South West: population and official figures
South West is a region of England of the United Kingdom, number 6 of 12 by population. The South West had 5,889,695 residents in mid-2024, 10.0% of England's 58.62 million and 4th smallest of 9 English regions by population. That is 8.6% more than in 2014.
5,889,695
£37,769
£25,924
£614
62.4 years
60%
23.1%
£304,139
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in South West: Gross domestic product in the South West was £37,769 per resident in 2024 at current prices, 3rd highest of 9 English regions and below the UK figure of £41,627.
- Health in South West: A girl born in the South West in 2022-2024 could expect 62.4 years in good health and a boy 62.4 years; women's figure is 3rd longest of 9 English regions (England: 61.3 and 60.9 years).
- Education in South West: 60% of pupils finishing primary school in the South West met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25, the lowest result of 9 English regions (England 63%).
- Poverty and living standards in South West: 23.1% of children under 16 in the South West lived in relative low-income families after housing costs in 2024/25 (DWP), 2nd lowest rate of 9 English regions; before housing costs the figure was 16.3%. UK-wide rates were 26.0% and 19.3%.
- Government budget and revenue in South West: Government spent £73.2 billion on public services identifiable to the South West in 2024-25, £12,432 per resident: 4th lowest of 9 English regions and 92% of the UK average of £13,504 (HM Treasury Country and Regional Analysis).
- Government and politics in South West: At the general election of 4 July 2024 the South West elected 58 of England's 543 MPs: 24 Labour, 22 Liberal Democrats, 11 Conservatives and 1 Green.
How old is the population of the South West?
The median resident of the South West was 43 years old in 2024, and 22.8% of the population was 65 or over (England: 18.7%).
Source: Office for National Statistics · saved copyOther region of Englands of the United Kingdom
- South East 9,642,942
- London 9,089,736
- North West 7,737,414
- East of England 6,576,306
- West Midlands 6,187,204
- Yorkshire and the Humber 5,672,962
- Scotland 5,546,900
- East Midlands 5,063,164
- Wales 3,186,581
- North East 2,760,678
- Northern Ireland 1,927,855
Up a level: the United Kingdom · government and power in 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…)
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: English devolution: Area factsheets (published 10 July 2025), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3a7b4a7e2f28…)
- HM Treasury: Country and Regional Analysis 2025: Chapter A tables (identifiable public spending by country and region, 2020-21 to 2024-25), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9a6a7af9e2bd…)
- House of Commons Library: Results for the UK general election on 4 July 2024, England: candidate-level results (CSV), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03d1ec16fb4d…)
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