Sandwell: population and statistics
Sandwell has a population of 352,918 (2025) across 85.6 km², or 4,124 people per km². It ranks 33 of 361 local authorities by population. Its population is growing: +8.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 352,918 residents
- 85.6 km²
- 4,124 people/km²
Sandwell in numbers
Population of Sandwell over time
Sandwell had 325,911 residents in 2015 and 352,918 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 341,436 |
| 2021 | 341,895 |
| 2022 | 345,718 |
| 2023 | 349,541 |
| 2024 | 353,270 |
| 2025 | 352,918 |
All indicators for Sandwell
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 | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residents aged 65 and over (2025) | 14.6% | 19.1% | 20.4% | ranked 316 of 361 | |
| Share of residents aged under 16 (2025) | 21.8% | 18.9% | 17.4% | ranked 11 of 361 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings (Council Tax stock) (2026) | 137,080 dwellings | 2,655,660 | 27,429,300 | ranked 44 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built before 1940 (2026) | 38.3% | 32.0% | 31.6% | ranked 94 of 318 | |
| Dwellings built since 2000 (2026) | 13.9% | 17.6% | 18.1% | ranked 247 of 318 | |
| Households (Census 2021) (2021) | 130,246 households | 150,800 | 61,440 | ranked 38 of 318 | |
| Households living in a house or bungalow (2021) | 80.7% | 83.4% | 84.7% | ranked 197 of 318 | |
| Households living in a flat or maisonette (2021) | 19.2% | 16.2% | 14.8% | ranked 118 of 318 | |
| Owner-occupied households (incl. shared ownership) (2021) | 54.2% | 63.2% | 67.3% | ranked 278 of 318 | |
| Households renting privately (2021) | 18.6% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 129 of 318 | |
| Households in social housing (2021) | 26.6% | 18.5% | 14.3% | ranked 20 of 318 | |
| Average house price (2026) | £205,830 | £251,154 | £272,474 | ranked 278 of 360 | |
| House price change over 12 months (2026) | −0.4% | 2.2% | 2.2% | ranked 274 of 360 |
Energy
| Indicator | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without central heating (2021) | 1.8% | 1.6% | 1.2% | ranked 63 of 318 | |
| Households heated by mains gas only (2021) | 78.7% | 75.3% | 76.7% | ranked 119 of 318 | |
| Households heated by electricity only (2021) | 8.0% | 7.9% | 7.8% | ranked 145 of 318 | |
| Households heated by oil only (2021) | 0.0% | 2.9% | 0.9% | ranked 310 of 318 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business sites (local units) (2026) | 12,220 sites | 255,340 | 3,232,440 | ranked 69 of 361 | |
| Business sites per 1,000 residents (2026) | 34.6 per 1,000 | 41.1 per 1,000 | 44.4 per 1,000 | ranked 301 of 361 | |
| Registered businesses (enterprises) (2026) | 10,505 businesses | 219,540 | 2,786,975 | ranked 67 of 361 | |
| Median annual pay, full-time residents (gross) (2025) | £33,029 | £37,210 | £38,490 | ranked 330 of 348 |
Jobs
| Indicator | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16-64 (2025-2026) | 64.6% | 73.9% | 76.3% | ranked 340 of 347 | |
| Out-of-work benefit claimants, share of residents aged 16-64 (2026) | 6.7% | 5.2% | 3.2% | ranked 10 of 361 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sandwell | West Midlands | UK | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households without a car or van (2021) | 29.2% | 21.9% | 18.5% | ranked 47 of 318 |
Key points
Among the 30 local authorities in West Midlands, Sandwell ranks 3 by population.
Households heated by oil only: 0.0% in Sandwell, compared with an average of 2.9% in West Midlands and 3.4% across the UK.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: 64.6% in Sandwell, compared with an average of 73.9% in West Midlands and 75.6% across the UK.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 23.2% of the area's business sites.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in West Midlands for “Share of residents aged under 16”.
- Number 1 in West Midlands for “Households in social housing”.
- “Households heated by oil only”: lower than in 100% of local authorities.
- “Employment rate, aged 16-64”: lower than in 98% of local authorities.
- “Share of residents aged under 16”: higher than in 97% of local authorities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,985 football pitches.
- 14.5 times denser than the UK average.
Business sectors: Sandwell
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 trade23.2% ×1.4
- Transport and storage12.7% ×3.0
- Construction11.6% ×0.9
- Manufacturing8.2% ×1.9
- Accommodation and food services7.2% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services6.9% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical6.8% ×0.5
- Health and social work6.4% ×1.1
Where is Sandwell?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sandwell?
Sandwell has 352,918 residents (2025), ranking 33 of 361 local authorities.
How big is Sandwell?
Sandwell covers 85.6 km², with a density of 4,124 people per km².
Is the population of Sandwell growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Sandwell went from 325,911 to 352,918, a change of +8.3%.
Where is Sandwell?
Sandwell is in West Midlands (region). Latitude 52.505, longitude −2.017.
Households heated by oil only: what is the figure for Sandwell?
In Sandwell, “Households heated by oil only” stands at 0.0% (2021), ranking 310 of 318 local authorities; the UK median is 0.9%.
Employment rate, aged 16-64: what is the figure for Sandwell?
In Sandwell, “Employment rate, aged 16-64” stands at 64.6% (2025-2026), ranking 340 of 347 local authorities; the UK median is 76.3%.
Which local authorities border Sandwell?
The nearest to Sandwell are Dudley (4.5 km), Birmingham (8.5 km), Walsall (9.2 km), Wolverhampton (11 km), South Staffordshire (18 km).