London is one of the largest cities in the developed world in terms of its built-up area, and is the most populous city in the European Union, with over 7 million residents. It is also one of the European Union’s most densely settled areas: only Copenhagen, Brussels and Paris are more densely populated.
There were 104,200 live births and 58,600 deaths in London in 2001, a natural population increase of 45,600. Natural population growth in London accounted for 70 per cent of the total natural growth of the UK in 2001, even though London was home to only 12 per cent of the total population.
The crude birth rate in London is high, at nearly 15 live births per thousand residents in 1999, and this is mainly due to the high proportion of women of childbearing age. London’s crude birth rate is also high compared with most cities on mainland Europe. London’s crude death rate, at fewer than 9 deaths per thousand residents, is close to the rates for most European cities.
Source: Office for National Statistics; General Register Office for Scotland; Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency