Greater London

Greater London is an administrative area in England. It is the same as the London region. It has most of the urban area of London. There are 33 local government districts here. These include the 32 London boroughs and the City of London. The Greater London Authority helps manage the region.

Greater London has a land area of 1,572 km². In 2024, about 9 million people lived there. The area is mostly built up and includes most of the Greater London Built-up Area. It reaches into some nearby counties.

The River Thames is an important feature. It enters near Hampton in the west and flows east, leaving past Dagenham. The land near the river is flat. Further away, there are low hills like Hampstead Heath, Shooter's Hill, and Sydenham Hill. The highest point is Westerham Heights. It is part of the North Downs.

Administrative history

Main article: History of local government in London

The name "Greater London" was used before it became an official area in 1965. It described places that shared the same police, water, and transport systems. Leaders saw that London needed better organization because its cities were growing past old borders.

In 1965, Greater London was officially created, bringing together many nearby areas into one large region. It started with two levels of government but later changed. In 2000, a new group called the Greater London Authority was added to help manage the city.

Geography

Map of Greater London showing railway lines, primary roads, motorways, and suburban towns

Greater London is the big city part of London. It also includes some green spaces around it called the Metropolitan Green Belt. It touches several places: Essex to the northeast, Hertfordshire to the north, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to the west, Kent to the southeast, and Surrey to the south and southwest. The highest spot in Greater London is Westerham Heights. It is on the border with Kent and is 245 meters above sea level. The edges of Greater London have changed a little over time.

Governance

Greater London is governed by the Greater London Authority. This group has an elected assembly called the London Assembly and an executive leader called the Mayor of London. The current Mayor is Sadiq Khan. The London Assembly watches over the Mayor. The offices of the Greater London Authority moved to The Crystal in Newham in January 2022. The Mayor helps plan for the future of Greater London.

London is also part of the UK Parliament. It has 73 areas called constituencies. Greater London has 32 boroughs, and each has its own local government. The City of London has its own special government, which has been around since the 12th century.

Demography

Main article: Demographics of London

Greater London population from 1880 to 2016

London's population grew quickly in the 1800s and early 1900s. It became the world's biggest city until New York took that place in 1925. In 1939, London had about 8.6 million people. Today, the city has more than 9 million people, making it one of the largest cities in the world.

London is a very mixed city, with people from many different places. In recent years, many people from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world have come to live in London. This mix of cultures helps make London an exciting and lively place.

Ethnic group	2001		2011		2021
Ethnic group	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
White: British	4,287,861	59.79%	3,669,284	44.89%	3,239,281	36.81%
White: Irish	220,488	3.07%	175,974	2.15%	156,333	1.78%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller	—N/a		8,196	0.10%	7,031	0.08%
White: Roma	—N/a				37,689	0.43%
White: Other	594,854	8.29%	1,033,981	12.65%	1,290,838	14.67%
White: subtotal	5,103,203	71.15%	4,887,435	59.79%	4,731,172	53.76%
Asian or Asian British: Indian	436,993	6.09%	542,857	6.64%	656,272	7.46%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani	142,749	1.99%	223,797	2.74%	290,549	3.30%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi	153,893	2.15%	222,127	2.72%	322,054	3.66%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese	80,201	1.12%	124,250	1.52%	147,520	1.68%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian	133,058	1.86%	398,515	4.88%	401,245	4.56%
Asian or Asian British: subtotal	946,894	13.20%	1,511,546	18.49%	1,817,640	20.66%
Black or Black British: African	378,933	5.28%	573,931	7.02%	697,054	7.92%
Black or Black British: Caribbean	343,567	4.79%	344,597	4.22%	345,405	3.93%
Black or Black British: Other Black	60,349	0.84%	170,112	2.08%	145,911	1.66%
Black or Black British: subtotal	782,849	10.92%	1,088,640	13.32%	1,188,370	13.50%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean	70,928	0.99%	119,425	1.46%	132,555	1.51%
Mixed: White and Black African	34,182	0.48%	65,479	0.80%	77,341	0.88%
Mixed: White and Asian	59,944	0.84%	101,500	1.24%	125,188	1.42%
Mixed: Other Mixed	61,057	0.85%	118,875	1.45%	170,691	1.94%
Mixed: subtotal	226,111	3.15%	405,279	4.96%	505,775	5.75%
Other: Arab	—N/a		106,020	1.30%	139,791	1.59%
Other: Any other ethnic group	113,034	1.58%	175,021	2.14%	416,977	4.74%
Other: subtotal	113,034	1.58%	281,041	3.44%	556,768	6.33%
Total	7,172,091	100.00%	8,173,941	100.00%	8,799,725	100.00%

1891	5–6 April	5,572,012
1901	31 March – 1 April	6,506,954
1911	2–3 April	7,160,525
1921	19–20 June	7,386,848
1931	26–27 April	8,110,480
1939	Mid-year estimate	8,615,245
1951	8–9 April	8,196,978
1961	23–24 April	7,992,616
1965	Greater London formally created
1971	25–26 April	7,452,520
1981	Mid-year estimate	6,805,000
1988	Mid-year estimate	6,729,300
1991	Mid-year estimate	6,829,300
2001	Mid-year estimate	7,322,400
2002	Mid-year estimate	7,361,600
2003	Mid-year estimate	7,364,100
2004	Mid-year estimate	7,389,100
2005	Mid-year estimate	7,456,100
2006	Mid-year estimate	7,512,400
2009	Mid-year estimate	7,753,600
2013	Mid-year estimate	8,416,535
2014	Mid-year estimate	8,546,761
2016	Mid-year estimate	8,798,957

Economy

Main article: Economy of London

Greater London has a strong economy. In 2009, Inner London made 232 billion euros. Each person there earned about 78,000 euros a year. Outer London made 103 billion euros that year. Each person there earned around 21,460 euros a year. These numbers show how much money people in London were making and spending.

GVA: Inner London
Year	Regional Gross Value Added	Agriculture	Industry	Services
1995	64,616	7	8,147	56,461
2000	92,330	6	10,094	82,229
2003	112,090	12	10,154	101,924

GVA: Outer London
Year	Regional Gross Value Added	Agriculture	Industry	Services
1995	44,160	51	10,801	33,307
2000	60,304	43	12,529	47,732
2003	69,420	69	13,081	54,462

Religion

Main article: Religion in London

Westminster Abbey. A World Heritage Site and location of the coronation of British monarchs.

London has people from many different religions. The most common ones are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, and Buddhist. Some people do not follow any religion.

London has many important religious buildings. St Paul's Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral are important churches for the Anglican religion. Westminster Abbey is where many national ceremonies happen. It is different from Westminster Cathedral, the biggest Roman Catholic church in England and Wales. There are also important places for Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Jews across the city.

Education

University College London, a founding constituent of the University of London

Publicly funded education in Greater London is managed through 33 local education authorities. This system has been in place since 1990. In 1965, new schools called comprehensive schools were introduced across most of Greater London. Some outer London areas still have a few grammar schools.

Greater London has many universities and colleges. The University of London includes many colleges, with University College London and King's College London being the largest. Other important universities include Imperial College, Queen Mary University of London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Many students from across the UK choose to study in London.

Twin cities

The Greater London Authority has agreements with several cities around the world. These are called twin and sister city agreements. These partnerships help share culture and business between Greater London and these cities.