Key Data (Population and Migration, State of the South West 2011)
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> The South West covers 23,851 sq km – more than 18% of England.
> In mid-2009, the South West had a population of 5.2 million.
> According to the 2008-based population projections, we can expect to see an overall population increase of 20% by
2033, compared with the mid-2008 baseline. This is greater than the predicted increase for England of 17%.
> The South West has the highest proportion of it's population of pensionable age, compared with all other English regions, at 23%. The proportion for England was 19%. According to the 2008-based population projections, by 2033 just under 30% of our population will be of pensionable age, and some 6% will be aged 85+;
> Christchurch in Dorset is the local authority area with the highest proportion of people of pensionable age (34.2%), compared with all other local authorities in England in mid-2009.
> The region had the lowest proportion of children (aged 0 - 15, 17%), and the third lowest of working age (60%), when
compared with all English regions, in mid-2009.
> Despite the regional 'ageing' trend, four of the 37 district and unitary authorities within the region (Bristol, Exeter, Swindon and Plymouth) are amongst the 20% in England with the highest percentage of working age population (WAP) in mid-2009.
> In 2001, 97% of the South West population were categorised as “white british”, “white irish", or “white other”; compared to 91% for England and Bristol. Data for mid-2007 show 95% of the South West population within these categories; while the figures for both Bristol and England are lower at 88%.
> In 2008/09, natural change (the balance of births minus deaths) made up for just under 25% of population growth in the South West. This has increased from 1% in 2005/06. For all previous years, going back to 1996/7, deaths have outweighed births in the region.
> Recent years have seen a rise in birth numbers in the region, with the total number of births increasing by 21%
between 2001 and 2008. This is slightly higher than the rise in England, of 19%. The latest years' data does however show a drop in birth numbers, both in England and the South West.
> The Total Fertility Rate - effectively the average number of children per completed family - in the South West in 2009 was 1.94, lower than the England average of 1.96. It is however greater than the England rate for those aged 25 to 29 (111.7 per 1000 compared to 106.8 per 1000) and 30 to 34 (117.2 per 1000 compared to 113.5 per 1000)
> Net national migration in the South West (total population gained to the region, from other English regions) in 2009/10 was 19,000. This represents a decrease from last year's figure, when there were 26,000 net gains to the region from elsewhere in the UK. Historically the South West has had the highest net gains from national migration when compared to all English regions; in 2009/10 the region ranked second, below the South East.
> Whilst international migration data sources are less reliable, the South West saw a net loss of 3,580 of its resident population asa result of international migration, in 2008/09. This indicates that population change as a result of migration in the region, is much more as a result of national migration, than international. In December 2009, the South West had the greatest proportion of its households in the category of "married/cohabiting couple with no children", when compared with all other English regions. The region's proportion of one person households was similar to the England figure, at 28.1%, compared with 28.5% in England. The region has lower proportions of its households with dependent children, compared with the English average.
> The number of households in the South West is projected to increase by 30% between 2008 and 2033. This is the third largest percentage increase of all the regions after the East Midlands (34%), and Yorkshire and the Humber (31%). The number of households headed by someone aged 65 or over is projected to increase from 664,000 in 2008 to 1,104,000 in 2033; a 67% increase. This will mean that, by 2033, 38% of households in the region will be headed by those aged 65 or over.
