In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 14,609. This rose steadily throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 95,000 in the middle of that century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased — reaching nearly 374,000 by the turn of the century. This increase in population peaked before World War I, falling slowly in the aftermath until World War II began an exodus from London towards the new towns under the Abercrombie Plan for London (1944). The population is now rising again, and the 2001 census gives Hackney a population of 202,824.

The population is ethnically diverse. Of the resident population, 89,490 (44%) people describe themselves as White British. 24,861 (12%) are in other White ethnic groups, 50,009 (24%) are Black or Black British, 19,791 (9%) are Asian or Asian British, 8,501 (4%) describe themselves as 'Mixed', and 6,432 (3%) as Chinese or Other.

thumb|left|[[Stamford Hill, along with neighbouring West Hackney, Clapton and Stoke Newington, has a large Hasidic Jewish population.]]

There is also a large Turkish and Kurdish population resident in Hackney. Turkish and Kurdish communities are located in all parts of the borough, though there is a greater concentration in north and central Hackney.

132,931 (66%) of the resident population were British born. A further 10,095 (5%) were born in other parts of Europe, and the remaining 59,798 (29%) born elsewhere in the world.

2018 estimates are that Christianity is the biggest religion in Hackney, with 31% of residents identifying Christian; 13% identified as Muslim, 10% Jewish, and 7% belonged to other religions. A further 38% either have no religion, or did not submit a response. In numerical terms, Hackney has the second largest Jewish population of any local authority in the United Kingdom, after the London Borough of Barnet (and in percentage terms, third after Barnet and the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire).

32% of households are owner–occupied.

The largest rise of ethnic groups between 2001 and 2011 was "Other", which increased by 222%. This was followed by "Mixed", which rose by 84%.

According to the GLA Population Estimate for 2018, 36.4% of the borough's population are White British, 18.1% are "Other White", 10.3% are of Black African heritage, and 6.4% are of Black Caribbean heritage. Hackney is also home to several smaller Asian communities.

Ethnicity

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group

! colspan="14" |Year

|-

! colspan="2" |1966 estimations

! colspan="2" |1971 estimations

! colspan="2" |1981 estimations

! colspan="2" |1991 census

! colspan="2" |2001 census

! colspan="2" |2011 census

! colspan="2" |2021 census

|-

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

|-

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

! style="text-align:left" | White: Total

!–

!92.9%

!–

!85.1%

!131,797

!73.2%

!124,090

!66%!! 120,468 !! 59.4% !! 134,617 !! 54.7%

!137,709

!53.1%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | White: British

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 89,490 || 44.1% || 89,030 || 36.2%

|87,927

|33.9%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | White: Irish

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 6,117 || 3.0% || 5,216 || 2.1%

|5,582

|2.2%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| –|| –|| 474 || 0.2%

|248

|0.1%

|-

|White: Roma

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|865

|0.3%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | White: Other

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 24,861 || 12.3% || 39,897 || 16.2%

|43,087

|16.6%

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: Total

!–

!–

!–

!–

!33,171

!18.4%

!41,903

!22.3%!! 50,009 !! 24.7% !! 56,858 !! 23.1%

!54,645

!21.1%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: African

|–

|–

|–

|–

|7,701

|4.3%

|12,886

|6.9%|| 24,290 || 12.0% || 27,976 || 11.4%

|29,478

|11.4%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: Caribbean

|–

|–

|–

|–

|19,330

|10.7%

|21,321

|11.3%|| 20,879 || 10.3% || 19,168 || 7.8%

|17,903

|6.9%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: Other Black

|–

|–

|–

|–

|6,140

|

|7,696

| || 4,840 || 2.4% || 9,714 || 3.9%

|7,264

|2.8%

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Total

!–

!–

!–

!–

!11,411

!6.3%

!16,550

!8.8%!! 19,791 !! 9.8% !! 25,867 !! 10.5%

!26,885

!10.3%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Indian

|–

|–

|–

|–

|5,405

|

|6,629

| || 7,624 || 3.8% || 7,599 || 3.1%

|8,832

|3.4%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Pakistani

|–

|–

|–

|–

|1,489

|

|1,845

| || 2,165 || 1.1% || 1,905 || 0.8%

|2,461

|0.9%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi

|–

|–

|–

|–

|1,824

|

|3,446

| || 5,970 || 2.9% || 6,180 || 2.5%

|6,554

|2.5%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Chinese

|–

|–

|–

|–

|1,308

|

|2,016

| || 2,377 || 1.2% || 3,436 || 1.4%

|3,459

|1.3%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Other Asian

|–

|–

|–

|–

|1,385

|

|2,614

| || 1,655 || 0.8% || 6,747 || 2.7%

|5,579

|2.2%

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Mixed or British Mixed: Total

!–

!–

!–

!–

!–

!–

!–

!–!! 8,501 !! 4.2% !! 15,869 !! 6.4%

!17,487

!6.7%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black Caribbean

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 3,075 || 1.5% || 4,989 || 2.0%

|4,749

|1.8%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black African

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 1,599 || 0.8% || 2,866 || 1.2%

|2,735

|1.1%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Asian

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 1,576 || 0.8% || 3,020 || 1.2%

|3,691

|1.4%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: Other Mixed

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 2,251 || 1.1% || 4,994 || 2.0%

|6,312

|2.4%

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Other: Total

!–

!–

!–

!–

!3,764

!

!5,357

! !! 4,055 !! 2.0% !! 13,059 !! 5.3%

!22,421

!8.6%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Other: Arab

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| –|| –|| 1,721 || 0.7%

|2,342

|0.9%

|-

| style="text-align:left" | Other: Any other ethnic group

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–

|–|| 4,055 || 2.0% || 11,338 || 4.6%

|20,079

|7.7%

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Ethnic minority: Total

!–

!7.1%

!–

!14.9%

!48,348

!26.8%

!63,810

!33%!! 82,356 !! 40.7% !! 111,653 !! 45.3%

!121,438

!46.9%

|-

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

! style="text-align:left" | Total

!–

!100%

!–

!100%

!180,145

!100%

!187,900

!100%!! 202,824 !! 100% !! 246,270 !! 100%

!259,147

!100%

|}

Religion

The following shows the religious identity of residents residing in Hackney according to the census results.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

! rowspan="2" |Religion

! colspan="2" |1971 estimates

! colspan="2" |1995 estimates

! colspan="2" |2001 census

! colspan="2" |2011 census

! colspan="2" | 2021 census

|-

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

!Number

!%

|-

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

!Holds religious beliefs

!–

!–

!–

!–

!139,902

!69.0

!153,170

!62.2

!142,592

!55.0

|-

|Christian

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |94,431

| align="right" |46.6

| align="right" |95,131

| align="right" |38.6

| align="right" |79,499

| align="right" |30.7

|-

|Muslim

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |27,908

| align="right" |13.8

| align="right" |34,727

| align="right" |14.1

| align="right" |34,578

| align="right" |13.3

|-

|Sikh

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |1,725

| align="right" |0.9

| align="right" |1,872

| align="right" |0.8

| align="right" |1,867

| align="right" |0.7

|-

|Hindu

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |1,637

| align="right" |0.8

| align="right" |1,577

| align="right" |0.6

| align="right" |1,998

| align="right" |0.8

|-

|Buddhist

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |2,321

| align="right" |1.1

| align="right" |3,075

| align="right" |1.2

| align="right" |2,343

| align="right" |0.9

|-

|Jewish

|30,000

|14%

|17,900

|9.9%

| align="right" |10,732

| align="right" |5.3

| align="right" |15,477

| align="right" |6.3

| align="right" |17,426

| align="right" |6.7

|-

|Other religion

|–

|–

|–

|–

| align="right" |1,148

| align="right" |0.6

| align="right" |1,311

| align="right" |0.5

| align="right" |4,879

| align="right" |1.9

|-

!No religion

!–

!–

!–

!–

! align="right" |38,607

! align="right" |19.0

! align="right" |69,454

! align="right" |28.2

! align="right" |94,113

! align="right" |36.3

|-

!Religion not stated

!–

!–

!–

!–

! align="right" |24,315

! align="right" |12.0

! align="right" |23,646

! align="right" |9.6

! align="right" |22,442

! align="right" |8.7

|-

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

!Total population

!–

!100%

!–

!100%

! align="right" |202,824

! align="right" |100%

! align="right" |246,270

! align="right" |100%

! align="right" |259,147

! align="right" |100%

|}

In 2021 the Interlink Foundation estimated the borough's Haredi Jewish population to be between 27,405 and 29,460. This would be between 11.7 and 12.5% of residents.

Other statistics

In a 2007 report, every ward of Hackney was among the 10% most deprived in the country, with 47% of children living in low-income households.

Hackney had a reputation as one of the most crime-ridden London boroughs, and some of its streets have even been referred to as "Murder Mile", but cooperation between local police and council has resulted in the borough experiencing a bigger drop in crime than in any other London borough in the four-year period up to 2007 (28% reduction).

In the 2011 census, Hackney had the highest rate of commuters travelling by bicycle in London.

==Education==<!-- This section is linked from Finsbury Park -->

In 2002, the borough entered into a 10-year contract with the Learning Trust, an independent collaborative body that organises education for Hackney's 27,000 pupils in over 70 schools, nurseries and play centres. The trust was set up in response to an OFSTED report that identified failings in the then existing system. Two of London's most successful City Academies are in Hackney with another two in development and plans to rebuild or renovate every other Hackney school by 2016.

LBH regained responsibility for education in 2012, absorbing the Learning Trust under the new name "Hackney Learning Trust".

Public libraries

The London Borough of Hackney has eight public libraries:

  • Clapton Library
  • Dalston CLR James Library
  • Hackney Central Library
  • Homerton Library
  • Shoreditch Library
  • Stamford Hill Library
  • Stoke Newington Library
  • Woodberry Down Library

Transport

Three London Overground lines serve Hackney: the North London Line crosses from west to east while the East London Line runs from Highbury & Islington and passes through Dalston Junction and on south through Haggerston, Hoxton, Shoreditch towards destinations south of the River Thames, including Clapham Junction, Crystal Palace, Croydon, and New Cross. Local services on the Lea Valley Lines passed into London Overground on 31 May 2015. Trains originate at London Liverpool Street and head towards either Enfield Town (via Bush Hill Park), Cheshunt (via Turkey Street) or Chingford (via Clapton).

It is proposed that Crossrail 2 will provide Hackney a new station at Dalston with the potential of the future 'eastern branch' with stops at Hackney Central and Hackney Wick.

London Overground

North London Line Travelling west to east&nbsp;— Dalston Kingsland, Hackney Central, Homerton and Hackney Wick

East London Line Travelling north to south&nbsp;— Dalston Junction, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street

Lea Valley Lines Travelling south to north – London Fields, Hackney Downs, Rectory Road, Stoke Newington and Stamford Hill.

Travel to work

In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: bus, minibus or coach, 16.9% of all residents aged 16–74; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 9.2%; bicycle, 9.2%; on foot, 7.5%; driving a car or van, 7.1%; train, 4.6%; work mainly at or from home, 3.5%.

65% of households in Hackney are car free.

Media

The Hackney Gazette and Hackney Citizen provide local news.

Notable people

Attractions and institutions

thumb|right|Hackney One Carnival on Ridley road (2016)

thumb|right|Flats built in the site of [[Gainsborough Studios in Hoxton]]

  • Abney Park Cemetery – overgrown Victorian cemetery and Nature Reserve
  • Arcola Theatre – studio theatre
  • Broadway Market – popular outdoor market
  • Cafe Oto – music club and daytime café
  • Castle Climbing Centre
  • The Dolphin - Grade II listed public house and venue
  • Museum of the Home – decorative arts museum
  • Happy Man Tree - England's Tree of the Year 2020
  • Hackney Empire – theatre
  • Hackney City Farm
  • Hackney Carnival – carnival street parade
  • Hackney Wick Stadium (closed 1997)
  • Hoxton Hall – community centre and performance space
  • National Centre of Circus Arts – circus school
  • Newington Green Unitarian Church – London's oldest nonconformist place of worship
  • Rio Cinema – Grade II listed independent Art Deco cinema
  • St John's Hoxton – Anglican church (where "Amazing Grace" was written)
  • Shoreditch Town Hall
  • Sutton House – heritage house and museum
  • The Towers of Hackney
  • Victoria Miro Gallery – contemporary art gallery
  • Vortex Jazz Club – live jazz venue
  • Woodberry Wetlands – nature reserve
  • St Leonard's Hospital, Hackney - Local Hospital

Coat of arms

thumb|alt=1969 Coat of Arms of the London Borough of Hackney|Coat of Arms of the London Borough of Hackney

The borough's coat of arms includes elements representing its three predecessor boroughs:

  • The shield is surmounted by a representation of Hackney's St. Augustine's Tower.
  • An eight-pointed Maltese Cross, for Hackney, which derives from the symbols of the Orders of the Knights Templar and Knights of St. John, both of whom held the Manor of Hackney.
  • Bells representing Shoreditch, these are the bells in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
  • Oaks for Stoke Newington, representing its origins in the Forest of Middlesex.

Twin towns – sister cities

Hackney's twin towns and sister cities include:

Active

  • Suresnes, Île-de-France, France
  • St George’s, Grenada

Inactive

  • Bridgetown, Barbados
  • Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
  • Haifa, Israel

Freedom of the Borough

The following people, military units, and organisations and groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of Hackney.

Individuals

  • John Hillman: 1928
  • Theodore Chapman: 1931
  • Henry Charles Rawll 1931
  • Sir William Ray Knight: 1931
  • Captain Sir Oscar Warburg: 1931
  • Walter Ernest Loweth: 1934
  • Henry Edwin Goodrich: 1941
  • Giles Charles Burton: 1947
  • Herbert William Butler: 1947
  • Florence Helena Du Vergier: 1947
  • Walter Thomas Wayman: 1947
  • Albert Cullington: 1955
  • The Honourable Arthur George Child-Villiers: 1955
  • Monsieur Marcel Legras, Mayor of Suresnes Seine: 1958
  • William Nichols: 1960
  • Clarissa Gooch: 1960
  • Mary Omerod: 1964
  • Charles Richard Halerow: 1964
  • George Ernest Silver: 1964
  • George Leonard Alfred Downing: 1965
  • Ernest Henderson: 1965
  • Sir Louis Sherman: 1978
  • Lady Sherman: 1978
  • Gladys M. Shanagher: 1978
  • Lilian Karpin: 1978
  • Arthur Super: 1978
  • Alfred Alexander: 1978
  • Max Marcus Feldman: 1986
  • John Kotz: 1986
  • Robert William Masters: 1986
  • Edward George Henry Millen: 1986
  • Martin Ottolangui: 1986
  • Robert Edward Owen: 1986
  • Matilda Anne Owen: 1990
  • Dr. Alexander Engelhardt, Chief Executive of Goettingen District Council: 1995
  • Joe Lobenstein: 1997
  • Gerry Ross: 1997
  • Gordon Bell: 19 April 2001
  • Saleem Siddiqui: 30 October 2013
  • Lt Col Roderick Morriss: 25 February 2015

Military units

  • 3 Military Intelligence Battalion (Volunteers) Intelligence Corps: 2008

Organisations and groups

  • Volunteer Centre Hackney: 21 July 2021
  • Medics at the Homerton University Hospital: 28 July 2021

References