London, one of the most historic, famous and important cities in the world, has seen growth with empire, industrial revolution, decline in plague, war and colonial resettlement. This article provides statistics gathered from various sources showing the populations and size of London. It will show at first the figures of today’s size, but after illustrate the expansion of “London”.
Today, London is the 37th most populous city in the world, according to www.worldpopulationreview.com. However, with its population of c. 9.840million people, is the 8th most populous western city, and it is 3rd most populous Anglophone (primarily English speaking) after Greater Los Angeles (c.12.9 million) and New York (c.19.1 million).
You may have noticed the emphasis of “Greater” Los and Angeles and New York. Statistics vary significantly between the central cities and their greater metropolitan areas, as it does with London!
First of all, London can be defined in at least 3 different ways:
What is London?
- Historic London: London historically is what is now referred to now as the City of London or the “Square Mile”. This area, is roughly 1.12 miles squared, and has a population of c.8,600 residents. This is area that used to be surrounded by the London wall (previous Roman Londinum, Lundenbruh or Lundenberg), separate to Lundenwic (now Covent Garden, inside Westminster), and the City of Westminster. Traditionally, a “cockney”, is someone born hear-reach of the Bow Bells of St Mary Le Bow Church – so therefore inside the City of London: NOT the Bow Church in Bow. Crucially, the City of London is completely separate – though an enclave inside of – Greater London: the former having the City of London Police, run by the Corporation of London and the Lord Mayor; the latter policed by the Metropolitan Police., and run by the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London.
- Central London: Central London can be defined in multiple ways, but the clearest way of defining this the central sphere for tourism, commercial and government sectors. Typically between Kensington to Tower Hamlets, Islington to Southwark (West-End, North to South). Because of the subjective nature of defining its population, it is fair to suggest the population has a range of 350,000-2 million. The number is wide because it is hard to define at what point residential boroughs in Central London are no longer “Central London”, so because of its, it is hard to provide a real answer.
- Greater London: Greater London over its 32 boroughs (Greater London) and the City of London (combined geographically and generally) has 9.84 million residents, and spans an area of over c.607 square miles. Greater London has expanded significantly over the course of history, especially over the last 200 years.
Historical context and development – population over the years
Establishment of London: Londinium – 1st Century 43AD until c. third century – 30,000 – 60,000 residents by 100AD, but not certain on figures until that point
Decline of Roman Londinium (c.400AD) – the population is believed to have declined to around 10,000 before being sacked after Roman forced and voluntary evacuation and exodus back to Rome
500-700AD – London is believed to have been mostly uninhabited, however, Anglo-Saxons increasingly settled in Ludenwic (area of Covent Garden and Strand in Westminster, outside of the City of London), and inside the old Roman Walls, the current City of London (Lundenbruh)
800AD – London was subjected to increasing numbers of Viking raids, including by the Great Heathen Army around 865AD, the population is estimated to have been c.8000
1000AD – The population is largely concentrated inside the old Roman walls, the population inside the area of the City of London: c.1000
1100AD – As a main Norman city after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the population is around 15,000 (mostly believed to have been inside the old walls)
1200AD – The population grows immensely to c.25,000. Residents begin to expand outside of the City walls. Most of the residents of Westminster are primarily that of the aristocracy, however expansion continues else.
1300AD – With expansion, the population between the City of London, Westminster and Southwark grows to approximately 80,000 residents. It is uncertain how many of these people live inside the City of London, but it is likely the majority of residents were here.
1400AD – Because of the first of the “Great” Plagues, the Black Death (1349) kills c.50% of the population of London, reducing its population to c.40,000
1500AD – With recovery, and a growth of early-modern merchant classes, the population increases to c.75,000
1600AD – The population greatly expanded to c.200,000 within the City of London, Westminster and the sub-urbs of London. As the City of London is confined to the walls, it is difficult to ascertain the population inside of the City, however the sub-urbs that would later merge to form Greater London begin to play a significant role in London’s residential expansion.
1700AD – The population expands much more significantly, to over half a million (c.575,000). This is regardless of the Great Plagues and the Great Fire of London (1666) – of which many fortunately were spared, and fled the cities devastation. Many people develop the areas of East London, noted by the river. The River Thames with its docks becomes a significant part of the British Empire and trade, so therefore the imperial implications of British Empire becomes to manifest in earnest within London.
1800AD – Over 1,000,000 people live in London when the first UK Census is taken in 1801. London, as the metropole of the world’s what will become the world’s largest empire benefits with the burgeoning trade it conducts internationally. Suburbs continue to grow as well as Westminster and Southwark. More of the middling classes move into the new aristocratic owned developments in Westminster, leading to the growth of Westminster’s residential population (from aristocracy to middling classes, it becomes a primary residential area).
Note: in 1851, Waller shows that 24.8% of British people live in towns with 100k+ populations, whereas 46% live in rural conditions.
1900AD – Over 6,000,000 million people (estimated 6.5 million) live in London. After the creation and expansion of the the Metropolitan Line and subsequent Underground lines, suburbanisation becomes an integral part of London’s development. Settlements considered outside of Central London are connected through the lines. With the empire nearing its height, the corresponding population of London symbolises and demonstrates the empire’s size (the largest worldwide).
Note: in 1911, Waller shows that 43.8% of the British population lives in settlements of 100k+, and the rural population is down 21.11% (most people now live in cities or towns).
2000AD – The population is larger, now at c.7,500,000 people, however this has seen significant fluctuation. Due to the Blitz, thousands to hundreds of thousands of residents are displaced. A mass exodus of Londoners move into the satellite towns in the home counties. Many move out to the counties such as Essex, Kent, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and more. Also, Britain undergoes significant immigration by Commonwealth settlers: Britain extends its citizenship, offering British citizenship to people from countries such as the Jamaica, Barbados, India, Pakistan and more, in view of rebuilding the country after the devastations of war (World War II). Furthermore, Britain also saw a large number of people from Ireland, Poland and other European countries settle.
Referred Sources
“Waller” – Waller, P.J. (1983) Town, City and Nation: England, 1850-1914, Oxford, Oxford University Press
World Population Review. (2025). Largest Cities by Population. World Population Review. Available at: https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities [Accessed 8 August 2025]