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People and census in South East

Region

South England. 9,691,844 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 19,088 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for South East, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Population by output area

Census 2021, England and Wales

Under 129379 or more

There is no population figure for South East’s output areas yet.

What is the population of South East?

South East had 9,278,065 usual residents at the census.

South East is the most populated of 12 in the UK.

Population

Region
9,278,065
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

South East had 9,278,065 usual residents at the census.

South East is the most populated of 12 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: South East among every region12 areas from 1,903,175 to 9,278,065. The middle area is 5,590,980. South East is 9,278,065.

Population estimate

Region
9,691,844
ONS population estimates · 2025

South East’s population was an estimated 9,691,844 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.6% in the year to mid-2025.

South East is most populated of 12 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: South East among every region12 areas from 1,928,446 to 9,691,844. The middle area is 5,789,582. South East is 9,691,844.

Aged 15 to 64

Region
63.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

63.1% of residents in South East were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In England the figure is 64.2%.

Against England
2% lower64.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: South East among every region12 areas from 61.8% to 70.0%. The middle area is 63.3%. South East is 63.1%.

Aged 65 and over

Region
19.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.4% of residents in South East were aged 65 or over at the census.

In England the figure is 18.4%.

Against England
5% higher18.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: South East among every region12 areas from 11.9% to 22.3%. The middle area is 19.5%. South East is 19.4%.

Aged under 15

Region
17.4%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

17.4% of residents in South East were aged under 15 at the census.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
About the same17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: South East among every region12 areas from 15.3% to 19.2%. The middle area is 17.5%. South East is 17.4%.

Born outside the UK

Region
15.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.8% of residents in South East were born outside the UK.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
9% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: South East among every region12 areas from 6.8% to 40.6%. The middle area is 11.6%. South East is 15.8%.

Disability

Region
16.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.1% of residents in South East had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In England the figure is 17.3%.

Against England
7% lower17.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: South East among every region12 areas from 13.2% to 24.3%. The middle area is 18.6%. South East is 16.1%.

Good or very good health

Region
84.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

84.0% of residents in South East said their health was good or very good.

In England the figure is 82.2%.

Against England
2% higher82.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: South East among every region12 areas from 78.0% to 85.4%. The middle area is 80.7%. South East is 84.0%.

Households

Region
3,807,966
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

South East had 3,807,966 households at the census.

South East is highest of 12 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: South East among every region12 areas from 768,811 to 3,807,966. The middle area is 2,439,187. South East is 3,807,966.

Households without a car or van

Region
16.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.9% of households in South East had no car or van at the census.

In England the figure is 23.5%.

Against England
28% lower23.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: South East among every region12 areas from 16.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 20.5%. South East is 16.9%.

Owner-occupied homes

Region
67.1%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

67.1% of households in South East owned their home at the census.

In England the figure is 62.3%.

Against England
8% higher62.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Owner-occupied homes: South East among every region12 areas from 46.8% to 67.1%. The middle area is 64.4%. South East is 67.1%.

Population density

Region
486 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

South East had 486 people per square kilometre at the census.

In England the figure is 433 per km².

Worked out by Open Index from census population counts and the area of each place.

Against England
12% higher433 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: South East among every region12 areas from 69 per km² to 5,593 per km². The middle area is 322 per km². South East is 486 per km².

Private rented homes

Region
19.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.2% of households in South East rented privately at the census.

In England the figure is 20.5%.

Against England
6% lower20.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: South East among every region12 areas from 12.9% to 30.0%. The middle area is 18.5%. South East is 19.2%.

Social rented homes

Region
13.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.6% of households in South East rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In England the figure is 17.1%.

Against England
20% lower17.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: South East among every region12 areas from 13.3% to 23.1%. The middle area is 16.9%. South East is 13.6%.

Degree-level qualifications

RegionEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
35.8%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

35.8% of residents aged 16 and over in South East had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In England the figure is 33.9%.

Against England
6% higher33.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: South East among every region11 areas from 28.6% to 46.7%. The middle area is 31.5%. South East is 35.8%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

RegionEngland and Wales only
7.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

7.0% of residents in South East identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In England the figure is 9.6%.

Against England
27% lower9.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: South East among every region10 areas from 2.8% to 20.7%. The middle area is 7.5%. South East is 7.0%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.4% of residents in South East identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In England the figure is 4.2%.

Against England
43% lower4.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: South East among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 13.5%. The middle area is 2.4%. South East is 2.4%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.8% of residents in South East identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In England the figure is 3.0%.

Against England
7% lower3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: South East among every region10 areas from 1.3% to 5.7%. The middle area is 2.3%. South East is 2.8%.

Other ethnic group

RegionEngland and Wales only
1.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.5% of residents in South East identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In England the figure is 2.2%.

Against England
32% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: South East among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 6.3%. The middle area is 1.4%. South East is 1.5%.

White ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
86.3%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

86.3% of residents in South East identified with a White ethnic group.

In England the figure is 81.0%.

Against England
7% higher81.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: South East among every region10 areas from 53.8% to 93.8%. The middle area is 86.0%. South East is 86.3%.

Christian

RegionEngland and Wales only
46.5%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

46.5% of residents in South East said they were Christian.

In England the figure is 46.3%.

Against England
About the same46.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Christian: South East among every region10 areas from 40.7% to 52.5%. The middle area is 46.4%. South East is 46.5%.

No religion

RegionEngland and Wales only
40.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

40.2% of residents in South East said they had no religion.

In England the figure is 36.7%.

Against England
10% higher36.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: South East among every region10 areas from 27.1% to 46.5%. The middle area is 40.0%. South East is 40.2%.

Working mainly from home

RegionEngland and Wales only
35.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

35.8% of working residents in South East worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In England the figure is 31.5%.

Against England
14% higher31.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: South East among every region10 areas from 24.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 26.6%. South East is 35.8%.

Annual population change

Region
0.6%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

South East’s estimated population changed by 0.6% in the year to mid-2025.

Worked out by Open Index from the mid-year population estimates.

Against England
50% higher0.4%
Against the UK
twice0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: South East among every region12 areas from −0.3% to 0.7%. The middle area is 0.4%. South East is 0.6%.