Socio-economic statistics for Portsmouth, City of Portsmouth

Socio-economic statistics for Portsmouth, City of Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth.
Economic StatusProportion
In Employment31.09%
In Part-Time Work30.88%
Unemployed10.21%
69.12% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Portsmouth

Portsmouth Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth to the national average for England.
LevelCharles DickensEngland
No Qualifications21.19%18.08%
Level 19.39%9.69%
Level 211.51%13.32%
Apprenticeship3.64%5.32%
Level 331.95%16.92%
Level 419.59%33.92%

Portsmouth Health Statistics

Charles Dickens 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.
AreaVGGFBVB
Charles Dickens44.07%34.1%14.84%5.33%1.66%
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

What are the occupations of the residents of Portsmouth?

The largest employment sector in Portsmouth is Elementary Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Managers, Directors & Senior Officials.
SectorProportion
Elementary Occupations20.62%
Caring, leisure & Other Services14.61%
Professional Occupations12.03%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives9.48%
Skilled Trades9.21%
Associate Professional & Technical8.8%
Administrative & Secretarial7.25%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials5.52%

Portsmouth & 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 Portsmouth in the Portsmouth local area district.

AreaBorn in UKBorn outside UK
Charles Dickens74.73%25.27%
Portsmouth83.06%16.94%
South East84.24%15.76%
England82.65%17.35%

Portsmouth 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%
';Portsmouth is ranked 1 out of 14 wards in Portsmouth for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Portsmouth Age Distribution Statistics

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

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

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Portsmouth either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 13.78 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 86.22 of Portsmouth residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
AreaOwnedRented
Charles Dickens13.78%86.22%
Portsmouth52.26%47.74%
South East65.66%34.34%
England61.31%38.69%

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

Portsmouth 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%
Portsmouth is ranked 14 out of 14 wards in Portsmouth for the percentage of home owners.

What is the population of Portsmouth and Portsmouth?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Portsmouth including Portsmouth. 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.