Facts and Figures
When using any of our statistics please reference Age UK London.
Population
There are currently over 2.4 million people aged 50+ living in London. There are just over 1 million people aged over 65 and that number is expected to grow to 1.2 million by 2024 – an increase of 22% in 10 years. There are 140,000 people aged over 85 in London, and that is expected to increase to 180,000 over 85 by 2024, which is a 38% increase in 10 years.
Diversity
London’s older population is very diverse; for instance, of London’s nearly 1 million population aged 65+, 22% are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities while 37% were born outside of the UK.
Opening Doors London estimate there are 100,000 older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in London.
Older Londoners speak a broad range of languages and follow a wide variety of faiths and beliefs.
Economic Situation
While many older Londoners do have enough money to live on, many live in poverty. National statistics in 2015 showed 23% of older people in Inner London living in poverty after housing costs and 26% living in material deprivation. Poverty for older people in London as a whole was above the national average. There are reasons to fear poverty and inequality among older Londoners may increase.
Contribution of Older Londoners
The 2013 GLA report ‘The Economic Contribution of Older Londoners’ found that the paid work of those aged 50+ in London contributed £47billion annually to London’s economy, which is a huge contribution to the capital. It also stated that Londoners aged 65+ contributed £6.3 billion annually to London’s economy through paid work, volunteering, as carers and looking after grandchildren.
It is vital to highlight and celebrate the contribution made to active communities in the capital. What can’t be captured by data are the experiences, knowledge, dynamism and energy that London’s older population brings to the city, all of which are an invaluable contribution to the capital.
London population by borough
Source: Census 2011
London Borough |
Population 50+ |
%50+ |
% Female 50+ |
% Male 50+ |
Population 65+ |
| Barking and Dagenham | 43,700 | 24% | 54% | 46% | 19,200 |
| Barnet | 102,700 | 29% | 54% | 46% | 47,400 |
| Bexley | 77,800 | 34% | 54% | 46% | 47,900 |
| Brent | 77,800 | 25% | 52% | 48% | 32,600 |
| Bromley | 108,200 | 35% | 54% | 46% | 51,900 |
| Camden | 53,500 | 24% | 53% | 47% | 24,100 |
| City of London | 2,400 | 32% | 50% | 50% | 1,000 |
| Croydon | 103,500 | 29% | 54% | 46% | 44,500 |
| Ealing | 86,100 | 25% | 53% | 46% | 36,300 |
| Enfield | 86,600 | 28% | 54% | 46% | 39,000 |
| Greenwich | 61,300 | 24% | 53% | 47% | 26,000 |
| Hackney | 44,800 | 18% | 52% | 48% | 17,300 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 38,900 | 21% | 54% | 46% | 16,400 |
| Haringey | 55,900 | 22% | 54% | 46% | 22,500 |
| Harrow | 73,900 | 31% | 55% | 45% | 33,600 |
| Havering | 87,000 | 37% | 54% | 46% | 42,400 |
| Hillingdon | 78,000 | 29% | 52% | 48% | 35,200 |
| Hounslow | 64,500 | 25% | 53% | 47% | 26,900 |
| Islington | 43,400 | 21% | 53% | 47% | 18,100 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 44,700 | 28% | 54% | 46% | 19,300 |
| Kingston upon Thames | 45,800 | 29% | 53% | 47% | 20,300 |
| Lambeth | 59,000 | 20% | 53% | 47% | 23,100 |
| Lewisham | 63,300 | 23% | 54% | 56% | 26,200 |
| Merton | 52,600 | 26% | 54% | 46% | 23,200 |
| Newham | 54,500 | 18% | 53% | 47% | 20,400 |
| Redbridge | 76,400 | 27% | 54% | 47% | 33,400 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 57,100 | 31% | 57% | 43% | 25,200 |
| Southwark | 58,500 | 20% | 56% | 44% | 22,400 |
| Sutton | 60,000 | 32% | 53% | 47% | 27,300 |
| Tower Hamlets | 39,100 | 15% | 51% | 49% | 15,800 |
| Waltham Forest | 61,100 | 24% | 54% | 46% | 25,600 |
| Wandsworth | 63,200 | 21% | 54% | 46% | 27,100 |
| Westminster | 55,100 | 25% | 52% | 48% | 24,400 |