Home / Business and Economy / London's Population Shrinks for First Time Since 2021
London's Population Shrinks for First Time Since 2021
29 Jul
Summary
- London's population decreased by 0.3% in 2025.
- 23 out of 33 London boroughs experienced population decline.
- Net migration to the UK fell sharply from previous highs.
London's population experienced a decline of 0.3% in 2025, marking the first decrease since 2021. This trend saw 23 out of the capital's 33 boroughs shrinking in population. Camden and Westminster recorded the most significant percentage drops in England and Wales.
The overall population of England and Wales grew by 0.4% to 62 million in mid-2025. However, this was the lowest annual growth rate since 2020. Net international migration to the UK fell sharply to 211,700 in the year to mid-2025, down from 612,500.
While London experienced more births than deaths and positive net international migration, these were outweighed by residents moving to other parts of the UK. Natural population change also saw a slight reduction, with births at their lowest since mid-1978.
