1.3.1 The most recent population estimates indicate that, in mid-2009, the South West had a population of 5.2 million, the 3rd smallest of the 9 UK regions, exceeding only the East Midlands and the North East. In area, the South
West is the largest of England's regions, covering 23,851km2, and given the small population, has the lowest population density of all nine regions, at 218 people/km2.
Table 1.3.1 Mid Year Population Estimates by Broad Age Group, England Regions 2009 (1,000s)
|
All ages |
Children (0 - 15) |
Working age (16 - 64M/59F) |
Older people (65M/60F and over) |
Area (km 2) |
Density |
| NORTH EAST |
2,584.3 |
458.5 |
1,601.6 |
524.1 |
8,592 |
299.76 |
| NORTH WEST |
6,897.9 |
1,297.1 |
4,243.5
|
1,357.3 |
14,163 |
485.47 |
| YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER |
5,258.1 |
971.2 |
3,273.4 |
1,013.5
|
15,411
|
338.28 |
| EAST MIDLANDS |
4,451.2
|
815.8
|
2,741.7
|
893.8 |
15,627 |
283.68 |
| WEST MIDLANDS |
5,431.1 |
1,052.9 |
3,292.3 |
1,085.9 |
13,004 |
416.11 |
| EAST |
5,766.6 |
1,091.6 |
3,492.1 |
1,182.9 |
19,126 |
299.52 |
| LONDON |
7,753.6 |
1,498.7 |
5,189.8 |
1,065.0 |
1,573 |
4,844.12 |
| SOUTH EAST |
8,435.7 |
1,596.3 |
5,135.3 |
1,704.1 |
19,085 |
439.09 |
| SOUTH WEST |
5,231.2 |
922.4 |
3,113.5 |
1,195.3 |
23,851 |
218.41 |
| ENGLAND |
51,809.7 |
9,704.4 |
32,083.3 |
10,022.0
|
130,432 |
394.43 |
| Source: ONS Mid Year Estimates 2009 |
1.3.2 The South West is the most rural English region. In the classification of local authority areas updated in 2009 by Defra and others, 907,467 (18%) lived in ‘large urban’ and 1,585,382 (32%) in ‘other urban’ areas.
The new Local Authority classification gives 6 Urban/Rural classifications:
1. Major Urban
2. Large Urban
3. Other Urban
4. Significant Rural
5. Rural - 50
6. Rural - 80
These are defined as follows:
1. Major Urban: districts with either 100,000 people or 50 percent of their population in urban areas with a population of more than 750,000.
2. Large Urban: districts with either 50,000 people or 50 percent of their population in one of 17 urban areas with a population between 250,000 and 750,000.
3. Other Urban: districts with fewer than 37,000 people or less than 26 percent of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns.
4. Significant Rural: districts with more than 37,000 people or more than 26 percent of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns.
5. Rural-50: districts with at least 50 percent but less than 80 percent of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns.
6. Rural-80: districts with 80 percent or more of their population in rural settlements and larger market towns.
The updated urban-rural classification data for the South West is displayed in Figure 1.3.1 below.
Figure 1.3.1 Local Authority Urban-Rural Classification for the South West, 2009
1.3.3 Data from the 2001 Census was used by the Commission for Rural Communities/Defra to produce a more detailed urban-rural classification based on super output areas. This methodology showed nearly two thirds of the
region’s population in towns of more than 10,000 people. The census-based settlement definitions showed 24% living in the three largest conurbations of Bristol (551,100), Bournemouth and Poole (383,713) and Plymouth (243,795).
Table 1.3.2 Key Statistics for Settlements, South West region (based on super output areas), 2001
| Class |
Population |
Percentage |
| Hamlet and isolated dwellings - Less sparse |
266,464 |
5.4 |
| Hamlet and isolated dwellings - Sparse |
47,346 |
1.0 |
| Village - Less sparse |
613,738 |
12.5 |
| Village - Sparse |
65,854 |
1.3 |
| Town and fringe - Less sparse |
630,049 |
12.8 |
| Town and fringe - Sparse |
56,163 |
1.1 |
| Urban > 10,000 - Less sparse |
3,225,050 |
65.4 |
| Urban > 10,000 - Sparse |
22,971 |
0.5 |
| TOTAL |
4,927,645 |
100.0 |
| |
|
|
| Hamlet and isolated dwellings |
313,810 |
6.4 |
| Village |
679,592 |
13.8 |
| Town and fringe |
686,222 |
13.9 |
| Urban > 10,000 |
3,248,021 |
65.9 |
| |
|
|
| Less sparse |
4,735,311 |
96.1 |
| Sparse |
192,334 |
3.9 |
| Source: Census, 2001 |
