Londoners Moving to Suburbs, Country

LONDON —  More Londoners than ever are moving to the suburbs and England’s rural counties are gaining in popularity, Britain’s census office said Friday.

In a population projection covering the years 1983 to 2001, the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys estimated that by the turn of the century most major English cities--London, Liverpool and Newcastle--will have fewer residents.

The census office said only six of the 19 boroughs forming Outer London are projected to lose population, while the population will decline in 12 of the city’s 14 inner boroughs, where unemployment is high and living conditions poor.