Our people and places
West Sussex is a large and diverse county covering an area of 769 square miles with over half the land designated as protected countryside. It has a high concentration of coastal communities, as well as extensive rural areas.
The population of West Sussex is approximately 882,700 (699,330 adults) which has increased by 9.4% over the last 10 years. This generally reflects increases at a national and regional level with the largest increase of over 20.8% in the 65+ age group. The population in West Sussex is projected to increase by 8% from 2018 to 2028 with larger increases in the 65+ age group (23%) and notably in the 85+ age group (28%).
Overall, in West Sussex, people enjoy a good quality of life with a relatively high life expectancy of 82.5 years when compared with England 81.4 years; life expectancy for men is 80.3 years and 83.9 years for women.
In 2018-20, the male healthy life expectancy was 63.8 years and the female 63.9 years, which is in line with the national level.
Health inequalities persist
The average life expectancy in West Sussex marks considerable inequality, and differences between areas and different groups within the population. Some neighbourhoods in Arun and Crawley rank amongst the 10% most deprived in England, and there remain considerable differences between the life expectancy of the wider population and people with mental health problems and those with disabilities, including learning disabilities.
People from lower income groups are more likely to be in poorer health, have a limiting long-term illness and lower life expectancy.
Men living in deprived areas have 7.6 fewer years in life expectancy and women have 6.4 years.
It is important to recognise that there are other groups in the population which are at higher risk of poorer health and wellbeing outcomes. These include:
- Carers (notably those caring for over 50+ per week)
- People living in poverty
- Homeless people
- Children in care or leaving care
- Military veterans (notably younger veterans leaving service early)
- Gypsy, traveller and show people
- Refugees, asylum seekers or undocumented, forced, smuggled or trafficked migrants
- People in detention
To find out how the West Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board is working to reduce health inequalities and to ensure better quality of services for all, please read the Board’s West Sussex Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-24.
- Data from the 2021 Census indicates that:
- The proportion of the population who are of minority ethnicities has increased, rising from 11.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021.
- Crawley has seen the greatest overall increase in residents of minority ethnicities, rising from 27.9% in 2011 to 38.2% in 2021. Mid Sussex and Worthing have seen the next greatest increases with the proportion of the population who are of a minority ethnicity increasing from 9.7% to 14.2% in Mid Sussex and from 10.6% to 15% in Worthing.
- Around 49,850 people do not speak English as their main language. Polish remains the most common minority main language with 8,280 speakers (up from 6,300 in 2011). Romanian speakers increased nearly nine-fold to become the second most common minority main language with around 5,540 speakers. Portuguese is the third most common minority main language with speakers rising from around 1,970 in 2011 to 3,380 in 2021.
- Over 73,000 unpaid carers. This figure is likely to be considerably higher as many people do not identify themselves as carers.
- Over 30% of people aged 65 years or over live alone, representing over 60,000 people.
- At any one time it is estimated that one in six adults have a common mental health problem.
- Around 18,000 people aged over 65 years are estimated to have a moderate to severe visual impairment.
- There are an estimated 3,400 people aged 15+ years living with a moderate to severe learning disability.
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It is estimated that there are 7,200 adults (18+ years) living with autism in West Sussex.
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Over 14,830 people are estimated to have dementia. This figure is forecast to rise to approximately 21,750 by 2040 in line with the ageing population.