southwark among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Southwark is 39.7%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
54.9%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

54.9% of residents aged 16 and over in Southwark had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In London the figure is 46.7%.

Against London
18% higher46.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Southwark among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Southwark is 54.9%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
9.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

9.9% of residents in Southwark identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In London the figure is 20.7%.

Against London
52% lower20.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Southwark among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Southwark is 9.9%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
25.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

25.1% of residents in Southwark identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In London the figure is 13.5%.

Against London
1.9 times13.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Southwark among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Southwark is 25.1%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
7.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

7.2% of residents in Southwark identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In London the figure is 5.7%.

Against London
26% higher5.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Southwark among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Southwark is 7.2%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
6.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

6.3% of residents in Southwark identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In London the figure is 6.3%.

Against London
About the same6.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Southwark among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Southwark is 6.3%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
51.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

51.4% of residents in Southwark identified with a White ethnic group.

In London the figure is 53.8%.

Against London
4% lower53.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Southwark among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Southwark is 51.4%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
43.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

43.3% of residents in Southwark said they were Christian.

In London the figure is 40.7%.

Against London
6% higher40.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Southwark among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Southwark is 43.3%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
36.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

36.4% of residents in Southwark said they had no religion.

In London the figure is 27.1%.

Against London
34% higher27.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Southwark among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Southwark is 36.4%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
48.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

48.4% of working residents in Southwark worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In London the figure is 42.1%.

Against London
15% higher42.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Southwark among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Southwark is 48.4%.

Annual population change

Council
−1.5%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Southwark’s estimated population changed by −1.5% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: Southwark among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Southwark is −1.5%.