Ealing’s population fell for the first time since 2021 in the year to mid-2025 after the number of people moving from the borough to elsewhere in the UK exceeded those arriving by more than 7,000, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
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.
The overall fall was just 0.16%, but this came despite thousands more people leaving Ealing for other parts of the UK than moving into the borough.
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.
In 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.
The loss was partly made up by 3,965 more people arriving from abroad than leaving, along with 2,483 more births than deaths.
The latest ONS figures also suggest 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.
The biggest difference was among people aged 35 to 39, with 899 more leaving than arriving.
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.
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.
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.
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. The largest percentage decreases were in Camden, down 1.8%, and Westminster and Southwark, both down 1.5%.
Among neighbouring boroughs, Brent recorded the largest fall, losing an estimated 3,197 residents, or 0.9% of its population.
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%.
Harrow was the only neighbouring borough to record an increase, gaining an estimated 1,625 residents, or 0.6%.
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%.
The ONS said 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.
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