# People and census in Waltham Forest North east London. 283,713 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 39 square kilometres. 24 layers about people and census for Waltham Forest, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source. In: [London](https://openindex.co.uk/london) ## What is the population of Waltham Forest? Waltham Forest had 278,426 usual residents at the census. Waltham Forest is the 65th most populated of 361 in the UK. ## Population Waltham Forest: **278,426** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Waltham Forest had 278,426 usual residents at the census. Waltham Forest is the 65th most populated of 361 in the UK. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-population ## Population estimate Waltham Forest: **283,713** (2025, council level). Source: ONS population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Waltham Forest’s population was an estimated 283,713 in mid-2025. The population held steady in the year to mid-2025. Waltham Forest is 68th most populated of 361 for population. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-estimate?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-estimate) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-estimate/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-population-estimate ## Aged 15 to 64 Waltham Forest: **70.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 70.8% of residents in Waltham Forest were aged 15 to 64 at the census. In London the figure is 70.0%. - Against London: 1% higher (70.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-15-to-64?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-15-to-64) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-15-to-64/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-age-15-to-64 ## Aged 65 and over Waltham Forest: **10.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 10.2% of residents in Waltham Forest were aged 65 or over at the census. In London the figure is 11.9%. - Against London: 14% lower (11.9%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-65-and-over?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-65-and-over) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-65-and-over/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-age-65-and-over ## Aged under 15 Waltham Forest: **19.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 19.0% of residents in Waltham Forest were aged under 15 at the census. In London the figure is 18.1%. - Against London: 5% higher (18.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/age-under-15?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/age-under-15) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/age-under-15/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-age-under-15 ## Born outside the UK Waltham Forest: **38.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 38.6% of residents in Waltham Forest were born outside the UK. In London the figure is 40.6%. - Against London: 5% lower (40.6%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/born-outside-uk?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/born-outside-uk) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/born-outside-uk/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-born-outside-uk ## Disability Waltham Forest: **13.2%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 13.2% of residents in Waltham Forest had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability. In London the figure is 13.2%. - Against London: About the same (13.2%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/disability?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/disability) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/disability/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-disability ## Good or very good health Waltham Forest: **85.0%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 85.0% of residents in Waltham Forest said their health was good or very good. In London the figure is 85.4%. - Against London: About the same (85.4%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/good-health?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/good-health) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/good-health/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-good-health ## Households Waltham Forest: **102,901** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. Waltham Forest had 102,901 households at the census. Waltham Forest is 85th highest of 361 for the number of households. [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/households?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/households) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/households/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-households ## Households without a car or van Waltham Forest: **42.1%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 42.1% of households in Waltham Forest had no car or van at the census. In London the figure is 42.1%. - Against London: About the same (42.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-car-or-van?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-car-or-van) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-car-or-van/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-no-car-or-van ## Owner-occupied homes Waltham Forest: **50.6%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 50.6% of households in Waltham Forest owned their home at the census. In London the figure is 46.8%. - Against London: 8% higher (46.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/owner-occupied?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/owner-occupied) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/owner-occupied/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-owner-occupied ## Population density Waltham Forest: **7,174 per km²** (2021, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place. Published 21 July 2026. Waltham Forest had 7,174 people per square kilometre at the census. In London the figure is 5,593 per km². - Against London: 28% higher (5,593 per km²) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-density?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-density) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-density/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-population-density ## Private rented homes Waltham Forest: **27.8%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 27.8% of households in Waltham Forest rented privately at the census. In London the figure is 30.0%. - Against London: 7% lower (30.0%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/private-rented?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/private-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/private-rented/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-private-rented ## Social rented homes Waltham Forest: **21.5%** (2021, council level). Source: ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 21 July 2026. 21.5% of households in Waltham Forest rented from a council or housing association at the census. In London the figure is 23.1%. - Against London: 7% lower (23.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/social-rented?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/social-rented) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/social-rented/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-social-rented ## Degree-level qualifications Waltham Forest: **43.2%** (2021, council level, England, Wales and Northern Ireland only). Source: ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 43.2% of residents aged 16 and over in Waltham Forest had a degree-level qualification at the census. In London the figure is 46.7%. - Against London: 7% lower (46.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/degree-level-qualifications?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/degree-level-qualifications) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/degree-level-qualifications/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-degree-level-qualifications ## Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh Waltham Forest: **19.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 19.9% of residents in Waltham Forest identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group. In London the figure is 20.7%. - Against London: 4% lower (20.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-asian?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-asian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-asian/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-ethnic-group-asian ## Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African Waltham Forest: **15.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 15.0% of residents in Waltham Forest identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group. In London the figure is 13.5%. - Against London: 11% higher (13.5%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-black?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-black) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-black/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-ethnic-group-black ## Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups Waltham Forest: **6.5%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 6.5% of residents in Waltham Forest identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group. In London the figure is 5.7%. - Against London: 14% higher (5.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-mixed?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-mixed) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-mixed/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-ethnic-group-mixed ## Other ethnic group Waltham Forest: **5.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 5.8% of residents in Waltham Forest identified with another ethnic group, including Arab. In London the figure is 6.3%. - Against London: 8% lower (6.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-other?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-other) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-other/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-ethnic-group-other ## White ethnic groups Waltham Forest: **52.8%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 52.8% of residents in Waltham Forest identified with a White ethnic group. In London the figure is 53.8%. - Against London: 2% lower (53.8%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/ethnic-group-white?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/ethnic-group-white) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/ethnic-group-white/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-ethnic-group-white ## Christian Waltham Forest: **39.0%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 39.0% of residents in Waltham Forest said they were Christian. In London the figure is 40.7%. - Against London: 4% lower (40.7%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/christian?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/christian) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/christian/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-religion-christian ## No religion Waltham Forest: **27.9%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 27.9% of residents in Waltham Forest said they had no religion. In London the figure is 27.1%. - Against London: 3% higher (27.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/no-religion?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/no-religion) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/no-religion/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-religion-none ## Working mainly from home Waltham Forest: **37.6%** (2021, council level, England and Wales only). Source: ONS Census 2021. Published 19 January 2023. 37.6% of working residents in Waltham Forest worked mainly from home in March 2021. In London the figure is 42.1%. - Against London: 11% lower (42.1%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/work-from-home?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/work-from-home) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/work-from-home/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-work-from-home ## Annual population change Waltham Forest: **0.0%** (2025, council level). Source: Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates. Published 1 October 2026. Waltham Forest’s estimated population changed by 0.0% in the year to mid-2025. - Against the UK: 100% lower (0.3%) [Map](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population-change?place=E09000031) · [Source and method](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population-change) · [Ranking](https://openindex.co.uk/rankings/population-change/london) · https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-population-estimate-change-1y ## More on this place - [Overview](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest) - [Housing](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/housing) (17) - [Crime](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/crime) (13) - [Deprivation](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/deprivation) (8) - [Health](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/health) (4) - [Education](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/education) (2) - [Environment](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/environment) (9) - [Transport](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/transport) (4) - [Connectivity](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/connectivity) (5) - [Planning](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/planning) (3) - [Economy](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/economy) (4) - [Council tax](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/council-tax) (10) - [Elections](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/elections) (7) - [Local services](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/services) (3) - [Sources](https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/sources) (28) The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/E09000031/data?family=people ## How to cite Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people#l-population. Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it. Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/waltham-forest/people