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People and census in Tower Hamlets

London borough

East London. 334,240 people in 20 square kilometres, the most densely populated council in the UK.

24 layers about people and census for Tower Hamlets, 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

Tower Hamlets’s 913 output areas range from 102 to 937.

What is the population of Tower Hamlets?

Tower Hamlets had 310,306 usual residents at the census.

Tower Hamlets is the 48th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Population

Council
310,306
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Tower Hamlets had 310,306 usual residents at the census.

Tower Hamlets is the 48th most populated of 361 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 2,053 to 1,144,919. The middle area is 143,926. Tower Hamlets is 310,306.

Population estimate

Council
334,240
ONS population estimates · 2025

Tower Hamlets’s population was an estimated 334,240 in mid-2025.

The population fell 0.6% in the year to mid-2025.

Tower Hamlets is 41st most populated of 361 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 2,299 to 1,176,960. The middle area is 148,772. Tower Hamlets is 334,240.

Aged 15 to 64

Council
76.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

76.9% of residents in Tower Hamlets were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In London the figure is 70.0%.

Against London
10% higher70.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 53.9% to 79.6%. The middle area is 62.8%. Tower Hamlets is 76.9%.

Aged 65 and over

Council
5.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

5.6% of residents in Tower Hamlets were aged 65 or over at the census.

In London the figure is 11.9%.

Against London
53% lower11.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 5.6% to 33.5%. The middle area is 19.7%. Tower Hamlets is 5.6%.

Aged under 15

Council
17.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.4% of residents in Tower Hamlets were aged under 15 at the census.

In London the figure is 18.1%.

Against London
4% lower18.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 6.4% to 24.6%. The middle area is 16.9%. Tower Hamlets is 17.4%.

Born outside the UK

Council
46.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

46.8% of residents in Tower Hamlets were born outside the UK.

In London the figure is 40.6%.

Against London
15% higher40.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 2.6% to 56.1%. The middle area is 9.9%. Tower Hamlets is 46.8%.

Disability

Council
12.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

12.9% of residents in Tower Hamlets had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In London the figure is 13.2%.

Against London
2% lower13.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 10.7% to 29.3%. The middle area is 18.5%. Tower Hamlets is 12.9%.

Good or very good health

Council
85.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

85.1% of residents in Tower Hamlets said their health was good or very good.

In London the figure is 85.4%.

Against London
About the same85.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 73.6% to 89.3%. The middle area is 81.7%. Tower Hamlets is 85.1%.

Households

Council
120,539
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

Tower Hamlets had 120,539 households at the census.

Tower Hamlets is 56th highest of 361 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 942 to 423,456. The middle area is 60,932. Tower Hamlets is 120,539.

Households without a car or van

Council
66.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

66.4% of households in Tower Hamlets had no car or van at the census.

In London the figure is 42.1%.

Against London
1.6 times42.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 7.8% to 77.2%. The middle area is 18.6%. Tower Hamlets is 66.4%.

Owner-occupied homes

Council
25.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

25.7% of households in Tower Hamlets owned their home at the census.

In London the figure is 46.8%.

Against London
45% lower46.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 25.7% to 82.6%. The middle area is 67.3%. Tower Hamlets is 25.7%.

Population density

Council
15,696 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

Tower Hamlets had 15,696 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
2.8 times5,593 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 8 per km² to 15,696 per km². The middle area is 568 per km². Tower Hamlets is 15,696 per km².

Private rented homes

Council
38.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

38.2% of households in Tower Hamlets rented privately at the census.

In London the figure is 30.0%.

Against London
27% higher30.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 5.7% to 48.3%. The middle area is 17.3%. Tower Hamlets is 38.2%.

Social rented homes

Council
35.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

35.9% of households in Tower Hamlets rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In London the figure is 23.1%.

Against London
1.6 times23.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from 5.5% to 40.5%. The middle area is 14.6%. Tower Hamlets is 35.9%.

Degree-level qualifications

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
50.3%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

50.3% of residents aged 16 and over in Tower Hamlets had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In London the figure is 46.7%.

Against London
8% higher46.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: Tower Hamlets among every council329 areas from 18.2% to 74.2%. The middle area is 31.8%. Tower Hamlets is 50.3%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

CouncilEngland and Wales only
44.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.4% of residents in Tower Hamlets identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In London the figure is 20.7%.

Against London
2.1 times20.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 0.3% to 47.3%. The middle area is 3.6%. Tower Hamlets is 44.4%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

CouncilEngland and Wales only
7.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

7.3% of residents in Tower Hamlets identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In London the figure is 13.5%.

Against London
46% lower13.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 0.1% to 26.8%. The middle area is 1.1%. Tower Hamlets is 7.3%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
5.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

5.0% of residents in Tower Hamlets identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In London the figure is 5.7%.

Against London
12% lower5.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 0.7% to 8.1%. The middle area is 2.2%. Tower Hamlets is 5.0%.

Other ethnic group

CouncilEngland and Wales only
3.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

3.9% of residents in Tower Hamlets identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In London the figure is 6.3%.

Against London
38% lower6.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 0.2% to 13.5%. The middle area is 0.9%. Tower Hamlets is 3.9%.

White ethnic groups

CouncilEngland and Wales only
39.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

39.4% of residents in Tower Hamlets identified with a White ethnic group.

In London the figure is 53.8%.

Against London
27% lower53.8%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 30.8% to 98.2%. The middle area is 92.2%. Tower Hamlets is 39.4%.

Christian

CouncilEngland and Wales only
22.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

22.3% of residents in Tower Hamlets said they were Christian.

In London the figure is 40.7%.

Against London
45% lower40.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 22.3% to 66.6%. The middle area is 47.9%. Tower Hamlets is 22.3%.

No religion

CouncilEngland and Wales only
26.6%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

26.6% of residents in Tower Hamlets said they had no religion.

In London the figure is 27.1%.

Against London
2% lower27.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 56.7%. The middle area is 39.9%. Tower Hamlets is 26.6%.

Working mainly from home

CouncilEngland and Wales only
50.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

50.3% of working residents in Tower Hamlets worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In London the figure is 42.1%.

Against London
19% higher42.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: Tower Hamlets among every council318 areas from 10.6% to 67.3%. The middle area is 29.6%. Tower Hamlets is 50.3%.

Annual population change

Council
−0.6%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

Tower Hamlets’s estimated population changed by −0.6% 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: Tower Hamlets among every council361 areas from −3.5% to 2.4%. The middle area is 0.4%. Tower Hamlets is −0.6%.