East Midlands: official statistics
The East Midlands region covers Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, together with the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. In the ONS mid-2025 population estimates it is made up of 35 local authority districts, including the unitary councils of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire are not in it: the ONS counts them in Yorkshire and the Humber. The region's code is E12000004.
Monthly labour market figures on this page update automatically from the ONS. The pay, house price, output and rent figures are the latest published values, read on 13 October 2026.
Figures from the ONS update automatically when a new release comes out; the others show the latest value when we last checked, with its period.
England's most manufacturing-intensive region
Manufacturing produced 14.2% of the East Midlands' £143.4 billion of gross value added in 2024, the highest share of any English region and well above the UK's 8.9%, according to the ONS regional GVA by industry. Food, drink and tobacco manufacturing alone was 3.2% (UK 1.5%), rubber, plastics and minerals 1.6% (UK 0.6%) and basic and fabricated metals 1.9% (UK 1.0%).
Logistics is the other distinctive feature. Transportation and storage made up 4.9% of output, the highest share in England (UK 3.5%), with warehousing and transport support at 2.0% against 1.1% nationally. Construction (7.6%) and farming, forestry and fishing (1.2%) are also above UK shares. Finance and insurance, at 3.3% of GVA, is the smallest share of any English region.
Output, income and growth
GDP per head was £32,064 in 2024, eighth of the nine English regions, ahead only of the North East (ONS regional GDP, 23 September 2026). Real output grew 0.9% in 2024 after falling 1.7% in 2023, the largest fall of any UK region that year. Per head, real output fell 0.2% in 2024.
Gross disposable household income was £22,761 per head in 2024, 87.7% of the UK level and the highest of the five Midlands and northern regions in the ONS GDHI release. The devolved nations are covered separately, for instance the population of Wales and Scotland's GDP.
Jobs and pay
In May to July 2026 the unemployment rate was 4.9%, the same as the UK, and 75.9% of 16 to 64 year olds were in work, fourth highest among English regions and above the UK's 75.1%. Economic inactivity was 20.3%. The claimant count rate was 4.2% in August 2026.
Pay is lower than employment would suggest. Median full-time pay for jobs in the region was £35,600 in April 2025, eighth of nine, and the all-employee median of £30,000 was the second lowest in England. The Nomis East Midlands profile has the same measures by district and by where people live rather than work.
House prices and rents
The average UK House Price Index price was £242,274 in July 2026, up 1.9% on the year. That is higher than the West Midlands (£236,098) even though pay in the East Midlands is lower. Private rents averaged £922 a month in August 2026, up 3.7%.
For the relationship between local prices and earnings, the ONS publishes house price to earnings ratios by council area.
Population
The population was 5,085,641 at mid-2025, up 25,401 (0.5%) on a year earlier. Deaths outnumbered births by 4,263. Net international migration (15,550) and a net inflow from other parts of the UK (13,623) made up the difference. West Northamptonshire (444,218) is the most populous unitary council and Rutland (41,629) the least populous. The median age was 41.7.
Strategic authorities
The East Midlands Combined County Authority covers Derbyshire, Derby, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham and has an elected mayor. Lincolnshire is part of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, also mayoral, which reaches into Yorkshire and the Humber. Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and the two Northamptonshire councils do not appear among the strategic authorities in the GOV.UK Mayoral Strategic Authority funding note for 2026 to 2027.
Questions about East Midlands
What is the average salary in the East Midlands?
Median full-time gross pay for jobs in the East Midlands was £35,600 a year in April 2025 (£703.80 a week), provisional ONS ASHE data show. Across all employees the median was £30,000.
What is the population of the East Midlands?
5,085,641 at mid-2025, according to the ONS. The population grew 0.5% in the year, with migration more than offsetting an excess of deaths over births.
What is the unemployment rate in the East Midlands?
4.9% in May to July 2026, level with the UK. The employment rate, 75.9%, was above the UK average. The live figures above refresh after each ONS release.
What is the average house price in the East Midlands?
£242,274 in July 2026 on the UK House Price Index, 1.9% higher than a year earlier.
Which counties are in the East Midlands?
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, plus the cities of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester. Northamptonshire is now run by two unitary councils, North and West Northamptonshire.
Related questions
- What is the average salary in the UK?
- What is the house price to earnings ratio in England and Wales?
- What is the UK unemployment rate?
- How much are rents rising in the UK?
- What is UK GDP per capita?
- What is the population of Wales?
Official sources: ONS labour market in the regions of the UK · Nomis labour market profile: East Midlands · ONS population estimates for England and Wales · ONS regional GVA by industry · East Midlands Combined County Authority · Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority
Other regions: East of England · London · North East · North West · South East · South West · West Midlands · Yorkshire and the Humber