JSNA People

1.1 Key Points

Richmond is located in South West London and is one of the most affluent London boroughs. It is the second smallest borough within Outer London and is home to an estimated 198,078 residents in 2026.

Richmond boasts the longest stretch of the River Thames which runs for over 10 miles through the borough, linking Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Town centre and Kew Gardens with London. There are over 100 parks which take up a great deal of the borough and include Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Kew Gardens and Hampton Court Park.

By 2036, the borough’s population is projected to decrease to 197,301 — a decrease of 0.4%, against a projected increase of 5.2% across London as a whole (GLA 2024-based projections). That broadly flat total masks a pronounced shift in age structure: the number of children and young people is projected to fall, while the older population continues to grow.

• Growth is confined to a small number of wards: only 3 of 18 wards are projected to grow between 2026 and 2036 — led by Mortlake & Barnes Common (+14.0%) and North Richmond (+5.6%) — while 15 are projected to decline, most steeply West Twickenham (−4.8%).
• Richmond’s population median age falls within the mid-range of the country at 42 years (London=36), with the highest proportion of population aged 40+ years in London.
• The overall fall is driven by the youngest age groups: the population aged under 20 is projected to decrease by 17.1% (around 8,000 fewer children and young people, from 46,609 to 38,652), with the steepest fall among 10–14 year olds (a decrease of 23.5%).
• Against that, the largest increase in numbers is among those aged 55 and over (projected to increase by around 11.3%, some 6,900 more people, between 2026 and 2036).
• The largest percentage increase will be in the population aged 85–89 years, which is projected to grow by around 43.9% between 2026 and 2036.
• The ethnic minority population will stay relatively similar in share, around 16%, while the number of residents from ethnic minority groups aged 65 and over is projected to rise substantially.

The largest ethnic group in Richmond are those identifying as White British. Almost 1 in 6 residents are from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding White minorities), a lower proportion than is seen in London and outer London. The ethnic minority population is younger, with a higher proportion of children and fewer seniors: 21% of Richmond’s children are from ethnic minority groups, compared with 16% of the overall population.

Note: The next two paragraphs have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The migration, birth and death figures cover the ten years to 2018 and the National Insurance number figures are for 2018/19. They were carried over from the 2020 JSNA.

In the ten years to 2018, 150,169 people moved into the Borough from other areas of the UK. 152,833 moved out (net=-2664), a further 20,773 international migrants moved out and 23,778 people moved in (3,005). During the same time period there were 30,223 births and 12,979 deaths for a net natural change of +17,244. Births continued to outnumber deaths, although Richmond’s rate of natural change is lower than in most London boroughs, and there was net positive international migration.

Overall, the international migration into Richmond has been decreasing. The highest number of non-UK born population locally was born in Ireland (n=3,295), South Africa (n=2,671), US (n=2,621), India (n=2,412), Germany (n=2,335) and Australia (n=2,125). In recent years, working-age international arrivals have tended to be European with the highest number of National Insurance Numbers (NINos) registered to adult non-UK during 2018/19, were to Italians (n=196), Romanians (n=150), Spanish (n=122) and Turkish (n=115).

As the population is older, the majority of residents are married or in civil partnerships, and compared to London, there are slightly fewer households that have any children. Almost 1 in 3 residents live alone and almost half of Richmond residents own their property with a mortgage and 1 in 3 own their property outright. The average house price in the borough was £794,000 in April 2026, the fourth highest in London, and the median full-time working resident earned £57,233 a year in 2025, among the highest earnings in London and England.

Fertility is dropping across UK and the developed world, and this trend has been seen locally in recent years. More than half of the children born in Richmond are born to UK-born mothers (56.3% in 2025), compared with 38.7% in Outer London and 64.5% in England.

Richmond has one of the most highly educated populations in the country: at the 2021 Census, six in ten residents aged 16 and over (60.4%) held a degree-level (Level 4) qualification or above, compared with 46.7% in London and 33.9% in England. Pupils attending schools in Richmond achieve above and beyond the London and England average in terms of educational attainment.

Employment rates in the borough are broadly in line with London and England, at around 76% (year ending June 2025), though the male employment rate (83.6%) is notably higher than the regional and national averages. Residents are much more likely to be managers, professionals and in technical jobs (72.5%) than in London (58.1%).

Richmond is among the least deprived local authorities in England. On the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, the borough ranked 282 of 296 lower-tier local authorities on the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation, placing it among the least deprived 10% nationally and making it the least deprived of the London boroughs. None of Richmond’s 115 neighbourhoods (Lower-layer Super Output Areas) fall within even the 20% most deprived in England, and 89% sit within the least deprived half nationally. Richmond sits in the least deprived third of local authorities in England on 6 of the seven domains (Education, Skills and Training, Barriers to Housing and Services, Health Deprivation and Disability, Employment, Income and Crime), and it is the least deprived local authority in England for both Education, Skills and Training and Barriers to Housing and Services. ¹

In contrast, Richmond is relatively deprived for the Living Environment domain, which reflects the quality of housing and the local outdoor environment (including air quality and road safety). The borough ranks 12 of 296 local authorities in England on this domain, within the most deprived 5%, with just under a third of its neighbourhoods (29%) among the 10% most deprived in England. This pattern is shared across much of London. On income measures Richmond remains affluent: it is the least deprived London borough on the Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI), which measures the proportion of those aged 60 or over who experience income deprivation, although it sits closer to the middle of the national distribution.

Richmond performs well compared with other London boroughs on most poverty and low-pay indicators. In 2022, an estimated 16% of employees in Richmond earned less than the London Living Wage.

In August 2026, 2.6% of Richmond residents aged 16–64 (3,180 people) were claiming unemployment-related benefits (the claimant count), the lowest of London’s 32 boroughs (see section 4.4).

New-born male babies in Richmond are expected to live up to 83.1 years and female babies 87.2 years (2023–25), an increase of around 4.9 years for females since 2001–03. Richmond residents are living longer than ever before, and the borough’s figures remain higher than the London and England averages. Healthy life expectancy is 69.3 years among males and 70.3 years among females (2022–24) — among the highest in London.

In Richmond and nationally, life expectancy is lower in areas of higher deprivation within the borough. Males in the least deprived areas of the borough live around 6.0 years longer and females around 2.1 years longer than their counterparts in the most deprived areas of the borough (2022–24).

Locally in 2023–25, there were 1,041 premature deaths (deaths before age 75), with cardiovascular disease and cancer among the leading causes. Preventable and premature deaths have dropped in Richmond over the past two decades but there is considerable room for improvement.

The majority of the local population in Richmond report leading happy, satisfied and worthwhile lives, better than the London average, however, there is a subset who reported low happiness, satisfaction, and high anxiety scores.

1.2 Population Size and Density

In 2026 Richmond is home to an estimated 198,078 residents and is the second smallest borough within Outer London. By 2036, the borough’s population is projected to decrease to 197,301, as continued growth in the oldest age groups is outweighed by a larger fall in the number of children and young people. Out of the 32 London Boroughs, Richmond has the fourth smallest population and the second smallest within Outer London.

In 2026, the borough’s population density was around 3,450 people per square kilometre, lower than the London average of 5,845 and the Outer London average of 4,508. The Richmond ward with the greatest population density is West Twickenham, at around 7,447 people per square kilometre, while the lowest is Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside, at around 1,177 ².

Further detailed characteristics of Richmond’s population can be explored within the population section of DataRich

Note on population: We recommend using Greater London Authority (GLA) projections and population estimates. These are based on ONS estimates and projected new housing developments. Updated estimates and projections can be found on DataRich or on the GLA Datastore.

Similar to the trend in England and London, the population in Richmond is getting older, with the biggest growth in the 80+ age group. As shown in the figure below, the proportion of Richmond’s population in all age groups above 40 is substantially higher than the London average; this is in contrast to people aged 20–39 – they constitute a much smaller proportion of Richmond’s population than could be expected from the average London-wide figures. The proportion of children in Richmond is similar to the London average.

1.3 Population Projections

The GLA population projections suggest that Richmond’s population will decrease over the next decade, in contrast to the projected increase across London as a whole. Within 10 years’ time the population is predicted to decrease by 0.4% from 198,078 in 2026 to 197,301 in 2036, compared with the projected population increase of 5.2% in London population by 2036.

As shown in the figure below, over the next 10 years:

Children and Young People: 0–19 year olds are projected to decrease by 17.1% between 2026 and 2036, one of the largest percentage decreases of any London borough; the largest reduction of 23.5% is estimated in the number of children aged 10–14 years old (from 13,246 in 2026 to 10,130 in 2036). This decrease is also expected in London, where 10–14 year-olds are projected to decrease by 12.8% over the same period, whilst the overall number of children and young people aged under 20 will decrease by 9.0% in London.

Young Adults: The 20–39 age group shows little change, with a projected increase of 4.4% (from 44,374 in 2026 to 46,306 in 2036) — compared with a 7.3% increase in London.

Middle Age: A 3.3% decrease is projected for the 40–59 age group by 2036 (from 59,936 in 2026 to 57,936 in 2036), in comparison with a 7.1% increase in London.

Older Adults: The largest increase is seen within the older age groups, with a 15.4% increase in those aged 60+ by 2036 (from 47,159 in 2026 to 54,407 in 2036) — compared with a 16.8% increase in London — and a 25.4% increase in those aged 80+ (from 9,676 in 2026 to 12,129 in 2036). This is a smaller increase than in London (27.6%).

Source: © GLA 2024-based demographic projections (housing-led, central variant). housing_led_2024_central_ward. Figures for 2026 and projection to 2036.

1.4 Sex and Gender

In 2026 Richmond’s population is made up of 52.2% females (n=103,330) and 47.8% males (n=94,748). The female population is expected to increase by 0.8% by 2036, while the male population is expected to decrease by 1.7% over the same 10-year period ³.

The proportion of women and men is roughly equal across the life-course age bands until later in life. As women live longer than men on average, by the time people are aged 75 years and over the balance shifts (57% female, 43% male). The table below summarises the borough’s population by sex for 2026 and the projection to 2036.

Source: © GLA 2024-based demographic projections (housing-led, central variant; housing_led_2024_central_ward).

1.5 Age Structure

Based on the latest GLA 2024-based projections, Richmond’s median age is 42 years — higher than England (40 years) and much higher than London (36 years). The borough has one of the older age profiles in London, with a high proportion of residents aged 40 and over. In 2026, around 17% of residents are children aged under 15 and 18% are aged 65 or over. Over the next decade the population is projected to age further: the number of residents aged 65 and over is projected to rise by around 21%, and those aged 85 and over by around 48%, by 2036. The table below summarises the borough’s population by age band for 2026 and the projection to 2036.

Source: © GLA 2024-based demographic projections (housing-led, central variant; housing_led_2024_central_ward).

The ward-level maps in the table below (2021 Census) show the distribution of age groups across the borough. At the 2021 Census, 19% of Richmond’s population was under 14 years of age, with the greatest proportion found in the ward of St Margarets and North Twickenham. St Margarets ward also has the highest proportion of 25–39 year olds and 40–49 year olds. The ward with the greatest proportion of 15–19 year olds is South Twickenham, which also has the highest proportion of 20–24 year olds. Hampton Wick ward has the highest proportion of 50–64 year olds . 16% of the borough’s population are aged 65+ and Hampton ward has the highest proportion of 65–74 year olds, while Kew ward has the highest proportion of 75–84 and 85+ year olds.

Age groups (years)	Heat map
Under 14: 6% of the borough’s population is made up of children aged under 5 13% is made up of 5-14 year-olds Greatest numbers can be seen within the wards of St Margaret’s and North Twickenham, East Sheen, North Richmond, and West Twickenham
15-19 year-olds: 5% of the borough is made up of 15–19 year-olds Greatest numbers can be seen within the wards of South Twickenham, Hampton Wick and Heathfield
20-24 year-olds: The population declines at this age group Make up 4% of the borough’s population South Twickenham, Hampton Wick and Whitton have the greatest numbers
25-39 year-olds: Make up 20% of the population Broken down by 25–29 (5%), 30–34 (7%), and 35–39 (8%) St Margaret’s and North Twickenham, North Richmond and Mortlake and Barnes Common have the greatest numbers
40-49 year-olds: 17% of the local population are made up of this age group St Margaret’s and North Twickenham, Kew and North Richmond have the greatest numbers
50-64 year-olds: 19% of the local population are made up of residents aged 50-64 Highest proportion seen within the wards of Hampton Wick, South Richmond and Kew
65-74 year-olds: 9% of the borough are made up of population aged 65-74 Hampton, Teddington and Hampton North have the greatest numbers in this age group
75-84 year-olds: 5% of the borough are made up of population aged 75-84 Kew, South Richmond and Teddington have the greatest numbers in this age group
85+ year-olds: 2% of the borough are made up of population aged 85 and over Kew, Hampton and Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside have the greatest numbers in this age group

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich Population Explorer.

Scale: Colour scale ranges from light (lower values) to dark (higher values).

1.6 Ethnicity

Detailed breakdown of ethnic groups by age, gender, ward and LSOA, and projections up to 2050 can be found on DataRich.

The largest ethnic group in Richmond are those identifying as White British. Almost 1 in 6 residents are from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding White minorities), a lower proportion than is seen in London and outer London. The ethnic minority population is younger, with a higher proportion of children and fewer older people: 21% of Richmond’s children are from ethnic minority groups, compared with 16% of the overall population.

Compared to London and Outer London, Richmond has much higher proportion of White British population.

More than 8 out of every 10 Richmond residents were White (British, Irish or other) (as shown in the figure below). Over two thirds of the local population were White British (66.3%), a much larger proportion than both Outer London (41.9%) and London (39%). 16% of the residents were from ethnic minority groups (excluding White minorities), a much lower proportion than Outer London (43.5%) and London (43.3%).

In Richmond in 2026, 16.9% (n=35,550) of the total population are projected to be from ethnic minority groups (excluding White minorities). This proportion is 62.1% lower than the London average of 44.5%.

Source: © GLA 2016-based ethnic group projections (housing-led), published 2017 – projected figures for 2026

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.7 Non-UK Born Population

Almost three in ten local residents in Richmond were born outside the UK, a lower proportion than London but higher than England (the table below). Out of 195,278 residents living locally, 139,053 (71%) were born in the UK ⁴ (2011 Census = 76%). 56,225 (29%) of the borough population were born outside the UK. Compared to Outer London and London, Richmond had a lower proportion of residents born outside the UK.

Richmond has the 5th highest proportion of UK born residents in London ⁴.

A substantial proportion of migrants to Richmond are long-term migrants. Of the 56,225 Richmond residents not born in the UK, two fifths arrived between 2011-2021 and 24% arrived within the last five years.Compared to Outer London, a higher percentage of non-UK born local residents arrived in the country within the last 10 years (Richmond=41%, Outer London= 38%). Residents born in the Middle East and Asia make up a larger proportion of those arriving into England and Wales in the last 3 years and reflects a large international student population ⁴.

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.8 Language and English Proficiency

English is the main first language of the population of Richmond and English Proficiency is high ⁵.

According to the 2021 Census:

• Vast majority of residents are proficient in English. 89% residents have English as their main language and further 10% can speak English well.
• 2,434 residents cannot speak English well or at all (1.3%), an increase of 600 people since 2011, with the overall proportion remaining the same. Areas with the highest concentrations are around Heathfield (3.3%) and Whitton (2.4%).
• The proportion of people who cannot speak English well or at all is lower in Richmond (1.3%) than it is in Outer London (4.1%), London (4.2%), and England (1.9%).
• English is the main language of 89% Richmond residents. This is a higher proportion than Outer London (78.9%) and London (78.4%).
• 9.5% household have members that speak different main languages.
• Spanish (0.9%) is now the most spoken language in Richmond after English rising from 3rd highest (0.3%) in 2011.
• In 2011 Census, Polish was the most spoken language in Richmond after English and is now in 2nd place.

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.9 Religion

The 2021 Census showed that 45% of Richmond’s population were of Christian faith, compared with 55% ten years earlier (2011 Census). Muslim faith was the second most popular religion in 2021, at 4% - compared with 3% in 2011 Census.

• One in three (37.9%) of the borough’s residents reported No Religion, an increase of +9.5% points since 2011. This proportion is higher than Outer London (24.1%), London (27.1%) and England (36.7%). • Islam is the second largest religion in the borough (4.3%) as it was in 2011 and the number of Muslim residents has increased by +38.6% since 2011. This is a similar increase to Outer London (+38.2%), higher than London (+30.2%) and lower than England (+42.9%). • Of those residents reporting to be Christian, 29% were aged under 29 years, while 27% of Christians were 30-49 years. Residents reporting to be Muslim, there was a higher proportion of younger adults aged under 29 years (44%) compared to older adults aged 30-49 years (35%).

Detailed breakdown, based on 2021 Census, at Ward and LSOA level, age and gender can be found on DataRich; the overall Richmond’s figures can be found in the table below.

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.10 Marriage and Civil Partnership

Detailed breakdown, based on 2021 Census, at Ward and LSOA level, age and gender can be found on DataRich and in the table below. Marriage and civil partnership are described by reference to the legal definitions. It includes a person (or persons) who is (are) married or is (are) a civil partner (or civil partners).

In Richmond, according to the 2021 Census, around half of residents aged 16 and over were married or in a civil partnership (49.5%), higher than London (40.0%) and England (44.7%), reflecting the borough’s older age profile. Just over a third had never married or registered a civil partnership (35.9%), lower than London (46.2%) and similar to England (37.9%).

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.11 LGBTQ Population

2021 Census has collected data on gender identity. The question was voluntary and only asked of people aged 16+ (n=155,834):

• 146,446 (93.98%) said their gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth, higher than London and England. • In total, 610 (0.39%) Richmond residents indicated a change in gender identity with 227 (0.15%) stating their gender identity was different to that of birth but did not provide a write in response to what they identified with. • Of the 610 residents who indicated a change in gender identity, 53% were female with highest proportion aged 16-34 years; compared to 47% male with highest proportion aged 35-54. • In England, 16-24 were most likely age group to have said their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth and proportion declined in older age groups.

1.12 Conception and Birth Rate

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. Some figures have been updated, but other figures quoted in this section date from 2017 or earlier.

Fertility has been falling across the UK and other developed countries over the past decade, and this trend is clearly reflected locally. The number of live births in Richmond fell by around two-fifths between 2013 (2,805 births) and 2025 (1,663), the lowest figure in the series; the decline ran steadily to 1,674 in 2023, with a brief uptick to 1,719 in 2024 before easing again in 2025. Nationally, live births across England and Wales rose slightly in 2024 (the first annual increase since 2021) before easing again in 2025. More than half of the children born in Richmond are born to UK-born mothers (56.3% in 2025). This is much higher than in Outer London (38.7%) but lower than in England (64.5%).

More women are having home births in Richmond compared to Outer London and England. In 2017, 2.6% of births took place at home, compared to 1.4% in Outer London and 2.1% in England.

In 2017, the percentage of live births in Richmond born outside of a marriage or civil partnership was 28.7% of all live births in Richmond, lower compared to Outer London (36%) and England (47.6%).

Source: ONS, Live births in England and Wales down to local authority area, via NOMIS (2013–2025).

In 2025, 937 live births within the borough were to UK-born mothers and 726 (43.7%) were to non-UK-born mothers. The most common places of birth among non-UK-born mothers were the EU (13.5% of all live births), the Middle East and Asia (11.8%) and the rest of the world (7.2%), which includes the Americas and the Caribbean, and Antarctica and Oceania ⁶.

1.13 Household Composition

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The one-person household figures in the first paragraph are from the 2011 Census. The tables below use the 2021 Census.

According to the 2011 Census, around a third (32.6%; 26,008) of households were made up of one person living alone (the table below). Looking at adults aged 65 and over, the rate is twice as high – 67.9% are living alone (n=9,434). In this age group, the rate was lower than London (68.6%) but higher than the England average of 59.6%. Of this group, the largest number live in South Richmond (n=693) and Ham, Petersham and Richmond River (n=686) respectively. The smallest number (n=385) live in St Margarets and North Twickenham.

Lone-parent households with children (dependent and non-dependent) make up 7.8% of all households in Richmond, a lower proportion than London (12.7%) and England (10.6%). The rate of families married or in a same-sex civil partnership is higher in Richmond (35.7%) compared to both London (28.1%) and England (33.2%). Of the married or civil partnership couples, the biggest proportion (55.2%, n= 15,747) have dependent children, with fewer families made up of children that are all non-dependant (12.4%, n= 3,532).

In Richmond, the largest proportion of cohabiting couples with no children live in South Richmond (9.2%, n=517). The lowest proportion of such households live in Heathfield (2.2%, n=127).

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

Source: 2021 Census ONS Population Figures reported via DataRich.

1.14 Self-reported Happiness, Satisfaction and Well-being

The Annual Population Survey (APS) ask residents questions on life satisfaction, how worthwhile people feel, whether people were happy yesterday, and how anxious people were yesterday. Respondents gave a score of 0 to 10 where 0 is “not at all” and 10 is “completely”.

Most of the local population report leading happy and worthwhile lives, scoring better than the London average, but there is a subset of around one in five who reported low happiness, satisfaction, and high anxiety scores.

Self-reported well-being - high satisfaction score: % of respondents: In 2020/21, Richmond’s rate was 79.0%, which was the 7th highest in London, 3.5% higher than the England average (no London comparison is published for this indicator). The latest Borough figure for 2020/21 was also 2.4% lower than in 2011/12, in comparison with 0.6% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

Self-reported well-being - high happiness score: % of respondents: In 2020/21, Richmond’s rate was 68.3%, which was the 8th lowest in London, 5.0% lower than the England average (no London comparison is published for this indicator). The latest Borough figure for 2020/21 was also 5.1% lower than in 2011/12, in comparison with 1.2% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

Self reported wellbeing: people with a low happiness score: In 2022/23, Richmond’s rate was 8.8%, which was the 15th highest in London, 0.7% lower than the England average and 3.7% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2022/23 was also 24.6% lower than in 2011/12, in comparison with 17.4% decrease in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

Self reported wellbeing: people with a low satisfaction score: In 2022/23, Richmond’s rate was 3.9%, which was the 11th lowest in London, 30.9% lower than the England average and 33.2% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2022/23 was also 19.9% lower than in 2011/12, in comparison with 13.6% decrease in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

Self reported wellbeing: people with a low worthwhile score: In 2022/23, Richmond’s rate was 3.0%, which was the 12th lowest in London, 32.8% lower than the England average and 34.3% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2022/23 was also 38.8% lower than in 2011/12, in comparison with 7.1% decrease in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

1.15 Voluntary Sector and Volunteering

Note: Some figures in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The figures quoted in this section date from 2015/16 or earlier.

Richmond upon Thames has a thriving and vibrant voluntary sector with over 800 local voluntary organisations providing services and activities.

In Richmond, the percentage of people reporting volunteering in the latest available reporting period dropped to 28% (2013/14–2015/16) compared to 49% (2010/11–2012/13). In London, the percentage has remained steady around 25% ⁷.

1.16 Population Change

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The population projections are current, but the migration, birth, death and GP registration figures in this section and its subsections date from 2018 or earlier. “The past 10 years” refers to the ten years to 2018.

The natural change in population is made up of births minus deaths and is the largest component of population increase. In 2018, there were 2,376 births and 1,209 deaths in Richmond. Over the past 10 years there have been 30,223 births and 12,979 deaths, leading to an overall increase of 17,244.

Over the past 10 years, births continued to outnumber deaths in Richmond, although the borough’s rate of natural change (more births than deaths) is lower than in most London boroughs. Over the next 10 years, however, the GLA 2024-based projections show the borough’s population decrease slightly — by 0.4% to 2036 — as a smaller cohort of children offsets continued growth at older ages.

2.1 Life Expectancy

Life expectancy shows us the estimated length of life a person would expect to live based on contemporary mortality rates. It is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he/she experienced the age-specific mortality rates for that area in a defined time period.

In general, people in Richmond live longer than the national and London averages. Life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years for males and 87.2 years for females (2023–25), both well above the London (80.7 and 84.9 years) and England (79.7 and 83.5 years) averages, so females in the borough live around 4.1 years longer than males. Healthy life expectancy — the average number of years a person would expect to live in good health, based on contemporary mortality rates and the prevalence of self-reported good health — is also high relative to other areas, at 69.3 years for males and 70.3 years for females (2022–24), well above the London (62.9 and 62.9 years) and England (60.9 and 61.3 years) averages. Despite living longer than men, women in Richmond spend more of their later years in poorer health than men, as explored in section 2.2.

Variations in life expectancy across the borough are driven by inequalities between more deprived and less deprived areas. These are most evident in the 60 to 79 age group and are mainly driven by cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Richmond performs similarly to the national and regional averages for nearly all causes of premature mortality in men and women, but rates are still higher amongst males in the borough compared to females. Incidentally, the proportion of people screened for conditions such as cancer in the borough is low compared to the national average.

2.2 Healthy Life Expectancy

Healthy life expectancy is the number of years that a person is expected to continue to live in a healthy condition free of disability or poor health.

2.3 Inequalities in Life Expectancy

2.4 Ward-level Deprivation

The figure below shows ward-level IMD 2025 average scores, used to group Richmond’s wards into deprivation quintiles. The borough is made up of 18 wards following the 2022 boundary review. Even Richmond’s relatively more deprived wards are affluent by national standards: Heathfield, Hampton North, North Richmond and Mortlake & Barnes Common have the highest average deprivation scores in the borough, while South Twickenham, St Margarets & North Twickenham, Teddington and Twickenham Riverside are the least deprived. The whole-borough population-weighted IMD average score is around 9.5 — among the lowest of any local authority in London.

Ward average deprivation scores and ward deprivation quintiles in Richmond upon Thames, IMD 2025

Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (LSOA-level scores), population-weighted to 2022 electoral wards using the ONS LSOA (2021) to Ward (2024) best-fit lookup.

3.1 Leading Causes of Deaths

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) ¹⁰ study was used to assess the rates of leading causes of deaths in Richmond. The study describes mortality and morbidity from major diseases, injuries and risk factors to health at global, national and regional levels. Examining trends from 1990 to the present and making comparisons across populations enables us to understand the changing health challenges facing people across the world.

The figure below expresses the leading causes of deaths in the borough by age band in 2021. Overall, the mortality is skewed towards older ages. Top causes in 2021 were COVID-19, ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia and COPD. Self-harm is a major cause of death among residents aged 15-49 years.

3.2 Premature Mortality (Under 75 mortality)

3.3 Preventable Mortality

Preventable mortality describes causes of death which are considered preventable. These are causes where all or most deaths could potentially be prevented by public health interventions in the broadest sense.

In 2022–24 the highest numbers of preventable deaths in Richmond were due to cancer (n=154), cardiovascular disease (n=78), liver disease (n=58) and respiratory conditions (n=45). All these conditions are affected by health behaviours, such as smoking. For most disease categories, preventable mortality rates are higher in males than in females; this is especially visible in preventable cardiovascular mortality, where the male rate (24.4/100,000 population) is around three times the female rate (7.9/100,000 population). The table below sets out Richmond’s preventable mortality rates by cause and sex alongside the London and England averages.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

3.4 Other Causes of Death

4.1 Education in Children

Many Richmond pupils attend independent schools, the borough has the second largest independent school cohort in outer London and the fourth largest in London. Despite this, state-funded primary and secondary schools in Richmond are some of the largest importers of pupils in London, whilst local pupils are also more likely to stay in-borough to attend school.

More information on education can be found in Start Well chapter.

Pupils with special educational needs (SEN): In 2024/25, Richmond’s rate was 16.2% (n=6380), which was the 6th lowest in London, 17.2% lower than the England average and 13.0% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2024/25 was also 29.6% higher than in 2015/16, in comparison with 35.8% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.¹³

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

More details on education, educational attainment of school-aged children as well as on special educational needs (SEN) can be found in Start Well section.

4.2 Educational Attainment in Adults

The proportion of Richmond’s population qualified to degree level or above is much higher than the London and England averages. At the 2021 Census, 60.4% of residents aged 16 and over held a Level 4 qualification (degree or equivalent) or above, compared with 46.7% in London and 33.9% in England (as shown in the chart below). This higher level of educational attainment explains higher levels of income and employment in the borough and why almost 70% of the population work as managers, directors and in professional occupations. 9.1% of residents aged 16 and over had no qualifications, around half the London (16.2%) and England (18.1%) rates.

Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, TS067 Highest level of qualification (usual residents aged 16 and over), via Nomis

4.3 Employment and Economic Activity

In the year ending June 2025, 75.6% of those aged 16 to 64 in Richmond were in employment, broadly in line with the London (75.5%) and England (75.8%) employment rates. The male employment rate (83.6%) was notably higher than both London (80.3%) and England (79.0%), while the female rate (68.2%) sat below the regional and national averages ¹⁴.

Proportionally, the employment and economic activity rates are lower amongst females in the borough compared to males - this pattern is observed nationwide.

Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Population Survey (employment rate, aged 16–64), Jul 2024–Jun 2025, via Nomis.

Richmond residents are much more likely to be in managerial, professional and technical occupations (72.5%) compared to London (58.1%) and England (47.6%). Locally, there is a lower proportion of residents carrying out administrative, service, manufacturing and skilled trade occupations compared to the regional and national averages. Less than 5% are employed in elementary occupations.

ONS analysis found that 7.4% of jobs in England are at high risk of automation i.e. replacing tasks currently done by workers with technology which could include computer programs, algorithms or even robots. The risk of automation tends to be higher for lower skilled roles - the three occupations at highest risk are waiters/waitresses, shelf fillers and elementary sales occupations ¹⁵. A relatively small proportion of Richmond residents are in elementary, sales and customer service occupations (8.5%), therefore the risk of automation to the local population is relatively lower than regionally (13.8%) and nationally (17.3%).

4.4 Income and Poverty

Note: The next three paragraphs have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The London Poverty Profile rankings below are from an earlier edition (before 2020). Current figures for low pay, child poverty and the claimant count are given later in this section and in the Start Well chapter.

Richmond is one of the most affluent areas in London, this is supported by the London Poverty Profile which ranks London boroughs on key poverty and inequality indicators. Richmond ranks relatively highly for most indicators, including Low Pay and Poverty. Only 11% of employed residents earn less than the London Living Wage - the joint lowest percentage in London. Additionally, the poverty rate (15%) is the lowest in London, as is the child poverty rate (14%).

However, Richmond is ranked as the worst borough in London for worklessness with a 0.6% increase in unemployment over three years - the highest rise of any borough whilst the London rate reduced by 2.1% over the same period. Richmond is also amongst the 16 best ranking boroughs for GCSE attainment of disadvantaged pupils (with the largest attainment gap in London at 31 percentage points), income inequality, affordable housing delivery and infant mortality ¹⁶.

5.1 Disabilities

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The GP learning disability figures are current; the Census 2011 and 2017 school figures have not been updated.

A person has a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The 2011 Census indicated that 11.5% (21,447) of the borough’s population had long-term health conditions (some of which will be mental health conditions) or disabilities. This was lower than the London average of 14.2%. In 2024/25, 804 patients of Richmond GP practices were on the learning disability register (0.33% of registered patients), compared with 0.46% in London and 0.59% in England ²³.

In 2017, the proportion of primary, secondary and special school children identified as having a learning disability in the borough was 4.4% (1,164), which was similar to the London average and lower than the England average of 5.6%.

Adults with a learning disability who live in their own home or with their family: In 2023/24, Richmond’s rate was 76.3% (n=299), which was the 9th lowest in London, 6.6% lower than the England average and 3.9% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2023/24 was also 12.9% higher than in 2011/12, in comparison with 16.6% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

5.2 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The EHC plan and SEN figures are current; the age, ward and looked-after-children figures date from 2018 to 2019.

A child or young person has SEND if they have a learning difficulty or disability which calls for special educational provision to be made for him/her. In 2024/25, 16.2% of pupils in Richmond schools (6,380 pupils) had special educational needs — significantly lower than the England figure (19.6%) and lower than the London figure (18.6%). The local proportion has increased from 12.5% in 2015/16. ²⁴

In January 2026, Richmond maintained 2,166 education, health and care (EHC) plans, 7% more than a year earlier (2,018) and 58% more than in 2018/19 (1,368); across England the number of plans grew by 103% over the same period. In 2025/26, 4.1% of pupils in Richmond schools had an EHC plan (England 6.0%) and a further 13.4% received SEN support (England 14.8%) ²⁵. The largest proportion of children with EHCPs are in 9–11 year olds followed by 15–17 year olds, with higher proportions seen amongst boys than girls. Generally, there are more children with SEND support living in Richmond wards compared to those with an EHCP . In 2018, 17.6% of Children Looked After had SEND support (but not an EHCP) compared with 29% nationally.

Pupils with special educational needs (SEN): In 2024/25, Richmond’s rate was 16.2% (n=6380), which was the 6th lowest in London, 17.2% lower than the England average and 13.0% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2024/25 was also 29.6% higher than in 2015/16, in comparison with 35.8% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

5.3 Violence against Women and Girls

Note: Some figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The chart and the sexual offences rate are current. The domestic abuse and MARAC figures are not dated in the text. They were carried over from the 2020 JSNA and have not been updated, so references to “the past 12 months”, “the year before” or “the past three years” describe the period before 2020, not the present.

The long-term increasing trend in domestic abuse continued, with a 2.3% rise over 12 months. The overall increases are believed to be heavily influenced by an improvement in police recording practices and a change in victim reporting and this is supported by the crime survey for England and Wales which shows a gradual reduction in domestic abuse since March 2012.

232 (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) MARAC cases were heard over the past 12 months, a 7% reduction on the previous 12-month period. 25% of cases involved a victim from an ethnic minority group. Mental health and substance misuse were a common theme among victims and suspects. Performance outcomes for MARAC show large reductions in police involvement following an initial MARAC meeting.

In 2024/25 the rate of recorded sexual offences in Richmond was 1.4 per 1,000 population (283 offences), lower than the England rate (3.1) and lower than the London rate (2.6); the local rate has increased from 1.0 in 2015/16. ²⁶ Increases in reported sexual offending are believed to be linked to changes in recording and reporting practices.

Violent crime - sexual offences per 1,000 population: In 2024/25, Richmond’s rate was 1.4 per 1,000 (n=283), which was the lowest in London, 53.8% lower than the England average and 45.3% lower than the London average. The latest Borough figure for 2024/25 was also 38.3% higher than in 2015/16, in comparison with 82.7% increase in England’s rate in the equivalent time period.

Source: OHID: Public Health Profiles

5.4 Crime and Children and Young People

Note: Some figures in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The figures on young victims, suspects and people accused of crime are not dated in the text. They were carried over from the 2020 JSNA and have not been updated, so references to “the past 12 months”, “the year before” or “the past three years” describe the period before 2020, not the present.

In the latest 12 monthly data, there were minimal changes in the number of victims of crime aged 10–17 (n=691) but falls in the number of young suspect(s) (n=1,024) and young person(s) accused of crime (n=121). Nevertheless, young people, particularly those aged 10–17 remain disproportionally affected by crime in Richmond. For young victims, this is most evident within the crime types of violence, sexual offences and robbery. Young victims and suspects are most common for crimes occurring in the borough’s main town centre wards.

More crime statistics related to children and young people can be found in Start Well chapter.

5.5 Homophobic Crime

Note: Some figures in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The hate crime figures are not dated in the text. They were carried over from the 2020 JSNA and have not been updated, so references to “the past 12 months”, “the year before” or “the past three years” describe the period before 2020, not the present.

Locally, and regionally, there was an increase in reports of homophobic hate crime, which in Richmond increased to 39 vs. 17 reports the year before, returning to a similar level as that seen two years prior.

5.6 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

5.7 Safeguarding in the Elderly

Note: The figures and service descriptions in this section have not been updated and may not reflect the latest available data. They are retained to provide context and should be interpreted alongside the more recent indicators presented elsewhere in this chapter. The analysis of crime against older people is not dated in the text. It was carried over from the 2020 JSNA and have not been updated, so references to “the past 12 months”, “the year before” or “the past three years” describe the period before 2020, not the present.

Victimisation of the elderly has increased in Richmond over the past three years. Coupled with an ageing population, victimisation of the elderly could become a bigger future issue.

• Older people are not disproportionately affected in terms of overall crime, but are disproportionately victimised for some crime types, particularly burglary and fraud but also personal theft.
• Richmond town centre was the prominent location for crime against older people, but East Sheen demonstrated the greatest disproportionality, with elderly people being more likely to be victimised there than the general population. Theft in Richmond town centre and burglary in Kew have become some of the fastest growing crimes against the elderly over the past three years.
• Elderly people are more likely to encounter crime in or near to their homes, especially for violent crime. Older victims of crime are predominately affected at non-peak times for overall crime (i.e. weekdays rather than weekends).
• Elderly women and the ‘oldest’ elderly people were the most likely to be victims of scams such as fraud and distraction burglary. There were more ‘vulnerable’ female victims than male victims of crime over the past three years