Census shows South East population boom

Eastbourne's elderly image is not as accurate as before

The 2001 census figures released on Thursday show the population increase in Sussex since 1991 is about twice the national average.

In East Sussex the number of residents has increased by 4.7% since the last census where the average in England and Wales is 2.5%

West Sussex has more than 750,000 residents which is 5.8% more than in 1991.

The figures show more women than men live in Sussex and married households outnumber single ones by two to one.

Population Figures

East Sussex - 492,324

West Sussex - 753,614

Surrey -1,059,015

Brighton & Hove - 247,817

Most homes in East and West Sussex have one car and almost 98% of the population are white.

The figures also indicate the elderly image of Eastbourne is not as accurate as it used to be as the number of people aged under 15 now outnumbers those over 75.

The census results also reveals there are almost 36,000 more people living in Surrey than in 1991.

The county lives up to its wealthy reputation with most homes having two cars.

More women than men live in Surrey and 95% of the population is white.

In Brighton and Hove the population has risen to almost 250,000 with more single people living there than are married.

The city also has one of the highest population densities in the South East and the number of Buddhists and followers of Judaism is higher than the rest of England and Wales.