Diversity

One of the striking features of Newham is its diversity.

• Newham was one of only two boroughs in the 2001 Census that had more than 50% of its population in Black and Minority Ethnic population groups (Brent was the other). Newham maintains its position as the borough with the largest proportion of population in non- White ethnic groups.
• The Census data shows that 62% of Newham's residents were born in the UK. Of the 38% who were born abroad, 90% were born in 47 different countries.
• It is clear from National Insurance Number applications and registration with GPs that Newham is home to a significant Eastern European community.
• Newham had the second largest percentage of Muslims in England and Wales, and the fourth lowest percentage of Christians. Almost a quarter (24%) of Newham residents stated their religion as Muslim and just under a half stated their religion as Christian.
• The Census reported that approximately 26,000 people (10.5% of the total population) in Newham live with a long term limiting illness.
• Newham has the second highest proportion of people under 25 year's olds and the second lowest proportion of people over 65 years old within the UK.

However, part of this diversity means that we are also one of the most deprived Boroughs in the UK:

• We are one of the poorest Boroughs in London. Poverty intensity in Newham is high. One in five people in Newham lived in households with below 30% of the national median household income compared with one in 16 in London and one in 25 in Britain.
• Newham has a lower percentage of the working population with National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) level 4 or above, compared to London or nationally. Newham also has much higher proportions of residents without any qualifications. However, the proportion of Newham's population with other qualifications (this includes foreign qualifications and some professional qualifications) is higher in Newham compared with London or England & Wales.
• Employment deprivation is defined as involuntary exclusion of the working age population from work. For Newham, this amounted to 15% of the working age population. Newham ranked 24th for employment deprivation in England, and 2nd in London behind Lambeth.

Our staff are also pretty diverse and reflect the borough they serve. Just under 50% are from a Black and Minority Ethnic group; 64% are female; 8% state they have a disability, and 33% work part-time.