Poverty and living standards in London, United Kingdom: official figures

30.7% of children under 16 in London lived in relative low-income families after housing costs in 2024/25 (DWP), 3rd highest rate of 9 English regions; before housing costs the figure was 15.6%. UK-wide rates were 26.0% and 19.3%.

Children in relative low income, after housing costs

30.7%

2024/25

Average house price

£554,430

August 2026

How many households are in fuel poverty in London?

9.6% of households in London were in fuel poverty in 2024 under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency measure, 4th lowest rate of 9 English regions (England 9.9%).

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

How many people claim benefits in London?

5.6% of residents aged 16 to 64 in London were claiming unemployment-related benefits in 2025, against 4.0% across England.

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

What is the average house price in London?

The average home in London cost £554,430 in August 2026 (UK House Price Index), the most expensive of 9 English regions and 1.6% more than five years earlier; England's average was £293,525.

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

How affordable is housing in London?

A typical home in London cost 11.3 times the median annual earnings of residents in 2025, down from 11.8 in 2015 (the least affordable of 9 regions; England 7.6).

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

What is the murder rate in London?

Police recorded 12.6 homicides per million people a year in London over the three years from April 2022 (England 9.1).

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

How many new homes are built in London?

The housing stock in London grew by 9.0 net additional homes per 1,000 dwellings in 2024/25 (England 8.0).

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

How London compares with other region of Englands

Children in relative low income after housing costs (2024/25)

London ranks 3 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.

Rank	Region	Children in relative low income after housing costs
1	West Midlands	32.2%
2	Yorkshire and the Humber	30.8%
3	London	30.7%
4	North West	29.1%
5	North East	28.9%
6	East Midlands	26.5%
7	East of England	23.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Households in fuel poverty (LILEE) (2024)

London ranks 6 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.

Rank	Region	Households in fuel poverty (LILEE)
3	East Midlands	10.6%
4	North West	10.2%
5	South West	9.9%
6	London	9.6%
7	East of England	9.3%
8	North East	9.2%
9	South East	8.2%

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

House price to residence-based earnings ratio (2025)

London ranks 1 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.

Rank	Region	House price to residence-based earnings ratio
1	London	11.3
2	South East	9.2
3	East of England	8.5
4	South West	8.3
5	East Midlands	6.9
6	West Midlands	6.8
7	Yorkshire and the Humber	6.0

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Average house price (August 2026)

London ranks 1 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.

Rank	Region	Average house price
1	London	£554,430
2	South East	£379,953
3	East of England	£337,848
4	South West	£304,139
5	West Midlands	£250,731
6	East Midlands	£241,955
7	North West	£220,393

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Children under 16 in relative low income, after housing costs (%) (2024-25)

London ranks 3 of 12, highest first.

Rank	Region	Children under 16 in relative low income, after housing costs (%)
1	West Midlands	32.2%
2	Yorkshire and the Humber	30.8%
3	London	30.7%
4	North West	29.1%
5	North East	28.9%
6	East Midlands	26.5%
7	Wales	26.1%

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Children under 16 in relative low income, before housing costs (%) (2024-25)

London ranks 10 of 12, highest first.

Rank	Region	Children under 16 in relative low income, before housing costs (%)
6	Wales	21.2%
7	Northern Ireland	18.9%
8	South West	16.3%
9	East of England	16.1%
10	London	15.6%
11	South East	13.0%
12	Scotland	12.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

People aged 16 to 64 claiming unemployment-related benefits (%) (2025)

London ranks 1 of 12, highest first.

Rank	Region	People aged 16 to 64 claiming unemployment-related benefits (%)
1	London	5.6%
2	West Midlands	5.3%
3	North West	4.1%
4	Yorkshire and the Humber	4.1%
5	North East	3.7%
6	East Midlands	3.5%
7	Wales	3.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Average house price (£) (August 2026)

London ranks 1 of 12, highest first.

Rank	Region	Average house price (£)
1	London	£554,430
2	South East	£379,953
3	East of England	£337,848
4	South West	£304,139
5	West Midlands	£250,731
6	East Midlands	£241,955
7	North West	£220,393

Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copy

Public spending on social protection per head (£) (2024-25)

London ranks 10 of 12, highest first. Pensions, benefits and social care, Country and Regional Analysis

Rank	Region	Public spending on social protection per head (£)
6	West Midlands	£5,507
7	Yorkshire and the Humber	£5,458
8	South West	£5,417
9	East Midlands	£5,249
10	London	£5,138
11	East of England	£5,027
12	South East	£4,957

Source: HM Treasury · saved copy

More on London: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · the United Kingdom

Sources

Office for National Statistics: Explore Local Statistics: all datasets (116 indicators for UK local areas, regions and nations), spreadsheet generated 22 October 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ae2f3a7b3960…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.