Socio-economic statistics for Southsea, City of Portsmouth

Socio-economic statistics for Southsea, City of Portsmouth

Is Southsea in Portsmouth 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 Southsea older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Southsea and Portsmouth? What is the claimant count in Southsea and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Southsea 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 Portsmouth.
AreaUnemployedYearly Change
Portsmouth4.6%-0.4%
South East2.9%-0.3%
England3.8%-0.3%
UK3.7%-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 Southsea 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 Southsea.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment56.96%
In Part-Time Work22.6%
Unemployed5.32%
77.4% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Southsea

What are the occupations of the residents of Southsea?

The largest employment sector in Southsea is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
SectorProportion
Professional Occupations26.42%
Associate Professional & Technical15.39%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials12.63%
Elementary Occupations8.94%
Caring, leisure & Other Services7.97%
Administrative & Secretarial7.93%
Skilled Trades7.63%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives5.44%

Southsea Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Southsea 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 Southsea to the national average for England.
LevelSt JudeEngland
No Qualifications11.44%18.08%
Level 16.48%9.69%
Level 29.67%13.32%
Apprenticeship3.67%5.32%
Level 320.12%16.92%
Level 446.27%33.92%

Southsea Health Statistics

St Jude has more residents (very_good_pc-$country_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
AreaVGGFBVB
St Jude48.83%34.18%12.24%3.65%1.1%
Portsmouth47.36%34.83%12.86%3.85%1.11%
South East49.98%34.01%11.77%3.31%0.93%
England48.49%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 Portsmouth changed since 2011?

Portsmouth residents who describe their health as either good or very good has decreased by 0.34% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
YearVGGFBVB
201147.69%34.84%12.42%3.9%1.15%
202147.36%34.83%12.86%3.85%1.11%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How many residents own or rent their home in Southsea and Portsmouth

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Southsea either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 42.46 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 57.54 of Southsea residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
St Jude42.46%57.54%
Portsmouth52.26%47.74%
South East65.66%34.34%
England61.31%38.69%

Southsea has a significantly lower level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically deprived area.

Southsea compared to other wards in Portsmouth

#WardOwnedRented
1Drayton and Farlington82.61%17.39%
2Copnor75.08%24.92%
3Baffins70.95%29.05%
4Milton (Portsmouth)61.76%38.24%
5Cosham61.17%38.83%
6Hilsea61.04%38.96%
7Eastney and Craneswater54.9%45.1%
8Paulsgrove53.05%46.95%
9Central Southsea47.43%52.57%
10Fratton46.87%53.13%
11Nelson (Portsmouth)46.36%53.64%
12St Jude42.46%57.54%
13St Thomas (Portsmouth)33.58%66.42%
14Charles Dickens13.78%86.22%
Southsea is ranked 12 out of 14 wards in Portsmouth for the percentage of home owners.

Southsea & Portsmouth 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 Southsea in the Portsmouth local area district.

AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
St Jude76.14%23.86%
Portsmouth83.06%16.94%
South East84.24%15.76%
England82.65%17.35%

Southsea compared to other wards in Portsmouth

#WardBorn in UKBorn outside UK
1Charles Dickens74.73%25.27%
2St Thomas74.81%25.19%
3St Jude76.14%23.86%
4Fratton77.67%22.33%
5Central Southsea79%21%
6Eastney and Craneswater81.33%18.67%
7Nelson81.43%18.57%
8Milton85.36%14.64%
9Hilsea86.22%13.78%
10Cosham87.33%12.67%
11Copnor89.53%10.47%
12Paulsgrove90.46%9.54%
13Baffins91.02%8.98%
14Drayton and Farlington92.97%7.03%
';Southsea is ranked 3 out of 14 wards in Portsmouth for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Southsea Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in St Jude.
Age BandProportion
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

What is the population of Southsea and Portsmouth?

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

WardPopulation
Baffins15061
Central Southsea16789
Charles Dickens24370
Copnor13418
Cosham14670
Drayton and Farlington13314
Eastney and Craneswater13721
Fratton15747
Hilsea13543
Milton14295
Nelson15110
Paulsgrove14142
St Jude12842
St Thomas17670
Portsmouth Total214692



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