Population density
Southwark has the ninth highest population density in England and Wales at9,988 residentsper square kilometre.
The eight local authorities with higher densities than Southwark are all inner London authorities. Southwark’s population density is higher than the London average of 5,199 residents per square km (which is higher than England's average of 407 residents per square km).
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Page last updated: 24 February 2021
Area selected: Southwark
Population Population Density Population Growth
Land area
29 square kilometres
international migration
0.8%
Southwark Population
The population of Southwark is 320,017 according to mid-2020 population figures published by the ONS. Based on recent growth rates we estimate the current 2022 population of Southwark to be 322,404. In the year between mid-2019 and mid-2020, the population in Southwark grew by an estimated 1,187 people, and in the ten years prior to mid-2020, the population grew by 31,300. Compare population by area.
Southwark's population growth rate between mid-2019 and mid-2020 was 0.4%, which is 0.8% lower than the average population growth rate in Southwark for the ten years prior to mid-2020 (1.2%).
Southwark covers an area of 29 square kilometres (11 square miles) and has a population density of 11,088 people per square kilometre (km2), based on the latest population estimates taken in mid-2020. That figure has increased by 1,084 people per km2 over the past decade.
Compared to England's figures
- Southwark's population of 320,017 is equivalent to 0.6% of England's 56,550,138 total population. Southwark is the 11th london borough in England (of 33 total) when ordered by total population.
- Southwark's population growth rate of 0.37% is 0.10% lower than England's current population growth rate of 0.47%. Southwark is the 18th london borough in England (of 33 total) when ordered by population growth rate.
- Southwark's population density of 11,088 people per km2 is 10,654 people per km2 higher than England's 434 people per km2. Southwark is the 9th London Borough in England (of 33 total) when ordered by population density.
What causes population change in Southwark
Between mid-2019 and mid-2020, net internal migration out of Southwark was 3,848, and net international migration into Southwark was 2,644.
Southwark's fertility rate (the total number of children that would be born to the average woman in Southwark if she were to live to the end of her child-bearing years) of 1.18, and birth rate (the number of live births per thousand of population per year) of 12.3, led to population increases of 3,912 during the year, and Southwark's death rate or mortality rate (the number of deaths per thousand of population per year) of 4.9 resulted in a 1,573 population decrease. In total, a net 2,339 person natural increase.
Compared to figures for England
- Southwark's fertility rate of 1.18 is 0.41 lower than England's fertility rate of 1.59
- Southwark's birth rate of 12.3 births per thousand people is 1.6 higher than England's birth rate, and Southwark's death rate or mortality rate of 4.9 people per thousand is 5.1 lower than England's death rate
- Southwark's annual net international migration rate of 0.83% is above the English average of 0.4%
Historic Southwark Population Change Components
During the past decade, internal migration has fallen from a net outflow of 2,222 in 2011 to a net 3,848 outflow. International migration has fallen from a net inflow of 5,063 in 2011 to an inflow of 2,644 in 2020.
The natural increase in population, due to births and deaths, has fallen from an annual net increase of 3,821 people in 2011 to 2,339 in 2020.
International migration was the largest driver of population change over the past decade, representing circa 89% of the total change in population.
Southwark historic population from 2011 to 2020
Southwark's population, population density, and population growth rate, over the past decade.
Figures reported by the ONS in 2021.
Southwark forecast population from 2023 to 2043
Southwark's forecast, population density, and population growth rate, over the next twenty years. Figures reported by the ONS in 2018.
The population of Southwark is forecast to be 335,020 in 2025 and 342,983 in 2030.
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Areas near Southwark
Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2021. Data sources: ONS Local statistics