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People and census in South West

Region

South west England. 5,906,997 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 23,850 square kilometres.

24 layers about people and census for South West, 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 West’s output areas yet.

What is the population of South West?

South West had 5,701,186 usual residents at the census.

South West is the 6th most populated of 12 in the UK.

Population

Region
5,701,186
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

South West had 5,701,186 usual residents at the census.

South West is the 6th most populated of 12 in the UK.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population: South West among every region12 areas from 1,903,175 to 9,278,065. The middle area is 5,590,980. South West is 5,701,186.

Population estimate

Region
5,906,997
ONS population estimates · 2025

South West’s population was an estimated 5,906,997 in mid-2025.

The population rose 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.

South West is 6th most populated of 12 for population.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population estimate: South West among every region12 areas from 1,928,446 to 9,691,844. The middle area is 5,789,582. South West is 5,906,997.

Aged 15 to 64

Region
61.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

61.8% of residents in South West were aged 15 to 64 at the census.

In England the figure is 64.2%.

Against England
4% lower64.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 15 to 64: South West among every region12 areas from 61.8% to 70.0%. The middle area is 63.3%. South West is 61.8%.

Aged 65 and over

Region
22.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

22.3% of residents in South West were aged 65 or over at the census.

In England the figure is 18.4%.

Against England
21% higher18.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged 65 and over: South West among every region12 areas from 11.9% to 22.3%. The middle area is 19.5%. South West is 22.3%.

Aged under 15

Region
15.9%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

15.9% of residents in South West were aged under 15 at the census.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
9% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Aged under 15: South West among every region12 areas from 15.3% to 19.2%. The middle area is 17.5%. South West is 15.9%.

Born outside the UK

Region
10.2%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

10.2% of residents in South West were born outside the UK.

In England the figure is 17.4%.

Against England
41% lower17.4%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Born outside the UK: South West among every region12 areas from 6.8% to 40.6%. The middle area is 11.6%. South West is 10.2%.

Disability

Region
18.6%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

18.6% of residents in South West had their day-to-day activities limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In England the figure is 17.3%.

Against England
8% higher17.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Disability: South West among every region12 areas from 13.2% to 24.3%. The middle area is 18.6%. South West is 18.6%.

Good or very good health

Region
81.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

81.8% of residents in South West said their health was good or very good.

In England the figure is 82.2%.

Against England
About the same82.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Good or very good health: South West among every region12 areas from 78.0% to 85.4%. The middle area is 80.7%. South West is 81.8%.

Households

Region
2,448,881
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

South West had 2,448,881 households at the census.

South West is 6th highest of 12 for the number of households.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households: South West among every region12 areas from 768,811 to 3,807,966. The middle area is 2,439,187. South West is 2,448,881.

Households without a car or van

Region
16.8%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

16.8% of households in South West had no car or van at the census.

In England the figure is 23.5%.

Against England
29% lower23.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Households without a car or van: South West among every region12 areas from 16.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 20.5%. South West is 16.8%.

Owner-occupied homes

Region
67.0%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

67.0% of households in South West 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 West among every region12 areas from 46.8% to 67.1%. The middle area is 64.4%. South West is 67.0%.

Population density

Region
239 per km²
Worked out by Open Index · 2021

South West had 239 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
45% lower433 per km²
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Population density: South West among every region12 areas from 69 per km² to 5,593 per km². The middle area is 322 per km². South West is 239 per km².

Private rented homes

Region
19.7%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

19.7% of households in South West rented privately at the census.

In England the figure is 20.5%.

Against England
4% lower20.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Private rented homes: South West among every region12 areas from 12.9% to 30.0%. The middle area is 18.5%. South West is 19.7%.

Social rented homes

Region
13.3%
ONS Census 2021 and Scotland's Census 2022 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

13.3% of households in South West rented from a council or housing association at the census.

In England the figure is 17.1%.

Against England
22% lower17.1%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Social rented homes: South West among every region12 areas from 13.3% to 23.1%. The middle area is 16.9%. South West is 13.3%.

Degree-level qualifications

RegionEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
33.1%
ONS Census 2021 and NISRA Census 2021 · 2021

33.1% of residents aged 16 and over in South West had a degree-level qualification at the census.

In England the figure is 33.9%.

Against England
2% lower33.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Degree-level qualifications: South West among every region11 areas from 28.6% to 46.7%. The middle area is 31.5%. South West is 33.1%.

Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.8%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.8% of residents in South West identified with the Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic group.

In England the figure is 9.6%.

Against England
71% lower9.6%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: South West among every region10 areas from 2.8% to 20.7%. The middle area is 7.5%. South West is 2.8%.

Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

RegionEngland and Wales only
1.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

1.2% of residents in South West identified with the Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African ethnic group.

In England the figure is 4.2%.

Against England
71% lower4.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: South West among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 13.5%. The middle area is 2.4%. South West is 1.2%.

Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
2.0%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

2.0% of residents in South West identified with a Mixed or Multiple ethnic group.

In England the figure is 3.0%.

Against England
33% lower3.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: South West among every region10 areas from 1.3% to 5.7%. The middle area is 2.3%. South West is 2.0%.

Other ethnic group

RegionEngland and Wales only
0.9%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

0.9% of residents in South West identified with another ethnic group, including Arab.

In England the figure is 2.2%.

Against England
59% lower2.2%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Other ethnic group: South West among every region10 areas from 0.9% to 6.3%. The middle area is 1.4%. South West is 0.9%.

White ethnic groups

RegionEngland and Wales only
93.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

93.1% of residents in South West identified with a White ethnic group.

In England the figure is 81.0%.

Against England
15% higher81.0%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
White ethnic groups: South West among every region10 areas from 53.8% to 93.8%. The middle area is 86.0%. South West is 93.1%.

Christian

RegionEngland and Wales only
46.2%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

46.2% of residents in South West 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 West among every region10 areas from 40.7% to 52.5%. The middle area is 46.4%. South West is 46.2%.

No religion

RegionEngland and Wales only
44.1%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

44.1% of residents in South West said they had no religion.

In England the figure is 36.7%.

Against England
20% higher36.7%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
No religion: South West among every region10 areas from 27.1% to 46.5%. The middle area is 40.0%. South West is 44.1%.

Working mainly from home

RegionEngland and Wales only
30.4%
ONS Census 2021 · 2021

30.4% of working residents in South West worked mainly from home in March 2021.

In England the figure is 31.5%.

Against England
3% lower31.5%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Working mainly from home: South West among every region10 areas from 24.8% to 42.1%. The middle area is 26.6%. South West is 30.4%.

Annual population change

Region
0.4%
Worked out by Open Index · 2025

South West’s estimated population changed by 0.4% in the year to mid-2025.

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

Against England
About the same0.4%
Against the UK
33% higher0.3%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Annual population change: South West among every region12 areas from −0.3% to 0.7%. The middle area is 0.4%. South West is 0.4%.