s outhwark census 2021 r esuLts: t he borough exp L ained in ten facts

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

The 2021 Census was conducted in March 2021 and its findings are gradually being shared by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Censuses take place every ten years and give us a picture of who lives in the UK, and what life is like for them.

The ONS has gathered the data to create an ‘area profile’ of Southwark and here are some of its findings.

2011 when a figure of 8 per cent was recorded.

3. there are Still more women than men

51.6 per cent (158,722 individuals) of the population is female compared to 48.4 per cent (148,878 individuals) who are male.

This corresponds very closely to the national picture, which shows the UK has 51 per cent female and 49 per cent male inhabitants. In 2011, 49.5 per cent of the population was male compared to the 50.5 per cent that was female.

4. we’re well-travelled

1. PoPulation growth iS Slowing

There are 307,600 people living in Southwark, compared to 288,300 ten years ago – that’s a 19,300 and 6.3 per cent increase.

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A STAggeriNg 40.7 per cent of the population was not born in the UKthat’s compared to just 17.4 per cent nationally.

Just 59.3 per cent of the population was born on UK shores, compared to 82.6 per cent nationally.

7. we’re high achiever S

COM pA red TO the general population, Southwark has a higher proportion of people at the top echelons of their profession.

However, there are fewer small business owners compared to in the rest of country, as well as more students and long-term unemployed.

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But between 2001 and 2011, there was a staggering 31,600 person increase, up by 12.3 per cent, from 256,700 to 288,300.This is still higher than population growth nationally (6.6 per cent), but dwarfed by increases in neighbouring boroughs Tower Hamlets (22.1 per cent) and the City (16.6 per cent).

2. we are young

The MOST prevalent age range in Southwark is 25 to 29, making up 12.4 per cent of residents compared to just 6.6 per cent nationally. This was approximately the same as it was ten years ago when they made up roughly 12 per cent of Southwark’s residents.

65s and over made up 8.4 per cent of the population in 2021, roughly the same as in

5. more PeoPle are identifying aS

multi-ethnic

Fewer peOple identified as ethnically black or white but there was an increase in multi-ethnic identities and ‘other’ ethnic groups. In 2011, 54 per cent of people identified as white but this is now down to 51.4 per cent.

Likewise, in 2011, 27 per cent of people identified as black, African, Caribbean or black British - but that is now down to 25.1 per cent. Conversley, the number of people identifying as being from mixed or multiple ethnic groups rose from 6 per cent in 2011 to 7.2 per cent in 2021.

There are also more people ticking the box for ‘other’ ethnic groups - up from 3 per cent in 2011 to 6.3 per cent in 2021.

6. atheiStS abound

Fewer peOple are subscribing to the major religions, with a staggering 36.4 per cent stating they had no religion in 2021.

This is a significant increase from 2011, when just 29 per cent of people stated they were not religious.

Christianity is declining noticeably, with believers down from 53 per cent in 2011 to 43 per cent in 2021. Buddhism (1 per cent), Hinduism (1.1 per cent) and Islam (9.6 per cent) all stayed roughly the same compared to 2021.

8. Staying Single

60 per cent of residents have never married or been in a civil partnership - that’s way over the 38 per cent national figure.

Only 27 per cent are married or in a civil partnership, compared to 44.7 per cent nationally.

There are also fewer widows and widowers - making up just 2.9 per cent compared to 6.1 per cent across the UK.

9. PeoPle are living alone

S OUT hwA r K re S ide NTS are more likely to live on their own - 33.1 per cent of people compared to 30.1 per cent nationally.

Across the borough, there are also fewer people living in multi-occupant properties compared to the rest of the country.

10. dePrivation iS Still a Problem

32 per cent of households are deprived in some way - very close to the 33.5 per cent national figure. A household can be described as deprived for any number of reasons, including long-term poor health, unemployment, overcrowding or lack of education.

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Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper. It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn.

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