Socio-economic statistics for Bow Common, Tower Hamlets

Socio-economic statistics for Bow Common, Tower Hamlets

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Bow Common in Tower Hamlets from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Bow Common older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Bow Common and Tower Hamlets? Is Bow Common an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Bow Common Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Tower Hamlets.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Tower Hamlets 5.2% -0.8%
London 4.8% -0.4%
England 3.8% -0.3%
UK 3.7% -0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Bow Common on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Bow Common.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 70.85%
In Part-Time Work 16.95%
Unemployed 4.63%
83.05% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Bow Common

How many residents own or rent their home in Bow Common and Tower Hamlets

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Bow Common either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 33.21 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 66.79 of Bow Common residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Limehouse 33.21% 66.79%
Tower Hamlets 23.13% 76.87%
London 45.23% 54.77%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Bow Common has a significantly lower level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically deprived area.

Bow Common compared to other wards in Tower Hamlets

# Ward Owned Rented
1 St Katharine's & Wapping 35.05% 64.95%
2 Limehouse 33.21% 66.79%
3 Bow West 31.58% 68.42%
4 Island Gardens 29.03% 70.97%
5 Bow East 28.16% 71.84%
6 Blackwall & Cubitt Town 23.78% 76.22%
7 Bethnal Green 23.2% 76.8%
8 Mile End (Tower Hamlets) 22.26% 77.74%
9 Weavers 22.22% 77.78%
10 Bromley North 21.42% 78.58%
11 St Peter's (Tower Hamlets) 21.35% 78.65%
12 Canary Wharf 20.96% 79.04%
13 Stepney Green 20.87% 79.13%
14 Spitalfields & Banglatown 20.76% 79.24%
15 Bromley South 19.83% 80.17%
16 Lansbury 19.78% 80.22%
17 Shadwell 17.88% 82.12%
18 Poplar (Tower Hamlets) 17.83% 82.17%
19 St Dunstan's 17.58% 82.42%
20 Whitechapel 16.63% 83.37%
Bow Common is ranked 2 out of 20 wards in Tower Hamlets for the percentage of home owners.

What are the occupations of the residents of Bow Common?

The largest employment sector in Bow Common is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 37.66%
Associate Professional & Technical 19.05%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 17.47%
Elementary Occupations 7.82%
Administrative & Secretarial 5.84%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 3.98%
Skilled Trades 2.86%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 1.95%

Bow Common Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Limehouse.
Age Band Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Bow Common Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Bow Common residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Bow Common to the national average for England.
Level Limehouse England
No Qualifications 11.36% 18.08%
Level 1 4.79% 9.69%
Level 2 5.85% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 1.32% 5.32%
Level 3 10.64% 16.92%
Level 4 63.59% 33.92%

Bow Common & Tower Hamlets Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Bow Common in the Tower Hamlets local area district.

Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Limehouse 49.01% 50.99%
Tower Hamlets 53.2% 46.8%
London 59.37% 40.63%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Bow Common compared to other wards in Tower Hamlets

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Canary Wharf 39.06% 60.94%
2 Blackwall & Cubitt Town 43.31% 56.69%
3 Whitechapel 44.77% 55.23%
4 Spitalfields & Banglatown 46.86% 53.14%
5 Limehouse 49.01% 50.99%
6 Island Gardens 51.05% 48.95%
7 Poplar 51.54% 48.46%
8 St Katharine's & Wapping 52.92% 47.08%
9 Shadwell 52.99% 47.01%
10 Lansbury 54.48% 45.52%
11 Mile End 54.9% 45.1%
12 Bromley South 54.97% 45.03%
13 Stepney Green 55.02% 44.98%
14 St Peter's 56.05% 43.95%
15 Bromley North 56.16% 43.84%
16 Weavers 56.44% 43.56%
17 St Dunstan's 57.7% 42.3%
18 Bethnal Green 58.28% 41.72%
19 Bow East 63.93% 36.08%
20 Bow West 64.84% 35.16%
'; Bow Common is ranked 5 out of 20 wards in Tower Hamlets for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Bow Common Health Statistics

Limehouse has significantly more residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Limehouse 55.68% 33.34% 7.28% 2.78% 0.92%
Tower Hamlets 52.97% 32.13% 10.05% 3.6% 1.26%
London 53.55% 31.85% 10.33% 3.23% 1.05%
England 48.49% 33.71% 12.65% 3.98% 1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Tower Hamlets changed since 2011?

Tower Hamlets residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 1.79% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 50.56% 32.75% 10.65% 4.42% 1.62%
2021 52.97% 32.13% 10.05% 3.6% 1.26%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What is the population of Bow Common and Tower Hamlets?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Tower Hamlets including Bow Common. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Bethnal Green 23349
Blackwall & Cubitt Town 22369
Bow East 20622
Bow West 14609
Bromley North 10714
Bromley South 14960
Canary Wharf 19454
Island Gardens 17572
Lansbury 19103
Limehouse 7817
Mile End 23853
Poplar 7931
Shadwell 15009
Spitalfields & Banglatown 14932
St Dunstan's 14577
St Katharine's & Wapping 13425
St Peter's 22211
Stepney Green 12980
Weavers 15389
Whitechapel 21093
Tower Hamlets Total 331969



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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