South West

The South West of England is known for its coastlines, countryside, and heritage cities. It is home to Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, as well as Bath and Bristol. The region’s landscapes include the Jurassic Coast, Exmoor National Park, and Dartmoor National Park. Tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy are important economic drivers.

The South West features a mix of unitary authorities and two-tier county systems, with governance reflecting both historic boundaries and modern reforms. Rural areas dominate, but major urban centres provide economic and cultural hubs.

Ceremonial Counties in South West region

The South West consists of 7 ceremonial counties: Bristol, Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. The region offers a combination of rural tranquility, historic towns, and busy ports.

There are 48 Ceremonial Counties in England. The above lists 7 Ceremonial Counties in South West region.

Districts in South West

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 West 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 West 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.

  • Cornwall and Isles of Scilly — Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
  • Devon — Plymouth ⁞ Torbay ⁞ Devon CC
  • West of England — Bristol, City of ⁞ Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
  • North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset — North Somerset ⁞ Somerset ⁞ Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ⁞ Dorset
  • Gloucestershire and Wiltshire — Swindon ⁞ Wiltshire ⁞ Gloucestershire CC
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 West

There are 58 parliamentary constituencies in the South West, covering everything from coastal tourism hubs to agricultural heartlands. Issues such as housing, transport, and environmental protection are key to local 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 West England

South West England is home to around 5.76 million people (mid-2022, ONS). Spanning 23,838 square kilometres (9,204 square miles), it has a population density of 242 people per square kilometre—making it the least densely populated region in England.

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

How it compares to the rest of England

  • Population share: The South West accounts for 10.1% of England’s total 57.1 million residents, ranking 6th out of 9 regions by population size.
  • Population density: With 242 people per km², the region is much less crowded than the national average of 438 people per km²—196 fewer people per km²—placing it 9th out of 9 regions for density.

Region detail pages