South East

The South East of England is the UK’s most populous region, combining economic dynamism with historic charm. It is known for its commuter belt towns, historic cities, and iconic landmarks such as the White Cliffs of Dover, Windsor Castle, and the South Downs National Park. The economy is driven by finance, technology, tourism, and education.

The region’s governance includes a mix of two-tier counties, unitary authorities, and historic cities. Its proximity to London fuels strong transport links and property demand, with many towns serving as commuter hubs.

Ceremonial Counties in South East region

The South East comprises 9 ceremonial counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. These counties offer a mix of countryside, coastline, and thriving towns.

There are 48 Ceremonial Counties in England. The above lists 9 Ceremonial Counties in South East region.

Districts in South East

The UK is divided into Local Authority Districts (LADs) as the main building blocks of local government and statistical geography. The following lists all the LADs in this region.

Local Authority District (LAD) is a statistical geography used by the ONS to describe areas governed by local authorities. LADs include: Non-metropolitan districts (often called district councils); Metropolitan districts; London boroughs; Unitary authorities; Council areas in Scotland; Local government districts in Northern Ireland. In total, there are around 360+ LADs across the UK.

International Territorial Levels in South East Region

The International Territorial Levels (ITLs) are a hierarchical system of geographic boundaries used for statistical purposes in the UK, specifically for regional data analysis and international comparisons. It has three levels: ITL1, ITL2, and ITL3, with ITL1 being the broadest level and ITL3 the most detailed.

South East Region is one of ITL 1 areas in the UK. It is then divided ino the following ITL 2 areas (names in bold letters) and ITL 3 areas.

  • Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire — Milton Keynes ⁞ Buckinghamshire ⁞ Oxfordshire CC ⁞ Berkshire East ⁞ Berkshire West
  • Surrey, East and West Sussex — Brighton and Hove ⁞ East Sussex CC ⁞ West Surrey ⁞ East Surrey ⁞ West Sussex (South West) ⁞ West Sussex (North East)
  • Hampshire and Isle of Wight — Portsmouth ⁞ Southampton ⁞ Isle of Wight ⁞ South Hampshire ⁞ Central Hampshire ⁞ North Hampshire
  • Kent — Medway ⁞ Kent Thames Gateway ⁞ East Kent ⁞ Mid Kent ⁞ West Kent
In the UK in total there are: 12 ITLs 1, 46 ITLs 2, and 182 ITLs 3. Our information about ITLs hierarchy and names is based on this ONS website: International geographies - Office for National Statistics.

Constituencies in South East

The region contains 91 parliamentary constituencies, ranging from densely populated commuter towns to rural districts and coastal resorts. Its size and population make it highly influential in national politics.

There are 650 constituencies in the United Kingdom. These constituencies are the areas each represented by one Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons.

Population of South East England

South East England is the most populous region in England, with over 9.38 million people (mid-2022, ONS). Covering 19,072 square kilometres (7,364 square miles), the region has a population density of 492 people per square kilometre.

South East England Population Compared to UK Regions' Figures
South East England Population Compared to other UK Regions

How it compares to the rest of England

  • Population share: The South East is home to 16.4% of England’s total 57.1 million residents, placing it 1st out of 9 regions for population size.
  • Population density: With 492 people per km², it is more densely populated than the national average of 438 people per km²—54 people per km² higher—ranking 3rd out of 9 regions for population density.

Region detail pages