South Norfolk: population and statistics
South Norfolk has a population of 150,396 (2025) across 907.6 km², or 166 people per km². It ranks 179 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +15.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 150,396 residents
- 907.6 km²
- 166 people/km²
South Norfolk in numbers
Population of South Norfolk over time
South Norfolk had 129,942 residents in 2015 and 150,396 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 139,842 |
| 2021 | 142,509 |
| 2022 | 144,529 |
| 2023 | 146,614 |
| 2024 | 148,384 |
| 2025 | 150,396 |
All indicators for South Norfolk
Value for the area, then the regional average and the UK median (for counts: regional and UK totals). The gauge places the area between the lowest and highest value in the UK.
Population
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 25.0% | 20.3% | 20.4% | ranked 77 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 17.2% | 18.4% | 17.4% | ranked 196 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 68,550 dwellings | 2,888,720 | 27,429,300 | ranked 154 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 20.1% | 23.4% | 31.6% | ranked 275 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 30.4% | 21.0% | 18.1% | ranked 10 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 61,381 households | 65,170 | 61,440 | ranked 160 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 93.1% | 81.7% | 84.7% | ranked 10 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 6.6% | 17.7% | 14.8% | ranked 307 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 74.4% | 66.1% | 67.3% | ranked 25 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 13.9% | 18.3% | 17.6% | ranked 280 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 11.7% | 15.5% | 14.3% | ranked 252 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £311,587 | £353,838 | £272,474 | ranked 140 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.5% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 210 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.2% | ranked 175 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 50.3% | 70.3% | 76.7% | ranked 304 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.6% | 9.5% | 7.8% | ranked 122 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 24.2% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 6 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 6,695 sites | 315,875 | 3,232,440 | ranked 187 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 44.5 per 1,000 | 47.8 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 180 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 5,970 businesses | 276,720 | 2,786,975 | ranked 174 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £39,438 | £41,339 | £38,490 | ranked 152 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 81.5% | 78.4% | 76.3% | ranked 50 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.3% | 3.3% | 3.2% | ranked 288 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | South Norfolk | East | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 10.5% | 16.9% | 18.5% | ranked 310 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 45 local authorities in East, South Norfolk ranks 20 by population.
Households heated by oil only: 24.2% in South Norfolk, compared with an average of 7.0% in East and 3.4% across the UK.
Dwellings built since 2000: 30.4% in South Norfolk, compared with an average of 21.0% in East and 18.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 14.3% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- “Households heated by oil only”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Dwellings built since 2000”: higher than in 97% of local authorities.
- “Households without a car or van”: lower than in 97% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 127,122 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Norwich, 17.1 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is East Suffolk (250,106 residents), 37 km away.
Business sectors: South Norfolk
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Construction14.3% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade13.7% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical13.5% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.7% ×2.2
- Administrative and support services7.2% ×0.9
- Health and social work5.9% ×1.0
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services5.2% ×0.7
Where is South Norfolk?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Norfolk?
South Norfolk has 150,396 residents (2025), ranking 179 of 361 local authorities.
How big is South Norfolk?
South Norfolk covers 907.6 km², with a density of 166 people per km².
Is the population of South Norfolk growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of South Norfolk went from 129,942 to 150,396, a change of +15.7%.
Where is South Norfolk?
South Norfolk is in East (region). Latitude 52.492, longitude 1.231.
Households heated by oil only: what is the figure for South Norfolk?
In South Norfolk, “Households heated by oil only” stands at 24.2% (2021), ranking 6 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 0.9%.
Dwellings built since 2000: what is the figure for South Norfolk?
In South Norfolk, “Dwellings built since 2000” stands at 30.4% (2026), ranking 10 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 18.1%.
Which local authorities border South Norfolk?
The nearest to South Norfolk are Norwich (17 km), Broadland (18 km), Breckland (23 km), Great Yarmouth (36 km), East Suffolk (37 km).