Indians lead the largest proportions of foreign-born residents in London

While India leads the largest proportions of foreign-born residents in London (3.2%), it is followed by Poland at 2%, Ireland at 1.6% and Pakistan and Nigeria both at 1.4%.

More than half the residents in Brent, Newham, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea were born outside the UK. Among individual boroughs, Enfield saw the largest decrease of people born in Asia (3%), while Newham and Redbridge saw the largest increase at 9% and 8% respectively.  Since 2001, Newham has overtaken Tower Hamlets to have the highest proportion of residents born in Asia (27%) the ONS said.

Compared to 2011’s 37% migrant population, only 27% of London residents in 2001 were people born outside the UK. Of the foreign-born residents in London, half arrived between 2001 and 2011, ONS has revealed.

The total population of England and Wales on census day (27 March 2011) was 56.1 million – a 7% increase from the 2001 figures. But London saw a sharper rise of 12% from 2001 to about 8,2 million residents in the capital.

For the first time, white British people have become a minority ethnic group in London at 44.9%, revealing its cosmopolitan nature, according to the latest census. Only about 3.7 million of people living in London described themselves as white British, down from 4.3 million people in 2001.

The 2011 census reveal the changing characteristics of the population in the UK, the ONS said.

Among other ethnic groups in London, other white ethnic group formed 12.6% of the population and Indians formed 6.6% of the population in London.

Harrow has largest proportion of Hindu population

The census 2011 figures also revealed the diverse religious groups in London. The UK capital had the highest proportion of Muslims (12%), Hindus (5%), Jewish (2%), and Buddhist (1%), and people of ‘Other religions’ (1%)

Four of the top five local authorities with the largest proportion of Hindus were found in London -- Harrow, Brent, Redbridge, and Hounslow. Harrow had the largest proportion with 25%, and showed the greatest increase (6%).

Meanwhile, five of the top ten local authorities with the largest proportion of Muslims were also found in London -- Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, and Brent. Tower Hamlets had the largest proportion with 35%.

London local authorities including Tower Hamlets, Harrow, Ealing, Brent and Newham had the lowest proportions of ‘White: English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British’ – at less than 31%.

The census - which is used to plan public services - is carried out every ten years and the statistics statistics paint a picture of society and help the government plan for the future using accurate information at local levels.