Socio-economic statistics for Bedham, West Sussex

Socio-economic statistics for Bedham, West Sussex

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Bedham in Chichester from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Bedham older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Bedham and Chichester? Is Bedham an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Bedham Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Fittleworth.
Age Band Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Bedham Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Bedham residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Bedham to the national average for England.
Level Fittleworth England
No Qualifications 11.25% 18.08%
Level 1 7.3% 9.69%
Level 2 16.13% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 3.52% 5.32%
Level 3 16.13% 16.92%
Level 4 43.25% 33.92%

What are the occupations of the residents of Bedham?

The largest employment sector in Bedham is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 23.31%
Professional Occupations 20.31%
Skilled Trades 13.36%
Associate Professional & Technical 12.41%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 7.91%
Administrative & Secretarial 7.5%
Elementary Occupations 7.23%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 1.77%

How many residents own or rent their home in Bedham and Chichester

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Bedham either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 73.71 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 26.29 of Bedham residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Fittleworth 73.71% 26.29%
Chichester 65.36% 34.64%
South East 65.66% 34.34%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Bedham has a significantly higher level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically wealthy area.

Bedham compared to other wards in Chichester

# Ward Owned Rented
1 Selsey South 77.68% 22.32%
2 Loxwood 76.36% 23.65%
3 Fernhurst 74.43% 25.57%
4 Harbour Villages 73.99% 26.01%
5 Fittleworth 73.71% 26.29%
6 Sidlesham with Selsey North 73.59% 26.41%
7 The Witterings 72.45% 27.55%
8 Harting 71.64% 28.36%
9 Lavant 69.55% 30.45%
10 Southbourne 68.55% 31.46%
11 Westbourne (Chichester) 67.93% 32.07%
12 Easebourne 66.42% 33.58%
13 Chichester North 63.22% 36.78%
14 Chichester West 62.3% 37.7%
15 Midhurst 61.8% 38.2%
16 North Mundham & Tangmere 59.93% 40.07%
17 Goodwood 57.26% 42.74%
18 Petworth 53.98% 46.02%
19 Chichester South 52.16% 47.84%
20 Chichester Central 45.55% 54.45%
21 Chichester East 37.68% 62.32%
Bedham is ranked 5 out of 21 wards in Chichester for the percentage of home owners.

Bedham Health Statistics

Fittleworth has significantly more residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Fittleworth 54.35% 31.8% 10.99% 2.38% 0.48%
Chichester 49.04% 34.27% 12.39% 3.37% 0.94%
South East 49.98% 34.01% 11.77% 3.31% 0.93%
England 48.49% 33.71% 12.65% 3.98% 1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Chichester changed since 2011?

Chichester residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.72% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 47.64% 34.95% 13.09% 3.36% 0.96%
2021 49.04% 34.27% 12.39% 3.37% 0.94%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Bedham & Chichester Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Bedham in the Chichester local area district.

Bedham has a lower rate of immigrants than Chichester, the South East region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Fittleworth 90.05% 9.95%
Chichester 89.93% 10.07%
South East 84.24% 15.76%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Bedham compared to other wards in Chichester

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Chichester Central 82.55% 17.45%
2 Chichester East 83.61% 16.39%
3 Chichester North 86.85% 13.15%
4 Chichester South 86.9% 13.1%
5 North Mundham & Tangmere 87.05% 12.95%
6 Fernhurst 89.38% 10.62%
7 Southbourne 89.89% 10.11%
8 Fittleworth 90.05% 9.95%
9 Midhurst 90.12% 9.88%
10 Chichester West 90.16% 9.84%
11 Easebourne 90.48% 9.52%
12 Harting 90.95% 9.05%
13 Harbour Villages 90.96% 9.04%
14 Goodwood 91.58% 8.42%
15 Selsey South 91.68% 8.32%
16 Loxwood 91.82% 8.18%
17 Petworth 92.11% 7.89%
18 Sidlesham with Selsey North 92.72% 7.28%
19 The Witterings 93.2% 6.8%
20 Lavant 93.33% 6.67%
21 Westbourne 93.94% 6.06%
'; Bedham is ranked 8 out of 21 wards in Chichester for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Bedham Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Chichester.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Chichester 2.9% -0.3%
South East 2.9% -0.3%
England 3.8% -0.3%
UK 3.7% -0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Bedham on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Bedham.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 50.73%
In Part-Time Work 36.2%
Unemployed 2.66%
63.8% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Bedham

What is the population of Bedham and Chichester?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Chichester including Bedham. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Chichester Central 3035
Chichester East 7115
Chichester North 5512
Chichester South 6634
Chichester West 6897
Easebourne 2880
Fernhurst 6752
Fittleworth 3108
Goodwood 3266
Harbour Villages 11181
Harting 3637
Lavant 3345
Loxwood 7142
Midhurst 7294
North Mundham & Tangmere 7718
Petworth 3605
Selsey South 6107
Sidlesham with Selsey North 5802
Southbourne 7256
The Witterings 10003
Westbourne 3219
Chichester Total 121508



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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