Overall key findings

Across all the indicators on the most recent data available , we judge the overall key findings to be:

• London is the most unequal region in England and income is more concentrated at the top than elsewhere. It has the highest proportion of households in the top tenth of incomes nationally, and the highest proportion in the bottom tenth.

• London has the highest rate of income poverty of any region in England. Inner London in particular has the highest rates for all age groups (children, working-age adults and pensioners) after housing costs are taken into account.

• Although Inner London is worse than any English region on many indicators, it has seen improvements in recent years. However, Outer London has experienced a significant deterioration across a number of indicators since the late 1990s, including child and working-age poverty. More of the capital's low-income population now live in Outer London than Inner London.

• Boroughs in the Inner East & South of the capital fare worse across a range of indicators in comparison to London's other boroughs. This is particularly noticeable for worklessness and ill health. The difference between Inner and Outer London therefore masks a stronger contrast between the Inner East & South and the rest of London.

• The proportion and number of children in poverty who live in a household where at least one adult works has risen since the late 1990s. In-work poverty now accounts for around half of all child poverty in London.

• Rates of poverty vary considerably between London's ethnic groups. Bangladeshi households are three times as likely to be in poverty as Indian or White households. Work rates vary substantially not only by ethnicity, but also (within ethnic groups) by country of birth.

• The unemployment rate among young adults in both Inner and Outer London was over 20% by the end of the last decade, more than any other region. In the previous decade, it had risen throughout the country, but while the rise in Inner Lodnon had been lower than average, the rise in Outer London had been above average

• The proportion of homeless households in London living in temporary accommodation is ten times higher than the national average and seven times higher than the English city with the second highest rate.

• Educational attainment at both ages 11 and 16 has significantly improved in London since the late 1990s. At age 16 Outer London now has a lower proportion of pupils not attaining five GCSEs than any English region.

• The proportion of men who die before the age of 65 is much higher in Inner London than in any other region of England.

Posted on 1 May 2009