Poverty and inequality look different in every part of London. This interactive map and the borough summaries below it highlight the most pressing issues facing Londoners across the city.
Across London, more than two million people are in poverty - about the equivalent of two Birminghams. This map shows how this plays out differently across the city.
Click on any borough to see some of the starkest local stats, and for a link to each borough's full Poverty Profile, where you can compare each borough to the rest of London and its neighbours.
We've also created quick summaries for each borough, alongside easily downloadable factsheets - to support both local decision makers and campaigners to push for action on the most urgent issues in their area.
Spotlight statistic: 23% of Barking and Dagenham residents are low paid - more than any other London borough
Child poverty rate: 42%
Population: 218,534
Current largest party: Labour
By many measures, Barking and Dagenham in East London is one of the city's most deprived boroughs. It has the second highest unemployment rate in the city, and one of the highest percentages of residents on out-of-work benefits. Residents of Barking and Dagenham are also more likely to be low-paid than any other London borough. Almost a quarter of residents in work are low paid.
Explore all data for Barking & Dagenham and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 45% of the median pre-tax income in Barnet would be needed to rent a one-bed home in the borough
Child poverty rate: 29%
Population: 388,639
Current largest party: Labour
On London's Northern outskirts, Barnet has the city's second highest population. On most indicators Barnet sits somewhere in the middle - for example its child poverty rate is 29%, compared to London's average of 33%. 15% of residents are low paid, compared to 16% across London.
Education outcomes in Barnet are strong: 80% of pupils achieved grade 9-4 in 2023/24 - significantly above the London and national average. But there are signs of the impact of the housing crisis in Barnet: in recent years, more than 200 people have been seen sleeping rough in the borough.
Spotlight statistic: 19% of Bexley residents in work are low-paid
Child poverty rate: 28%
Population: 246,543
Current largest party: Conservative
By many measures, Bexley is one of London's less deprived boroughs. It has London's lowest rate of temporary accommodation at just 4.05 per 1,000 households, and rent is more affordable than the London average (though this is all relative - a one-bed home costs on average around 40% of Bexley's median salary, and this has increased significantly in the last year).
But despite this, nearly a third of children are growing up in poverty, and low pay is an issue: almost one in five working residents are low paid.
Our deprivation map also shows that, although much of the borough is less deprived than average, there are pockets of intense deprivation.
Spotlight statistic: 8.2% of Brent residents are unemployed
Child poverty rate: 41%
Population: 338,918
Current largest party: Labour
Brent in North West London is one of London's most deprived boroughs: more than four in ten children are growing up in poverty. The borough has one of the city's highest unemployment rates at 8.2%, and this has increased significantly in the last year.
Almost a quarter of working residents in work are low paid, and 17.8% are on out-of-work benefits.
Spotlight statistic: 13% - Bromley's poverty rate, the lowest of any London borough
Child poverty rate: 22%
Population: 329,830
Current largest party: Conservative
Bromley in South London has the lowest poverty rate of any London borough at just 13%. Child poverty at 22% is also well below the London average of 33%.
But like all London boroughs, it has pockets of deprivation, and housing affordability is a major challenge.
Bromley is also one of London's more unequal boroughs when it comes to pay: the 20% highest paid earn 2.7 times more per hour than the 20% lowest paid.
Spotlight statistic: 975 people were seen sleeping rough in Camden - one of the highest in London
Child poverty rate: 42%
Population: 210,390
Current largest party: Labour
Like many Inner London boroughs, Camden is under acute pressure from the housing crisis. It is one of London's least affordable boroughs - an average one-bed costs more than 55% of the average Camden resident's pre-tax income.
Homelessness is a major concern - 975 people were seen sleeping rough in the borough, second to only Westminster.
Camden also has high levels of poverty. More than 40% of children are growing up in poverty, and it has a poverty rate significantly above the London average.
Spotlight statistic: 469 people seen sleeping rough in 2024/25
Child poverty rate: 35%
Population: 390,506
Current largest party: Conservative
Croydon is London's largest borough by population. Our deprivation map paints a picture of a borough of extremes, home to some of London's least deprived neighbourhoods, as well as some of its most.
Despite being on the outskirts of London, the borough is being hit hard by the homelessness crisis. Nearly 500 people were seen sleeping rough in 2024/25, higher than the London average
And more than 2% of households are homeless and in temporary accommodation. Both of these measures are significantly worse than five years ago.
Spotlight statistic: 723 people were seen sleeping rough in Ealing - the third highest in London
Child poverty rate: 35%
Population: 366,127
Current largest party: Labour
Ealing in West London has one of the higher poverty rates in the capital at 31%. 35% of children live in poverty after housing costs.
Homelessness is a particular concern - 723 people were seen sleeping rough, the third highest figure in London. This is surprising, as most other boroughs with especially high levels of rough sleeping are Inner London, and it's perhaps a sign of the spreading of housing pressures to outer boroughs.
In 2019/20, 206 people were seen sleeping rough in Ealing, meaning the number of people seen sleeping rough has more than tripled in just five years.
Spotlight statistic: 21% of Enfield residents claim out-of-work benefits - the highest in London
Child poverty rate: 35%
Population: 329,601
Current largest party: Labour
Enfield in North London is an extremely unequal borough. To the West of the borough are several of London's least deprived neighbourhoods - while to the east, along the Lea Valley, are many of the city's most deprived.
At 21%, Enfield has the highest proportion of working-age residents claiming out-of-work benefits of any London boroughs.
And this has nearly doubled in the last five years: in 2019/20, 11% of working-age residents were claiming out-of-work benefits, which was on par with many other London boroughs.
Spotlight statistic: 2.3 - the percentage point increase in Greenwich's unemployment rate in the last year, among the highest rises in London
Child poverty rate: 40%
Population: 289,254
Current largest party: Labour
Greenwich in South East London has seen one of the steepest rises in unemployment in the capital in the last year. Its unemployment rate now sites at 6.4% - up from 4.1% a year earlier.
On most other measures, Greenwich has around the London average - which means that around one in four of its residents, and more than one in three of its children, are living in poverty.
Spotlight statistic: 58% of average pre-tax pay needed for a one bed flat
Child poverty rate: 45%
Population: 259,956
Current largest party: Labour
Hackney in East London has one of the highest child poverty rates in the capital: nearly half of its children are growing up in poverty.
It's one of London's least affordable boroughs: a one-bed flat would cost nearly 60% of the average resident's pre-tax income.
Spotlight statistic: 2nd highest levels of pay inequality in London
Child poverty rate: 32%
Population: 183,544
Current largest party: Labour
Hammersmith and Fulham reflects London's stark inequalities in microcosm, with wealthy areas alongside pockets of significant deprivation.
The 20% highest earners in Hammersmith and Fulham earn 2.8x more than the 20% lowest earners. This means, by this measure, it has the second highest level of pay inequality in London, behind only Richmond.
And while most boroughs have gotten less unequal in the last 10 years (by this measure), the gap in Hammersmith and Fulham has widened.
Explore all data for Hammersmith & Fulham and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 19% of working age residents of Haringey are on out-of-work benefits - the 3rd highest in London
Child poverty rate: 39%
Population: 264,130
Current largest party: Labour
Around one in five of Haringey's working-age residents are out-of-work benefits - the third highest in London, and a significant increase in recent years.
The borough also has London's 4th highest unemployment rate, at 6.9%.
Spotlight statistic: 1 in 5 of Harrow's working residents are low paid
Child poverty rate: 33%
Population: 260,987
Current largest party: Conservative
Harrow is close to the London average on most poverty and inequality indicators: around a third of its children, and a quarter of its residents, are in poverty.
19.2% of its working residents are low paid, the 8th highest in London.
Spotlight statistic: 55 people were seen sleeping rough in 2024/25- among the lowest in London
Child poverty rate: 29%
Population: 262,100
Current largest party: Havering Residents Association / No overall control
On the eastern outskirts of London, Havering has lower than average poverty levels on many indicators. Our deprivation map shows that there are pockets of intense deprivation.
55 people were seen sleeping rough in 2024/25 - the second lowest in London.
But housing pressures are a challenge - for example, more than 1% of households are in temporary accommodation, significantly above the national average.
Spotlight statistic: 6th highest levels of low pay in London
Child poverty rate: 33%
Population: 304,792
Current largest party: Conservative
Hillingdon has better rent affordability than most London boroughs, and a lower-than-average level of poverty. But still, a third of its children are growing up in poverty.
Low pay is a challenge in the borough. Around a fifth of its working residents are low-paid - among the highest rates in London.
Spotlight statistic: 20% of residents living in poverty
Child poverty rate: 43%
Population: 216,767
Current largest party: Labour
Islington has a poverty rate of 20% - significantly below the London average, and the lowest among Inner London boroughs. But despite this, it has one of the highest child poverty rates in the city, at 43%.
This stark contrast reflects how Islington, like much of Inner London, is a borough of deep inequality. It also points to the high cost of living in Inner London - and especially the difficulty of raising a family there.
Spotlight statistic: 67% of median pre-tax income needed to rent a one-bed in the borough
Child poverty rate: 29%
Population: 143,940
Current largest party: Conservative
Kensington and Chelsea exemplifies London's stark inequality. While it contains some of the country's wealthiest areas, 33% of residents live in poverty and 2.5% of households are in temporary accommodation.
It's also London's second least affordable borough for renters: a one-bed would cost nearly 70% of the average salary.
Explore all data for Kensington & Chelsea and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 9% of residents claim out-of-work benefits - the second lowest in London
Child poverty rate: 22%
Population: 167,845
Current largest party: Liberal Democrats
Leafy Kingston upon Thames in South West London is one of London's least deprived boroughs. Child poverty at 22% is well below the London average, and it has the lowest proportion of residents claiming out-of-work benefits in the capital at 9.4% - although like every borough, this has increased significantly since the pandemic.
But despite its relative affluence, a quarter of Kingston's residents are growing up in poverty - and like much of London, it has much higher levels of pay inequality than the rest of England.
Explore all data for Kingston upon Thames and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 3rd highest rate of households in temporary accommodation
Child poverty rate: 39%
Population: 317,498
Current largest party: Labour
Lambeth in South London faces significant challenges in the housing crisis. 681 people were seen sleeping rough in the borough, 32.60 households per 1,000 are in temporary accommodation - the third highest in London.
The borough also has one of London's highest unemployment rates at 6.4%, and has seen one of the biggest increases in unemployment levels in the last year.
Spotlight statistic: 2nd highest rate of premature deaths in London
Child poverty rate: 36%
Population: 299,810
Current largest party: Labour
Lewisham in South East London is one of the city's more deprived boroughs - and this is illustrated in its health outcomes. The borough has a premature mortality rate of 381 per 100,000 people, second only to Barking and Dagenham.
Spotlight statistic: 18% - Merton's poverty rate - the second lowest in London
Child poverty rate: 30%
Population: 215,324
Current largest party: Labour
Merton in South London has the second lowest poverty rate in the capital at 18%. It's one of only two London boroughs with a poverty rate lower than the England average.
However, this still means around one in five residents are in poverty, and there are pockets of deprivation.
Similarly, Merton has among the lowest levels of homelessness in the city - 8.35 households per 1,000 are in temporary accommodation - well below the London average of 19.78.
The borough has one of the highest levels of pay inequality in London. The 20% highest paid earn 2.7 times more per hour than the 20% lowest paid.
Spotlight statistic: 5.8% of households are in temporary accommodation - far higher than any other London borough
Child poverty rate: 45%
Population: 350,626
Current largest party: Labour
Newham in East London is one of the capital's most deprived boroughs, with a child poverty rate of 45%.
But one statistic in particular stands out: nearly 7,000 households are in temporary accommodation, around 5.8% of the entire borough.
London's temporary accommodation crisis is hitting every part of the city, but it appears to be at its most extreme in Newham.
The next highest is Lambeth, with around 4,500 households in temporary accommodation - extremely high, but still well below the levels in Newham.
Spotlight statistic: 34% of residents in poverty - higher than the London average
Child poverty rate: 36%
Population: 309,836
Current largest party: Labour
Redbridge has one of London's highest poverty rates at 34% - especially among Outer London boroughs.
The borough also has high levels of low pay - more than 17% of its residents are low paid.
Spotlight statistic: Highest levels of pay inequality in London
Child poverty rate: 15%
Population: 195,232
Current largest party: Liberal Democrats
Richmond upon Thames has the lowest child poverty rate in London at just 15% - less than half the London average.
Its overall poverty rate is also well below the London average, and it has lower than average rates of unemployment and out-of-work benefits.
But alongside Richmond's wealth comes high levels of inequality. The 20% highest earners are paid more than 3x more than the 20% lowest. This means Richmond has, by this measure, the highest level of pay inequality in London.
Explore all data for Richmond upon Thames and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 551 people were seen sleeping rough in Southwark in 2024/25
Child poverty rate: 40%
Population: 306,374
Current largest party: Labour
Southwark is facing acute pressures from the homelessness crisis. 551 people were seen sleeping rough in the borough in 2024/25, well above the London average. More than 4,000 households are in temporary accommodation - around 3% of the borough.
Spotlight statistic: 1 in 5 residents are low paid
Child poverty rate: 25%
Population: 209,517
Current largest party: Liberal Democrats
Sutton has among the lowest levels of poverty in London - though one in four children are still growing up in poverty.
There are high levels of low pay in Sutton. 18.8% of residents in work are low-paid - and this has increased in the last year.
Spotlight statistic: 40% of residents in poverty
Child poverty rate: 47%
Population: 312,273
Current largest party: Aspire
Tower Hamlets has long had one of the highest child poverty rates in the country - and this remains stubbornly high. Almost half of children in the borough are in poverty.
At 40%, the borough has one of the highest overall poverty rates in London, at 40%. Our deprivation map shows that Tower Hamlets is also home to a cluster of London's most deprived neighbourhoods.
Explore all data for Tower Hamlets and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 4th highest rate of homelessness duties owed per capita
Child poverty rate: 39%
Population: 278,050
Current largest party: Labour
Waltham Forest in East London has 39% of children living in poverty after housing costs, above the London average.
On most indicators, the borough sits close to the London average - its challenges are typical of the capital.
But it's an outlier on homelessness: the council owed the main homelessness duty to 2 in every 1,000 households, one of the highest rates in London. This suggests the council is under particular strain to support households at risk of losing their homes.
Explore all data for Waltham Forest and download our factsheet.
Spotlight statistic: 2.74x - The pay gap between Wandsworth's 20% highest and lowest earners
Child poverty rate: 33%
Population: 328,367
Current largest party: Labour
Wandsworth is one of London's more affluent boroughs. It has a lower than average unemployment rate and levels of out-of-work benefits - but it still has high levels of poverty. A third of its children and a quarter of its residents are in poverty.
Wandsworth also has very high pay inequality. Its 20% highest earners take home 2.74x more than its 20% lowest earners.
Spotlight statistic: 2,612 people seen sleeping rough in Westminster (2024/25)
Child poverty rate: 36%
Population: 205,087
Current largest party: Labour
Westminster has by far the highest levels of rough sleeping in London. In 2024/25, 2,612 people were seen sleeping rough. This is almost 10x more than the London average, and a massive jump from just a year earlier.
It's also the least affordable borough in London by our rent affordability measure. 68% of the average Westminster resident's pre-tax income is needed for a one-bed home in the borough.
Explore all data for Westminster and download our factsheet.
