Economy, jobs and prices in South East, United Kingdom: official figures
Gross domestic product in the South East was £43,178 per resident in 2024 at current prices, 2nd highest of 9 English regions and above the UK figure of £41,627.
Is the economy of the South East growing?
After removing inflation, output per head in the South East grew by 5.9% between 2014 and 2024, against 7.8% for England as a whole.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average household income in the South East?
Households in the South East had £29,577 of disposable income per person in 2024 after taxes and benefits, 111.7% of the English average (£26,490) and 2nd highest of 9 regions.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the average salary in the South East?
The median full-time and part-time employee living in the South East earned £678 a week before tax in April 2025 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings), 2nd highest of 9 regions; England's median was £648. Weekly pay has risen 44.9% since 2015.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the South East?
79.3% of people aged 16 to 64 in the South East were in work in 2023 (the highest of 9 regions), while the modelled unemployment rate was 2.9% (England: 76.0% and 3.7%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow productive is the South East?
Each hour worked in the South East produced £45.22 of gross value added in 2023, 2nd most productive of 9 English regions (England £42.39).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in the South East?
The South East had 431,000 active businesses in 2024, 17.1% of England's total; new firms were 10.0% of the stock that year and 57.8% of businesses born in 2021 were still trading three years later.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow much does the South East export?
Exports of goods and services from the South East were worth £102.2 billion in 2023, and foreign companies held £319.0 billion of direct investment there in 2024 (16.3% of England's inward FDI).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow many jobs are there in the South East?
There were 0.85 jobs for every resident aged 16 to 64 in the South East in 2024 (England 0.86), and businesses spent £9,228 million on research and development there in 2024.
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyHow South East compares with other region of Englands
GDP per head (current prices) (2024)
South East ranks 2 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | GDP per head (current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £72,201 |
| 2 | South East | £43,178 |
| 3 | South West | £37,769 |
| 4 | East of England | £36,942 |
| 5 | North West | £36,926 |
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £34,041 |
| 7 | West Midlands | £33,969 |
Gross median weekly pay, residents (2025)
South East ranks 2 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Gross median weekly pay, residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £767 |
| 2 | South East | £678 |
| 3 | East of England | £671 |
| 4 | West Midlands | £620 |
| 5 | North West | £616 |
| 6 | South West | £614 |
| 7 | East Midlands | £606 |
Gross disposable household income per head (2024)
South East ranks 2 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Gross disposable household income per head |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £36,487 |
| 2 | South East | £29,577 |
| 3 | East of England | £26,795 |
| 4 | South West | £25,924 |
| 5 | East Midlands | £22,761 |
| 6 | North West | £22,523 |
| 7 | West Midlands | £22,064 |
Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (2023)
South East ranks 1 of 9, highest first. The 9 regions of England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are compared on their own pages.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South East | 79.3% |
| 2 | South West | 78.8% |
| 3 | East of England | 77.5% |
| 4 | East Midlands | 75.5% |
| 5 | West Midlands | 75.2% |
| 6 | London | 74.6% |
| 7 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 74.2% |
GDP per head (£, current prices) (2024)
South East ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per head (£, current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £72,201 |
| 2 | South East | £43,178 |
| 3 | Scotland | £39,441 |
| 4 | South West | £37,769 |
| 5 | East of England | £36,942 |
| 6 | North West | £36,926 |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | £35,108 |
Gross disposable household income per head (£) (2024)
South East ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross disposable household income per head (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £36,487 |
| 2 | South East | £29,577 |
| 3 | East of England | £26,795 |
| 4 | South West | £25,924 |
| 5 | Scotland | £24,283 |
| 6 | East Midlands | £22,761 |
| 7 | North West | £22,523 |
Median gross weekly pay of residents (£) (April 2025)
South East ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Median gross weekly pay of residents (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £767.4 |
| 2 | South East | £678.0 |
| 3 | East of England | £670.8 |
| 4 | Scotland | £642.9 |
| 5 | West Midlands | £619.7 |
| 6 | North West | £615.9 |
| 7 | South West | £613.6 |
Gross value added per hour worked (£) (2023)
South East ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Gross value added per hour worked (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | £53.96 |
| 2 | South East | £45.22 |
| 3 | Scotland | £41.28 |
| 4 | East of England | £39.69 |
| 5 | North West | £39.31 |
| 6 | South West | £38.75 |
| 7 | Northern Ireland | £36.88 |
Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (%) (2023)
South East ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, ages 16 to 64 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South East | 79.3% |
| 2 | South West | 78.8% |
| 3 | East of England | 77.5% |
| 4 | East Midlands | 75.5% |
| 5 | West Midlands | 75.2% |
| 6 | Scotland | 74.7% |
| 7 | London | 74.6% |
More on South East: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the United Kingdom
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Explore Local Statistics: all datasets (116 indicators for UK local areas, regions and nations), spreadsheet generated 22 October 2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ae2f3a7b3960…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.