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South East · England 174,223 Population (2021 Census)
53.5% White British (2021)
28.8% White British (2041 projected)
19.0% White British (2051 projected)
Ethnic composition
Census 2021 observed data with Hamilton-Perry projections to 2061.
white british 53.5%
white other 13.6%
asian 17.7%
black 7.2%
mixed 5.2%
other 2.9%
Projected 2051
white british 19.0%
white other 22.4%
asian 29.8%
black 6.3%
mixed 7.8%
other 14.7%
Diversity index
highly diverse Shannon entropy: 0.76 · Dissimilarity: 21.0
Religion
Census 2021 religious composition with projections.
2021 [object Object]
2031 [object Object]
2041 [object Object]
2051 [object Object]
Muslim population projected: 14.0% by 2051
Country of birth
UK-born (2021) 66.5%
Foreign-born (2021) 33.5%
Foreign-born (2051 projected) 70.0%
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 81.1%
notEnglishPct 37.7%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Service demand pressure
Ethnic change20/20
Asylum20/20
School20/20
Language0/20
Housing18/20
Economic profile
Avg employment rate50.9%
Avg home ownership37.1%
Avg social rent12.1%
Degree or above30.6%
No qualifications11.8%
Housing demand projection
Census 2021 tenure patterns by ethnicity, projected to 2041 from demographic composition change.
Ownership (2021)37.1%
Social rent (2021)12.1%
Private rent (2021)25.9%
Ownership (2041)28.4%
Social rent (2041)9.6%
Social rent change-2.5pp
High foreign-born population growth will drive additional housing demand, particularly in the private rented sector.
School demographics
DfE School Census 2024/25. 23,990 pupils.
WBI pupils31.4%
Minority pupils68.6%
EAL growth (projected)+22.1pp
WBI gap (school vs population)22.1pp
Schools are 22pp more diverse than the general population — schools show the future.
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 81.1%
notEnglishPct 37.7%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Projected non-English growth+24.6pp
NHS and council services will need increased interpreter/translation provision.
Asylum and immigration data
Asylum seekers on support, hotel costs, grant rates, and the True Cost of Asylum for this area.
View Reading on Asylum Stats →