Borough Profile

Croydon is an outer London borough bordering Surrey to the south and the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark to the north. Croydon is London's southern-most borough and covers an area of 87 square kilometres.  The borough has London's largest population and it is the ninth largest unitary authority in the country. It is one of London's biggest local retail and commercial centres, with good rail, tram and road links, more than 120 parks and open spaces and some of London?s most expensive housing. Large parts of the borough also have inner-city characteristics. Croydon has been eligible for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding (NRF) for the past seven years due to severe pockets of deprivation - mostly in the north of the borough and in two wards in the east, New Addington and Fieldway.

The borough has a population of 340,000 the largest population of all the London boroughs of whom 82,000, almost 25 per cent, are under the age of 18.  Thirty-six per cent of its residents are from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities but in some northern wards that percentage is higher. Over 100 languages are spoken and there are a significant number of refugees and asylum seekers. Around 40 per cent of children and young people are from BME groups, although this varies by age group from 35 per cent of those aged 16 to 17, to 45 per cent of children aged under-five.

Croydon is a socio-economically diverse borough. Although ranked 21 out of 33 London boroughs in terms of overall deprivation, it has some wards with low levels of disadvantage and others which are amongst the most deprived in England. The employment rate, at 74.6 per cent is among the highest in London, but the borough has a relatively weak skills base in London terms and wages are relatively low. Croydon is one of the country's largest commercial centres and is home to more than 20 'blue-chip' companies. Over the next five years significant developments are either planned or in the pipeline.

Data from the GLA, from 2006, shows the London Borough of Croydon household data from 2001 and 2006, and the projected borough household data for 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026.  The spreadsheet also gives data for all other London boroughs and London as a whole.

GLA Borough Household projections 2001-2026 (30k) 

The Excel spreadsheet displays data from the 2001 Census of the ethnicity figures by ward, as percentages and as a count.  It also shows the total number for the London Borough of Croydon, London as a whole and England.  The data is split into catergories; White, Mixed, Asian or British Asian, Black or Black British and Chinese and other ethnic groups.

Ethnicity Census Figures by Ward (37k) 

A graph and data table showing the ethnicity profile within Croydon at the 2001 census

A graph and data table showing the age structure in Croydon from the 2001 census

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) provide data on the mid-2007 population estimates for local authorities in the UK.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) provide data on the mid-2008 population estimates for local authorities in the UK.