Islington is now the most densely populated borough in the UK.

The results of the 2011 Census show that the borough’s population has soared to 206,100, which means there is now an average of 13,875 residents per square kilometre.

The figure is 15 per cent more than in the 2001 Census, when Islington was named as the second most densely populated borough after Kensington and Chelsea which it has now overtaken.

Islington Council leader Cllr Catherine West attributed the rise to good job prospects in the borough and the ever improving transport links – and said that one of the council’s priorities is to protect the remaining green spaces.

She said: “It’s showing that people are going where the jobs are and Islington is a vibrant area where people want to be. There is still capacity at local schools and it’s a much less crowded borough compared to the 1860s.”

Cllr West added: “It doesn’t mean there isn’t a good quality of life.

“We have wonderful parks and great open spaces, and as a council we are determined to protect green spaces and only allow building on land which has already been built on.’’