Socio-economic statistics for South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Socio-economic statistics for South Kensington, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for South Kensington in Kensington and Chelsea 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 South Kensington older than the national average or younger? What is the population of South Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea? Is South Kensington an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

South Kensington Health Statistics

Redcliffe has significantly more residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Redcliffe 66.16% 23.64% 6.98% 2.52% 0.7%
Kensington and Chelsea 59.61% 26.71% 9.2% 3.35% 1.13%
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 Kensington and Chelsea changed since 2011?

Kensington and Chelsea residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 57.84% 28.48% 9.12% 3.38% 1.18%
2021 59.61% 26.71% 9.2% 3.35% 1.13%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

South Kensington Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education South Kensington 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 South Kensington to the national average for England.
Level Redcliffe England
No Qualifications 7.75% 18.08%
Level 1 2.88% 9.69%
Level 2 6.08% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 1.15% 5.32%
Level 3 13.37% 16.92%
Level 4 65.18% 33.92%

South Kensington Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Redcliffe.
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

South Kensington & Kensington and Chelsea 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 South Kensington in the Kensington and Chelsea local area district.

Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Redcliffe 41.12% 58.88%
Kensington and Chelsea 46.08% 53.92%
London 59.37% 40.63%
England 82.65% 17.35%

South Kensington compared to other wards in Kensington and Chelsea

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Queen's Gate 32.95% 67.05%
2 Earl's Court 35.33% 64.67%
3 Courtfield 35.67% 64.33%
4 Abingdon 38.19% 61.81%
5 Holland 39.25% 60.75%
6 Brompton & Hans Town 39.64% 60.36%
7 Redcliffe 41.12% 58.88%
8 Campden 42.72% 57.28%
9 Pembridge 43.74% 56.26%
10 Royal Hospital 46.67% 53.33%
11 Stanley 48.83% 51.17%
12 Colville 52.29% 47.71%
13 Chelsea Riverside 52.73% 47.27%
14 Golborne 53.05% 46.95%
15 Norland 55.99% 44.01%
16 Notting Dale 57.21% 42.79%
17 Dalgarno 59.75% 40.25%
18 St. Helen's 61.88% 38.12%
'; South Kensington is ranked 7 out of 18 wards in Kensington and Chelsea for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

What are the occupations of the residents of South Kensington?

The largest employment sector in South Kensington is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 30.92%
Professional Occupations 30.25%
Associate Professional & Technical 19.1%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 5.86%
Administrative & Secretarial 5.59%
Elementary Occupations 2.3%
Skilled Trades 1.53%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 1.41%

South Kensington 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 Kensington and Chelsea.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Kensington and Chelsea 3.4% -0.6%
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 South Kensington 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 South Kensington.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 59.35%
In Part-Time Work 19.57%
Unemployed 4.5%
80.43% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in South Kensington

How many residents own or rent their home in South Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in South Kensington either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 38.59 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 61.41 of South Kensington residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Redcliffe 38.59% 61.41%
Kensington and Chelsea 31.68% 68.32%
London 45.23% 54.77%
England 61.31% 38.69%

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

South Kensington compared to other wards in Kensington and Chelsea

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Campden 45.34% 54.66%
2 Queen's Gate 40.12% 59.88%
3 Norland 40.03% 59.97%
4 Abingdon 38.7% 61.3%
5 Royal Hospital 38.65% 61.35%
6 Redcliffe 38.59% 61.41%
7 Holland 37.69% 62.31%
8 Stanley (Kensington and Chelsea) 36.91% 63.09%
9 Pembridge 36.2% 63.8%
10 Courtfield 34.91% 65.09%
11 Brompton & Hans Town 33.3% 66.7%
12 Chelsea Riverside 29.95% 70.05%
13 St. Helen's (Kensington and Chelsea) 28.83% 71.17%
14 Earl's Court 26.11% 73.89%
15 Colville 21.92% 78.08%
16 Dalgarno 16.99% 83.01%
17 Notting Dale 12.76% 87.24%
18 Golborne 11.88% 88.12%
South Kensington is ranked 6 out of 18 wards in Kensington and Chelsea for the percentage of home owners.

What is the population of South Kensington and Kensington and Chelsea?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Kensington and Chelsea including South Kensington. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Abingdon 9806
Brompton & Hans Town 9914
Campden 10080
Chelsea Riverside 8416
Colville 8834
Courtfield 10044
Dalgarno 6993
Earl's Court 9894
Golborne 7593
Holland 8857
Norland 6040
Notting Dale 7438
Pembridge 5831
Queen's Gate 10097
Redcliffe 10389
Royal Hospital 10110
St. Helen's 5774
Stanley 10754
Kensington and Chelsea Total 156864



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

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