East Devon: population and statistics
East Devon has a population of 159,637 (2025) across 814.2 km², or 196 people per km². It ranks 161 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +15.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 159,637 residents
- 814.2 km²
- 196 people/km²
East Devon in numbers
Population of East Devon over time
East Devon had 138,588 residents in 2015 and 159,637 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 148,592 |
| 2021 | 152,065 |
| 2022 | 154,235 |
| 2023 | 156,331 |
| 2024 | 157,986 |
| 2025 | 159,637 |
All indicators for East Devon
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 | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 30.6% | 23.2% | 20.4% | ranked 7 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 15.3% | 16.2% | 17.4% | ranked 307 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 75,780 dwellings | 2,721,250 | 27,429,300 | ranked 132 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 30.1% | 31.7% | 31.6% | ranked 178 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 22.5% | 20.6% | 18.1% | ranked 77 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 66,788 households | 143,797 | 61,440 | ranked 135 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 85.1% | 80.6% | 84.7% | ranked 152 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 14.3% | 18.6% | 14.8% | ranked 163 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 73.6% | 66.9% | 67.3% | ranked 35 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 16.0% | 19.7% | 17.6% | ranked 207 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 10.3% | 13.3% | 14.3% | ranked 284 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £339,683 | £307,411 | £272,474 | ranked 109 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | 1.3% | 1.1% | 2.2% | ranked 216 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% | ranked 73 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 62.2% | 67.1% | 76.7% | ranked 280 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 9.6% | 10.3% | 7.8% | ranked 92 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 8.7% | 7.0% | 0.9% | ranked 59 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 7,860 sites | 278,765 | 3,232,440 | ranked 151 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 49.2 per 1,000 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 120 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 6,970 businesses | 237,935 | 2,786,975 | ranked 145 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £40,087 | £37,598 | £38,490 | ranked 136 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 87.5% | 79.1% | 76.3% | ranked 7 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 2.1% | 2.7% | 3.2% | ranked 316 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | East Devon | South West | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 13.6% | 16.8% | 18.5% | ranked 246 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 27 local authorities in South West, East Devon ranks 12 by population.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: 30.6% in East Devon, compared with an average of 23.2% in South West and 19.4% across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 87.5% in East Devon, compared with an average of 79.1% in South West and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.9% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South West for “Employment rate, aged 16-64”.
- “Share of residents aged 65 and over”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: higher than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Households in social housing”: lower than in 90% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 114,039 football pitches.
- The nearest local authority is Exeter, 19.5 km away.
- The nearest larger neighbour is Somerset (590,972 residents), 53 km away.
Business sectors: East Devon
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than across the UK.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.9% ×0.9
- Construction13.8% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing12.6% ×2.8
- Professional, scientific and technical11.5% ×0.8
- Accommodation and food services7.4% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services6.6% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.0% ×0.9
- Manufacturing4.7% ×1.1
Where is East Devon?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of East Devon?
East Devon has 159,637 residents (2025), ranking 161 of 361 local authorities.
How big is East Devon?
East Devon covers 814.2 km², with a density of 196 people per km².
Is the population of East Devon growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of East Devon went from 138,588 to 159,637, a change of +15.2%.
Where is East Devon?
East Devon is in South West (region). Latitude 50.679, longitude −3.239.
Share of residents aged 65 and over: what is the figure for East Devon?
In East Devon, “Share of residents aged 65 and over” stands at 30.6% (2025), ranking 7 of 361 local authorities; the UK median is 20.4%.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for East Devon?
In East Devon, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 87.5% (2025-2026), ranking 7 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border East Devon?
The nearest to East Devon are Exeter (20 km), Teignbridge (29 km), Mid Devon (30 km), Torbay (34 km), South Hams (42 km).