Beyond Deptford

What 43 years did to London

I was born in 1983. Here’s how London has changed since then.

London’s population grew by 35%

Data: ONS / Nomis

The foreign-born share more than doubled

Data: GLA / ONS

Buying a first home got twice as expensive

Data: GLA / Nationwide

Manufacturing jobs fell by about 82%

Data: Department of Employment / Nomis

Heathrow passengers more than tripled

Data: CAA / Heathrow

Tube journeys rose by 114%

Data: DfT / TfL

1983 foreign-born share is interpolated from the 1981 and 1991 censuses. Housing = first-time-buyer house prices ÷ earnings.

→ See more London data visualisations

Elia Kabanov

References
  1. Population (London). Office for National Statistics.
  2. Labour Market Profile: London. ONS via Nomis.
  3. London and Europe: Facts and figures. GLA Economics.
  4. International migration, England and Wales: Census 2021. ONS.
  5. Transport Statistics Great Britain 2015. Department for Transport.
  6. Quarterly performance report, Q4 2025/26. Transport for London.
  7. London Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2013. Greater London Authority.
  8. Improved affordability provides boost to first-time buyers. Nationwide.
  9. Labour Statistics. Department of Employment.
  10. UK airport data 1983–1997. Civil Aviation Authority.
  11. Heathrow Airport Holdings Annual Report 2025. Heathrow Airport Holdings.

Support my work by subscribing to Hypertextual, a newsletter about science and big ideas.