Key Points
- Ealing’s population declined for the first time since 2021, dropping by 608 people to stand at 387,072 in mid-2025, representing an overall fall of 0.16%, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
- The primary driver behind the decrease was domestic migration, with 43,087 people leaving Ealing for other parts of the UK while only 36,029 arrived from elsewhere in the country—resulting in a net domestic loss of 7,058 residents.
- The internal migration deficit was partially offset by international migration, which saw 3,965 more people arriving from abroad than leaving, alongside a natural change of 2,483 more births than deaths.
- Demographic breakdowns indicate that families and young professionals contributed significantly to the outflow, including 1,844 more children under 15 leaving than arriving, and the largest single age-band gap appearing among adults aged 35 to 39.
- Ealing’s 0.16% drop mirrored a wider trend across the capital, where more than two-thirds of London’s 33 local authority areas recorded population decreases, though Ealing’s reduction remained smaller than most.
London (Extra London News) July 30, 2026 — Ealing’s population has experienced a downward adjustment for the first time in four years, new data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals. As reported by Ealing.news, the borough’s total estimated resident count slipped by 608 individuals down to 387,072 in the year leading up to mid-2025, marking a modest yet notable 0.16% decrease. This shift breaks a steady upward trajectory that began following the 2021 census, exposing a complex pattern of domestic migration away from west London that outpaced international inflows and local birth rates.
Why Did Ealing’s Population Fall for the First Time Since 2021?
To understand the mechanics behind this demographic pivot, statisticians look closely at the components of change. As detailed in figures covered by Ealing.news, the contraction occurred because outbound domestic migration heavily overshadowed inbound movement within the United Kingdom.
As reported by Ealing.news, a spokesperson or data compilation from the ONS noted that during the year to mid-2025,
“a total of 43,087 people moved from Ealing to another part of the UK, while 36,029 arrived from elsewhere in the country, resulting in a net loss of 7,058 people through moves within the UK”.
This substantial domestic deficit was not entirely neutralized, though it was softened, by external factors. Ealing.news highlighted that
“the loss was partly made up by 3,965 more people arriving from abroad than leaving, along with 2,483 more births than deaths”.
Nevertheless, these positive buffers were insufficient to prevent the overall population tally from sliding backward from its mid-2024 peak of 387,680.
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Which Demographic Groups Are Leaving Ealing?
A closer examination of the ONS data reveals distinct trends regarding who is packing up and leaving the borough. The figures strongly indicate that families and established working-age adults are leading the exodus to other regions of the United Kingdom.
As documented by Ealing.news, the statistical breakdown shows that
“families were among those moving away. In total, 1,844 more children aged under 15 left Ealing for other parts of the UK than arrived”.
When breaking down the shifts by specific age brackets, the data paints an even clearer picture. As noted by Ealing.news,
“the biggest difference was among people aged 35 to 39, with 899 more leaving than arriving”.
Furthermore, the publication pointed out that
“the next largest differences were among children aged up to four, with 784 more leaving, and adults aged 30 to 34, with 741 more leaving”.
Additional losses spanned multiple cohorts: Ealing.news reported that the figures
“also show 642 more people aged 40 to 44 leaving than arriving, along with 583 children aged five to nine and 477 aged 10 to 14”.
In contrast, younger adults demonstrated a completely different pattern. Ealing.news specified that
“people aged 20 to 24 were the only age group in which more people arrived from elsewhere in the UK than left, a net increase of 128”.
How Does Ealing Compare to Other London Boroughs?
Ealing’s recent contraction is part of a broader metropolitan phenomenon affecting the capital’s housing and population distributions. However, the scale of Ealing’s decrease remains relatively mild compared to many of its regional counterparts.
As outlined by Ealing.news,
“Ealing’s population fall of 0.16% was less than most of London’s 33 local authority areas. More than two-thirds of London councils recorded falls”.
Among the hardest-hit areas, Ealing.news reported that
“the largest percentage decreases were in Camden, down 1.8%, and Westminster and Southwark, both down 1.5%”.
Looking at immediate geographic neighbours, trends varied. As reported by Ealing.news, “Brent recorded the largest fall, losing an estimated 3,197 residents, or 0.9% of its population”. Other nearby boroughs also experienced reductions: Ealing.news stated that
“Hillingdon’s population fell by 1,215, or 0.37%, while Hammersmith and Fulham lost 587 residents, a decline of 0.31%. Hounslow’s population decreased by 561, or 0.19%”.
Bucking the wider sub-regional trend, Harrow stood alone among Ealing’s direct neighbours. As noted by Ealing.news,
“Harrow was the only neighbouring borough to record an increase, gaining an estimated 1,625 residents, or 0.6%”.
What is the Long-Term Population Context for Ealing?
Despite the headline-grabbing nature of a population decline, local context suggests the borough remains on a robust long-term growth curve when viewed across decades.
As emphasized by Ealing.news, “despite the latest decline, Ealing’s estimated population remains higher than in 2011. It has increased from 339,314 to 387,072, a rise of 47,758, or 14.1%”.
To trace the more recent trajectory leading up to the mid-2025 dip, Ealing.news noted the step-by-step numbers:
“The borough’s estimated population stood at 366,762 in mid-2021. It rose to 371,951 in mid-2022, 381,747 in mid-2023 and 387,680 in mid-2024, before falling by 608 to 387,072 in mid-2025”.
Furthermore, analysts point out structural limitations within the data itself. Ealing.news mentioned that
“the latest ONS figures give an estimate for the whole borough but are not broken out by each of its seven towns: Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall”.
Finally, qualifying the precision of these metrics, Ealing.news reported a cautionary statement directly from the ONS, which stated that
“the figures are estimates and small changes from one year to the next should not be treated as exact. Figures from mid-2022 onwards may also be revised as new population and migration information becomes available”.
