Kensington and Chelsea: population and statistics
Kensington and Chelsea has a population of 145,734 (2025) across 12.1 km², or 12,014 people per km². It ranks 188 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is falling: −6.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 145,734 residents
- 12.1 km²
- 12,014 people/km²
Kensington and Chelsea in numbers
Population of Kensington and Chelsea over time
Kensington and Chelsea had 156,149 residents in 2015 and 145,734 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 144,874 |
| 2021 | 144,266 |
| 2022 | 147,887 |
| 2023 | 149,049 |
| 2024 | 147,255 |
| 2025 | 145,734 |
All indicators for Kensington and Chelsea
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 16.1% | 12.6% | 20.4% | ranked 295 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 12.8% | 17.8% | 17.4% | ranked 358 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 89,660 dwellings | 3,863,730 | 27,429,300 | ranked 102 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 72.9% | 50.9% | 31.6% | ranked 1 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 7.1% | 18.5% | 18.1% | ranked 317 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 66,884 households | 111,538 | 61,440 | ranked 134 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 17.0% | 47.1% | 84.7% | ranked 313 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 82.9% | 52.8% | 14.8% | ranked 6 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 32.7% | 47.2% | 67.3% | ranked 312 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 39.6% | 29.9% | 17.6% | ranked 3 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 27.6% | 22.7% | 14.3% | ranked 17 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £1,232,640 | £555,175 | £272,474 | ranked 1 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −14.1% | −2.8% | 2.2% | ranked 357 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | ranked 5 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 63.4% | 70.7% | 76.7% | ranked 276 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 14.1% | 12.6% | 7.8% | ranked 15 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.9% | ranked 177 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 15,105 sites | 611,345 | 3,232,440 | ranked 49 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 103.6 per 1,000 | 67.0 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 7 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 13,025 businesses | 552,505 | 2,786,975 | ranked 47 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £52,576 | £46,514 | £38,490 | ranked 6 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 65.6% | 74.7% | 76.3% | ranked 336 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 3.4% | 5.5% | 3.2% | ranked 142 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Kensington and Chelsea | London | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 58.3% | 41.3% | 18.5% | ranked 8 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 33 local authorities in London, Kensington and Chelsea ranks 32 by population.
Dwellings built before 1940: 72.9% in Kensington and Chelsea, compared with an average of 50.9% in London and 34.9% across the UK.
Share of residents aged under 16: 12.8% in Kensington and Chelsea, compared with an average of 17.8% in London and 17.7% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 20.6% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in London for “Dwellings built before 1940”.
- Number 1 in London for “Average house price”.
- “Dwellings built before 1940”: higher than in 100% of local authorities.
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: lower than in 99% of local authorities.
- “Households without central heating”: higher than in 99% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,699 football pitches.
- 42.3 times denser than the UK average.
Business sectors: Kensington and Chelsea
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Professional, scientific and technical20.6% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade16.5% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services10.8% ×1.3
- Real estate7.9% ×1.8
- Information and communication7.6% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services7.4% ×1.0
- Other service activities5.5% ×1.3
- Construction5.5% ×0.4
Where is Kensington and Chelsea?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kensington and Chelsea?
Kensington and Chelsea has 145,734 residents (2025), ranking 188 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Kensington and Chelsea?
Kensington and Chelsea covers 12.1 km², with a density of 12,014 people per km².
Is the population of Kensington and Chelsea growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Kensington and Chelsea went from 156,149 to 145,734, a change of −6.7%.
Where is Kensington and Chelsea?
Kensington and Chelsea is in London (region). Latitude 51.502, longitude −0.195.
Dwellings built before 1940: what is the figure for Kensington and Chelsea?
In Kensington and Chelsea, “Dwellings built before 1940” stands at 72.9% (2026), ranking 1 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 31.6%.
Share of residents aged under 16: what is the figure for Kensington and Chelsea?
In Kensington and Chelsea, “Share of residents aged under 16” stands at 12.8% (2025), ranking 358 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 17.4%.
Which local authorities border Kensington and Chelsea?
The nearest to Kensington and Chelsea are Hammersmith and Fulham (2.9 km), Westminster (4.1 km), Wandsworth (5.0 km), Camden (5.1 km), Lambeth (7.1 km).