South East in figures

A profile of South East from official statistics: 12 figures in 5 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in South East was 9.69 million in 2025, up 0.6% from 2024.

Population9.69 million2025Up 0.6% from 2024
Population aged 65 and over20.2%2025Up 0.3 percentage points from 2024
Foreign-born population share15.8%2021No 2020 figure to compare
8.5M8.75M9M9.25M9.5M9.75M201120142017202020252011: 8,652,784 persons2012: 8,731,840 persons2013: 8,809,382 persons2014: 8,893,930 persons2015: 8,969,638 persons2016: 9,053,011 persons2017: 9,105,076 persons2018: 9,150,245 persons2019: 9,193,770 persons2020: 9,225,273 persons2021: 9,295,829 persons2022: 9,397,316 persons2023: 9,537,252 persons2024: 9,638,645 persons2025: 9,691,844 persons8.5M9M9.5M10M20112016202120252011: 8,652,784 persons2012: 8,731,840 persons2013: 8,809,382 persons2014: 8,893,930 persons2015: 8,969,638 persons2016: 9,053,011 persons2017: 9,105,076 persons2018: 9,150,245 persons2019: 9,193,770 persons2020: 9,225,273 persons2021: 9,295,829 persons2022: 9,397,316 persons2023: 9,537,252 persons2024: 9,638,645 persons2025: 9,691,844 persons
Population, 2011 to 2025. persons. Source: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age: all ages, both sexes, mid-year (ONS, Nomis NM_2002_1).

Sources: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age: all ages, both sexes, mid-year (ONS, Nomis NM_2002_1); Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age: aged 65 and over, both sexes, percent of all ages, mid-year (ONS, Nomis NM_2002_1); Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Census 2021, TS004 Country of birth: usual residents born outside the United Kingdom, percent, 100 minus the published share born in the United Kingdom (ONS, Nomis NM_2024_1). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in South East was 4.1% in Q2 2026, up 0.2 percentage points from Q2 2025.

Unemployment rate4.1%Q2 2026Up 0.2 percentage points from Q2 2025
Gross disposable household income (GDHI) per head, pounds sterling£29,5772024, provisionalUp 6% from 2023
2.533.544.52016-Q32018-Q12019-Q32021-Q12022-Q32024-Q12026-Q22016-Q3: 3.6 %2016-Q4: 3.4 %2017-Q1: 3.5 %2017-Q2: 3.2 %2017-Q3: 3.2 %2017-Q4: 3.1 %2018-Q1: 3.6 %2018-Q2: 3.7 %2018-Q3: 3.6 %2018-Q4: 3.1 %2019-Q1: 3.2 %2019-Q2: 2.9 %2019-Q3: 3.2 %2019-Q4: 3.1 %2020-Q1: 3.1 %2020-Q2: 3.2 %2020-Q3: 4.2 %2020-Q4: 3.6 %2021-Q1: 3.6 %2021-Q2: 4.3 %2021-Q3: 3.8 %2021-Q4: 3.9 %2022-Q1: 3.4 %2022-Q2: 3.5 %2022-Q3: 3 %2022-Q4: 4 %2023-Q1: 3.8 %2023-Q2: 3.7 %2023-Q3: 3.5 %2023-Q4: 3.6 %2024-Q1: 3.9 %2024-Q2: 3.5 %2024-Q3: 4 %2024-Q4: 3.8 %2025-Q1: 4.2 %2025-Q2: 3.9 %2025-Q3: 4.1 %2025-Q4: 4 %2026-Q1: 3.8 %2026-Q2: 4.1 %2.533.544.52016-Q32020-Q12023-Q32026-Q22016-Q3: 3.6 %2016-Q4: 3.4 %2017-Q1: 3.5 %2017-Q2: 3.2 %2017-Q3: 3.2 %2017-Q4: 3.1 %2018-Q1: 3.6 %2018-Q2: 3.7 %2018-Q3: 3.6 %2018-Q4: 3.1 %2019-Q1: 3.2 %2019-Q2: 2.9 %2019-Q3: 3.2 %2019-Q4: 3.1 %2020-Q1: 3.1 %2020-Q2: 3.2 %2020-Q3: 4.2 %2020-Q4: 3.6 %2021-Q1: 3.6 %2021-Q2: 4.3 %2021-Q3: 3.8 %2021-Q4: 3.9 %2022-Q1: 3.4 %2022-Q2: 3.5 %2022-Q3: 3 %2022-Q4: 4 %2023-Q1: 3.8 %2023-Q2: 3.7 %2023-Q3: 3.5 %2023-Q4: 3.6 %2024-Q1: 3.9 %2024-Q2: 3.5 %2024-Q3: 4 %2024-Q4: 3.8 %2025-Q1: 4.2 %2025-Q2: 3.9 %2025-Q3: 4.1 %2025-Q4: 4 %2026-Q1: 3.8 %2026-Q2: 4.1 %
Unemployment rate, Q3 2016 to Q2 2026. %. Source: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Labour Force Survey, national and regional headline indicators (seasonally adjusted): unemployment rate, aged 16 and over, both sexes (ONS, Nomis NM_59_1).

Sources: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Labour Force Survey, national and regional headline indicators (seasonally adjusted): unemployment rate, aged 16 and over, both sexes (ONS, Nomis NM_59_1); Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Regional gross disposable household income: all ITL regions, GDHI per head of population at current basic prices, pounds (ONS, Table 3). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

Gross domestic product (GDP) in South East (pounds sterling) was £416.36 billion (provisional) in 2024, up 5.1% from 2023.

Gross domestic product (GDP), pounds sterling£416.36 billion2024, provisionalUp 5.1% from 2023
GDP per head, pounds sterling£43,1782024, provisionalUp 3.9% from 2023
100K200K300K400K500K20002004200820122016202020242000: 166,206 GBP million2001: 172,437 GBP million2002: 179,778 GBP million2003: 188,738 GBP million2004: 195,327 GBP million2005: 205,409 GBP million2006: 214,853 GBP million2007: 224,692 GBP million2008: 235,642 GBP million2009: 230,533 GBP million2010: 238,344 GBP million2011: 246,348 GBP million2012: 255,233 GBP million2013: 264,805 GBP million2014: 277,085 GBP million2015: 287,195 GBP million2016: 295,010 GBP million2017: 306,407 GBP million2018: 317,020 GBP million2019: 334,250 GBP million2020: 324,820 GBP million2021: 343,540 GBP million2022: 368,362 GBP million2023: 396,013 GBP million2024: 416,359 GBP million100K200K300K400K500K2000200920242000: 166,206 GBP million2001: 172,437 GBP million2002: 179,778 GBP million2003: 188,738 GBP million2004: 195,327 GBP million2005: 205,409 GBP million2006: 214,853 GBP million2007: 224,692 GBP million2008: 235,642 GBP million2009: 230,533 GBP million2010: 238,344 GBP million2011: 246,348 GBP million2012: 255,233 GBP million2013: 264,805 GBP million2014: 277,085 GBP million2015: 287,195 GBP million2016: 295,010 GBP million2017: 306,407 GBP million2018: 317,020 GBP million2019: 334,250 GBP million2020: 324,820 GBP million2021: 343,540 GBP million2022: 368,362 GBP million2023: 396,013 GBP million2024: 416,359 GBP million
Gross domestic product (GDP), pounds sterling, 2000 to 2024. GBP million. Source: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Regional gross domestic product: all ITL regions, GDP at current market prices, pounds million (ONS, Table 5).

Sources: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Regional gross domestic product: all ITL regions, GDP at current market prices, pounds million (ONS, Table 5); Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Regional gross domestic product: all ITL regions, GDP per head at current market prices, pounds (ONS, Table 7). Economy statistics and rankings

Prices and housing

Average house price in South East (pounds sterling) was £380,878 (provisional) in July 2026, up 0.2% from July 2025.

Average house price, pounds sterling£380,878July 2026, provisionalUp 0.2% from July 2025
House price annual change, monthly0.2%July 2026, provisionalDown 0.6 percentage points from July 2025
Average monthly private rent, pounds sterling£1,426August 2026, provisionalUp 3% from August 2025
320K340K360K380K400K2021-072022-042023-012023-102024-072025-042026-072021-07: 339,769 GBP2021-08: 350,795 GBP2021-09: 361,613 GBP2021-10: 354,140 GBP2021-11: 360,386 GBP2021-12: 362,713 GBP2022-01: 368,184 GBP2022-02: 367,655 GBP2022-03: 369,755 GBP2022-04: 370,658 GBP2022-05: 376,100 GBP2022-06: 380,603 GBP2022-07: 387,054 GBP2022-08: 390,701 GBP2022-09: 391,553 GBP2022-10: 391,862 GBP2022-11: 389,960 GBP2022-12: 388,158 GBP2023-01: 387,727 GBP2023-02: 383,401 GBP2023-03: 380,362 GBP2023-04: 379,543 GBP2023-05: 377,989 GBP2023-06: 377,848 GBP2023-07: 381,968 GBP2023-08: 381,601 GBP2023-09: 379,338 GBP2023-10: 377,965 GBP2023-11: 375,344 GBP2023-12: 367,572 GBP2024-01: 369,326 GBP2024-02: 367,789 GBP2024-03: 366,875 GBP2024-04: 369,214 GBP2024-05: 372,808 GBP2024-06: 373,083 GBP2024-07: 377,066 GBP2024-08: 381,897 GBP2024-09: 380,519 GBP2024-10: 381,155 GBP2024-11: 377,413 GBP2024-12: 378,958 GBP2025-01: 381,267 GBP2025-02: 380,137 GBP2025-03: 381,452 GBP2025-04: 375,519 GBP2025-05: 376,656 GBP2025-06: 379,262 GBP2025-07: 380,195 GBP2025-08: 383,524 GBP2025-09: 379,958 GBP2025-10: 382,367 GBP2025-11: 380,426 GBP2025-12: 376,188 GBP2026-01: 379,707 GBP2026-02: 378,302 GBP2026-03: 378,596 GBP2026-04: 379,602 GBP2026-05: 381,939 GBP2026-06: 378,821 GBP2026-07: 380,878 GBP320K340K360K380K400K2021-072023-042025-012026-072021-07: 339,769 GBP2021-08: 350,795 GBP2021-09: 361,613 GBP2021-10: 354,140 GBP2021-11: 360,386 GBP2021-12: 362,713 GBP2022-01: 368,184 GBP2022-02: 367,655 GBP2022-03: 369,755 GBP2022-04: 370,658 GBP2022-05: 376,100 GBP2022-06: 380,603 GBP2022-07: 387,054 GBP2022-08: 390,701 GBP2022-09: 391,553 GBP2022-10: 391,862 GBP2022-11: 389,960 GBP2022-12: 388,158 GBP2023-01: 387,727 GBP2023-02: 383,401 GBP2023-03: 380,362 GBP2023-04: 379,543 GBP2023-05: 377,989 GBP2023-06: 377,848 GBP2023-07: 381,968 GBP2023-08: 381,601 GBP2023-09: 379,338 GBP2023-10: 377,965 GBP2023-11: 375,344 GBP2023-12: 367,572 GBP2024-01: 369,326 GBP2024-02: 367,789 GBP2024-03: 366,875 GBP2024-04: 369,214 GBP2024-05: 372,808 GBP2024-06: 373,083 GBP2024-07: 377,066 GBP2024-08: 381,897 GBP2024-09: 380,519 GBP2024-10: 381,155 GBP2024-11: 377,413 GBP2024-12: 378,958 GBP2025-01: 381,267 GBP2025-02: 380,137 GBP2025-03: 381,452 GBP2025-04: 375,519 GBP2025-05: 376,656 GBP2025-06: 379,262 GBP2025-07: 380,195 GBP2025-08: 383,524 GBP2025-09: 379,958 GBP2025-10: 382,367 GBP2025-11: 380,426 GBP2025-12: 376,188 GBP2026-01: 379,707 GBP2026-02: 378,302 GBP2026-03: 378,596 GBP2026-04: 379,602 GBP2026-05: 381,939 GBP2026-06: 378,821 GBP2026-07: 380,878 GBP
Average house price, pounds sterling, July 2021 to July 2026. GBP. Source: HM Land Registry (United Kingdom), UK House Price Index: average price, all property types, not seasonally adjusted, pounds (HM Land Registry, Average price file).

Sources: HM Land Registry (United Kingdom), UK House Price Index: average price, all property types, not seasonally adjusted, pounds (HM Land Registry, Average price file); HM Land Registry (United Kingdom), UK House Price Index: annual change in the average price, all property types, not seasonally adjusted, percent (HM Land Registry, Average price file); Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Price Index of Private Rents, UK: monthly price statistics, Table 1: rental price, all property types, pounds per month (ONS). Housing statistics and rankings

Business and tourism

Active enterprises in South East were 431,000 in 2024, down 0.4% from 2023.

Active enterprises431,0002024Down 0.4% from 2023
Enterprise births43,0152024Up 0.1% from 2023
430K435K440K445K450K455K2019202020212022202320242019: 447,655 count2020: 450,380 count2021: 449,130 count2022: 442,295 count2023: 432,615 count2024: 431,000 count430K435K440K445K450K455K2019202120242019: 447,655 count2020: 450,380 count2021: 449,130 count2022: 442,295 count2023: 432,615 count2024: 431,000 count
Active enterprises, 2019 to 2024. count. Source: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Business demography, UK, Tables 3.1a to 3.1d: count of active enterprises by district, county and unitary authority within region and country.

Sources: Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Business demography, UK, Tables 3.1a to 3.1d: count of active enterprises by district, county and unitary authority within region and country; Office for National Statistics (United Kingdom), Business demography, UK, Tables 1.1a to 1.1d: count of births of new enterprises by district, county and unitary authority within region and country. Companies statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. Office for National Statistics. Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age: all ages, both sexes, mid-year (ONS, Nomis NM_2002_1). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2002_1.data.json?geography=TYPE480,TYPE424&gender=0&c_age=200&measures=20100&time=2011,latest. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  2. Office for National Statistics. Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age: aged 65 and over, both sexes, percent of all ages, mid-year (ONS, Nomis NM_2002_1). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2002_1.data.json?geography=TYPE480,TYPE424&gender=0&c_age=209&measures=20301&time=2011,latest. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  3. Office for National Statistics. Census 2021, TS004 Country of birth: usual residents born outside the United Kingdom, percent, 100 minus the published share born in the United Kingdom (ONS, Nomis NM_2024_1). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2024_1.data.json?geography=TYPE480,TYPE424&c2021_cob_12=1&measures=20301&time=2021,latest. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  4. Office for National Statistics. Labour Force Survey, national and regional headline indicators (seasonally adjusted): unemployment rate, aged 16 and over, both sexes (ONS, Nomis NM_59_1). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_59_1.data.json?geography=TYPE480&sex=7&economic_activity=3&value_type=0&measures=20207&time=first,latest. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  5. Office for National Statistics. Regional gross disposable household income: all ITL regions, GDHI per head of population at current basic prices, pounds (ONS, Table 3). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/regionalaccounts/grossdisposablehouseholdincome/datasets/regionalgrossdisposablehouseholdincomegdhi/1997to2024. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  6. Office for National Statistics. Regional gross domestic product: all ITL regions, GDP at current market prices, pounds million (ONS, Table 5). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/datasets/regionalgrossdomesticproductallnutslevelregions/1998to2024. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  7. Office for National Statistics. Regional gross domestic product: all ITL regions, GDP per head at current market prices, pounds (ONS, Table 7). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/datasets/regionalgrossdomesticproductallnutslevelregions/1998to2024. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  8. HM Land Registry. UK House Price Index: average price, all property types, not seasonally adjusted, pounds (HM Land Registry, Average price file). Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://publicdata.landregistry.gov.uk/market-trend-data/house-price-index-data/Average-prices-2026-07.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  9. HM Land Registry. UK House Price Index: annual change in the average price, all property types, not seasonally adjusted, percent (HM Land Registry, Average price file). Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://publicdata.landregistry.gov.uk/market-trend-data/house-price-index-data/Average-prices-2026-07.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  10. Office for National Statistics. Price Index of Private Rents, UK: monthly price statistics, Table 1: rental price, all property types, pounds per month (ONS). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/datasets/priceindexofprivaterentsukmonthlypricestatistics/16september2026. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  11. Office for National Statistics. Business demography, UK, Tables 3.1a to 3.1d: count of active enterprises by district, county and unitary authority within region and country. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/datasets/businessdemographyreferencetable. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  12. Office for National Statistics. Business demography, UK, Tables 1.1a to 1.1d: count of births of new enterprises by district, county and unitary authority within region and country. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/datasets/businessdemographyreferencetable. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Give me an overview of South East with the latest official figures and their sources.
get_place_profile {"place":"South East"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/profile?place=gb-region-e12000008

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

All statistics for South East