Socio-economic statistics for Birling Gap, East Sussex

Is Birling Gap in Wealden a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics 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 Birling Gap older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Birling Gap and Wealden? What is the claimant count in Birling Gap and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Birling Gap Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in South Downs.

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

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Birling Gap 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 Wealden.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
Wealden	2.1%	-0.4%
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 Birling Gap 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 Birling Gap.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	43.53%
In Part-Time Work	35.97%
Unemployed	2%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

64.03% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Birling Gap

How many residents own or rent their home in Birling Gap and Wealden

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Birling Gap either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 81.21 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 18.79 of Birling Gap residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
South Downs	81.21%	18.79%
Wealden	76.97%	23.03%
South East	65.66%	34.34%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Birling Gap compared to other wards in Wealden

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Lower Willingdon	88.31%	11.69%
2	Upper Willingdon	87.98%	12.02%
3	Crowborough St Johns	87.63%	12.37%
4	Hailsham North	86.73%	13.27%
5	Framfield & Cross-in-Hand	83.35%	16.65%
6	Hadlow Down & Rotherfield	82.92%	17.08%
7	Arlington	82.81%	17.19%
8	Heathfield South	82.51%	17.49%
9	Horam & Punnetts Town	81.97%	18.03%
10	Crowborough South East	81.92%	18.08%
11	Maresfield	81.61%	18.39%
12	Hailsham South	81.5%	18.5%
13	South Downs	81.21%	18.79%
14	Stone Cross	81.21%	18.79%
15	Crowborough North	81.19%	18.81%
16	Danehill & Fletching	80.67%	19.33%
17	Pevensey Bay	80.39%	19.61%
18	Buxted	79.82%	20.18%
19	Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron	79.37%	20.63%
20	Withyham	79.1%	20.9%
21	Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels	78.95%	21.05%
22	Hailsham North West	78.45%	21.55%
23	Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill	78.27%	21.73%
24	Frant & Wadhurst	77.29%	22.71%
25	Mayfield & Five Ashes	77.22%	22.78%
26	Polegate Central	77.06%	22.94%
27	Hartfield	76.51%	23.49%
28	Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted	76.14%	23.86%
29	Uckfield New Town	75.49%	24.51%
30	Crowborough South West	75.39%	24.61%
31	Hellingly	72.32%	27.68%
32	Forest Row	72.26%	27.74%
33	Crowborough Central	72.18%	27.82%
34	Uckfield East	72.11%	27.89%
35	Crowborough Jarvis Brook	71.38%	28.62%
36	Polegate North	70.35%	29.65%
37	Hailsham Central	69.25%	30.75%
38	Hailsham West	67.98%	32.02%
39	Heathfield North	67.98%	32.02%
40	Uckfield North	64.48%	35.52%
41	Hailsham East	51.4%	48.6%

Birling Gap is ranked 13 out of 41 wards in Wealden for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Birling Gap & Wealden 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 Birling Gap in the Wealden local area district.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
South Downs	91.33%	8.67%
Wealden	92.41%	7.59%
South East	84.24%	15.76%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Birling Gap compared to other wards in Wealden

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Forest Row	83.3%	16.7%
2	Crowborough South East	87.8%	12.2%
3	Hartfield	88.95%	11.05%
4	Arlington	89.71%	10.29%
5	Frant & Wadhurst	89.76%	10.24%
6	Mayfield & Five Ashes	90.42%	9.58%
7	Crowborough Central	90.64%	9.36%
8	Uckfield East	90.88%	9.12%
9	South Downs	91.33%	8.67%
10	Danehill & Fletching	91.46%	8.54%
11	Maresfield	91.86%	8.14%
12	Heathfield North	92%	8%
13	Withyham	92.02%	7.98%
14	Crowborough Jarvis Brook	92.17%	7.83%
15	Crowborough St Johns	92.23%	7.77%
16	Crowborough North	92.27%	7.73%
17	Uckfield New Town	92.33%	7.67%
18	Buxted	92.39%	7.61%
19	Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron	92.51%	7.49%
20	Hadlow Down & Rotherfield	92.57%	7.43%
21	Crowborough South West	92.65%	7.35%
22	Polegate Central	92.72%	7.28%
23	Heathfield South	92.87%	7.13%
24	Framfield & Cross-in-Hand	92.91%	7.09%
25	Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted	93.09%	6.91%
26	Stone Cross	93.1%	6.9%
27	Polegate North	93.28%	6.72%
28	Hailsham East	93.4%	6.6%
29	Upper Willingdon	93.42%	6.58%
30	Hailsham Central	93.43%	6.57%
31	Uckfield North	93.52%	6.48%
32	Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill	93.74%	6.26%
33	Hellingly	93.93%	6.07%
34	Horam & Punnetts Town	94.35%	5.65%
35	Lower Willingdon	94.42%	5.58%
36	Pevensey Bay	94.57%	5.43%
37	Hailsham West	94.57%	5.43%
38	Hailsham South	94.83%	5.17%
39	Hailsham North	95.02%	4.98%
40	Hailsham North West	95.24%	4.76%
41	Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels	95.44%	4.56%

';Birling Gap is ranked 9 out of 41 wards in Wealden for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Birling Gap Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Birling Gap 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 Birling Gap to the national average for England.

Level	South Downs	England
No Qualifications	11.98%	18.08%
Level 1	6.99%	9.69%
Level 2	13.31%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	4.58%	5.32%
Level 3	14.68%	16.92%
Level 4	45.88%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Birling Gap Health Statistics

South Downs has a lower proportion of residents (very_good_pc-$ward_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.

Area	VG	G	F	B	VB
South Downs	45.72%	36.46%	12.69%	4.1%	1.04%
Wealden	48.22%	34.74%	12.62%	3.51%	0.91%
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

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Wealden residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.44% between the 2011 and 2021 census.

Year	VG	G	F	B	VB
2011	47.59%	34.93%	13.03%	3.49%	0.96%
2021	48.22%	34.74%	12.62%	3.51%	0.91%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What are the occupations of the residents of Birling Gap?

The largest employment sector in Birling Gap is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.

Sector	Proportion
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	24.71%
Professional Occupations	24.54%
Associate Professional & Technical	14.74%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	8.21%
Skilled Trades	8.04%
Administrative & Secretarial	7.79%
Elementary Occupations	5.36%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	1.93%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

What is the population of Birling Gap and Wealden?

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

Ward	Population
Arlington	3513
Buxted	4204
Chiddingly, East Hoathly & Waldron	3536
Crowborough Central	3507
Crowborough Jarvis Brook	3933
Crowborough North	4103
Crowborough South East	4195
Crowborough South West	3049
Crowborough St Johns	3450
Danehill & Fletching	4051
Forest Row	4430
Framfield & Cross-in-Hand	3323
Frant & Wadhurst	6928
Hadlow Down & Rotherfield	3371
Hailsham Central	2607
Hailsham East	4632
Hailsham North	3293
Hailsham North West	3704
Hailsham South	3384
Hailsham West	4227
Hartfield	3368
Heathfield North	3906
Heathfield South	4264
Hellingly	5137
Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels	6973
Horam & Punnetts Town	6743
Lower Willingdon	3338
Maresfield	3838
Mayfield & Five Ashes	3693
Pevensey Bay	2993
Polegate Central	5160
Polegate North	3942
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill	3629
South Downs	3102
Stone Cross	3537
Uckfield East	3321
Uckfield New Town	6941
Uckfield North	3047
Uckfield Ridgewood & Little Horsted	2030
Upper Willingdon	3179
Withyham	3152
Wealden Total	162733

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

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

Top 20 most depressing towns in Britain 2024