Wealden Facts and Figures

Area

323 square miles (837 square kilometres) 

Wealden is classified as one of the most rural districts in England. Wealden places a high value on protecting the countryside, with two-thirds of the district covered by the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the South Downs National Park, as well as 34 conservation areas, over 2,500 listed buildings and the largest amount of ancient woodland of any district in the country.  

The Council is a member of SPARSE Rural and the Rural Services Network.  They have comprehensively profiled facts and figures about Wealden (external link) and other rural district and county areas.  East Sussex County Council's data observatory service East Sussex in Figures (external link) can be searched for a very wide range of facts, figures and maps at county, district, ward and parish levels.

Population (2011 Census data)

Wealden Population in 2011: 148,900

Population projection for 2033: 165,400

Largest settlements (2011 estimates):

  • Crowborough - 20,951
  • Hailsham - 20,436
  • Heathfield - 11,913
  • Polegate - 7,655
  • Uckfield - 14,493

Population density (2011): 1.78 people per hectare (South East average 4.5 people per hectare)

Gender and Age (2011)

 

Males by age group

  • Percent of population who are male aged 0-14: 17.6% 
  • Male aged 15-29: 15.3% 
  • Male aged 30-44: 16.3%
  • Male aged 45-64: 29.7% 
  • Male aged 65+: 21.1% 

Females by age group

  • Percent of population who are female aged 0-14: 15.5%
  • Female aged 15-29: 13.4% 
  • Female aged 30-44: 17.2% 
  • Female aged 45-64: 29.3% 
  • Female aged 65+: 24.6% 

Ethnicity (2011):

  • White - 97.5%
  • Mixed - 1.0%
  • Asian - 1.2%
  • Black - 0.2%
  • Chinese and other minority ethnic - 0.2%

Health

(As identified by the English Public Health Observatories Health Profile for Wealden. For more information please visit East Sussex Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (External):

  • The health of people in Wealden is generally better than the England average.
  • Life expectancy for both men and women is higher than the England average.
  • Over the last 10 years, all cause mortality rates have fallen. The early death rate from heart disease and stroke has fallen and is better than the England average.
  • About 15.1% of Year 6 children are classified as obese, lower than the average for England.
  • Levels of teenage pregnancy, GCSE attainment and breast feeding initiation are better than the England average.
  • Estimated levels of adult 'healthy eating' and physical activity are better than the England average.
  • The rate of road injuries and deaths is worse than the England average.
  • Rates of sexually transmitted infections, smoking related deaths and hospital stays for alcohol related harm are better than the England average.

Percentage of population who have reported they are in very good health (2011): 47.6%