Islington Council: local authority assessment
How we assess local authorities
Assessment published: 20 June 2025
About Islington Council
Demographics
Islington Council is a London Borough local authority with a population of 220,373, situated in north London and includes several areas such as Finsbury Park, Holloway, Canonbury, Angel, Farringdon and Archway. The Integrated Care System covers the North Central London Integrated Care Board covering the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington.
The north of Islington includes areas of increased deprivation. The population has an Index of Multiple Deprivation score of 9 (1 is the least deprived, 10 is the most deprived) meaning it is one of the most deprived local authorities in England. The population is predominantly people of working age but there is a growing aging population. The population of people aged over 65 is projected to increase by 21% by 2030 and 31% by 2035.
The population of people aged over 65 is significantly lower than the England average, with 9.39% of people living in Islington being aged over 65 compared to the England average of 18.61%. There is a higher population of working age people, with 74.4% of people living in Islington aged 18-64 compared to the England average of 60.57%.
Islington is a diverse borough with 62.22% White British, 13.37% Black, Black British, African or Black Caribbean, 9.94% Asian or Asian British, 7.49% Mixed or Multiple, and 7.08% other.
Islington Council has remained politically stable with consistent governance by the Labour Party since 2010.
Financial facts
- The local authority estimated that in 2023/24, its total budget would be £467,543,000 its actual spend for that year was £579,623,000 which was £112,080,000 more than estimated.
- The local authority estimated that it would spend £107,850,000 of its total budget on adult social care in 2023/24. Its actual spend was £107,057,000 which was £793,000 less than estimated.
- In 2023/2024, 18.47% of the budget was spent on adult social care.
- The local authority has raised the full adult social care precept for 2023/24 with a value of 2%. Please note that the amount raised through Adult Social Care precept varies from local authority to local authority.
- Approximately 3310 people were accessing long-term adult social care support, and approximately 505 people were accessing short-term adult social care support in 2023/24.