The constituency is very ethnically diverse, and has the highest proportion of black, African, and Afro-Caribbean residents of all constituencies in
England and
Wales, according to
Office for National Statistics 2011 Census figures, at 37.4%. This includes 22.4% being African (highest), 9.3% being Caribbean and 5.7% being of any other black background (highest). More than two-fifths (40.8%) of residents were born outside of the UK. With 50.6% of all residential properties being social housing, it also has the highest proportion of social housing of any parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. More than three in 10 residents are single parents. The area is also socially diverse with fine Georgian houses in parts of
Camberwell, while
Nunhead to the east has experienced considerable regeneration in recent years. At least two
conservation area groupings exist containing pockets of upmarket housing stock, principally Camberwell Grove and Camberwell Green. The housing stock has expanded in the early-21st century due to major increases in Central London property prices, which has led to new private sector-funded housing initiatives. As such, rents across the private rented sector have multiplied, affecting its long-term communities who have entrenched high reliance overall on the rented sector, pushing residents away by
eviction or further away from owning their own homes near to their communities.
King's College Hospital, one of London's largest teaching hospitals, and the
Maudsley Hospital are major employers in the constituency. One in seven residents are employed in human health and social work. ==Boundaries==