Socio-economic statistics for Washington, West Sussex

Socio-economic statistics for Washington, West Sussex

We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics for Washington in Horsham from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Washington older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Washington and Horsham? Is Washington an unemployment hotspot? This page should provide you with the answers.

Washington Health Statistics

Storrington & Washington has a lower proportion of residents (very_good_pc-$ward_health->very_good_pc, 2)%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.
Area VG G F B VB
Storrington & Washington 47.42% 35.36% 13.11% 3.29% 0.82%
Horsham 51.47% 33.95% 11.05% 2.77% 0.76%
South East 49.98% 34.01% 11.77% 3.31% 0.93%
England 48.49% 33.71% 12.65% 3.98% 1.17%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

How has the health of residents in Horsham changed since 2011?

Horsham residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 0.06% between the 2011 and 2021 census.
Year VG G F B VB
2011 50.57% 34.79% 11.1% 2.71% 0.82%
2021 51.47% 33.95% 11.05% 2.77% 0.76%
VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

What are the occupations of the residents of Washington?

The largest employment sector in Washington is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.
Sector Proportion
Professional Occupations 20.51%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials 20.21%
Associate Professional & Technical 13.03%
Skilled Trades 10.42%
Administrative & Secretarial 9.66%
Caring, leisure & Other Services 8.1%
Elementary Occupations 6.87%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives 4.48%

Washington Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Horsham.
Area Unemployed Yearly Change
Horsham 1.9% -0.2%
South East 2.9% -0.3%
England 3.8% -0.3%
UK 3.7% -0.3%
Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023
The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Washington on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Washington.
Economic Status Proportion
In Employment 49.24%
In Part-Time Work 32.74%
Unemployed 3.81%
67.26% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Washington

Washington & Horsham Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Washington in the Horsham local area district.

Washington has a lower rate of immigrants than Horsham, the South East region and England as a whole.
Area Born in UK Born outside UK
Storrington & Washington 93.04% 6.96%
Horsham 89.71% 10.29%
South East 84.24% 15.76%
England 82.65% 17.35%

Washington compared to other wards in Horsham

# Ward Born in UK Born outside UK
1 Colgate & Rusper 82.22% 17.78%
2 Denne 82.38% 17.62%
3 Roffey South 86.3% 13.7%
4 Forest 86.96% 13.04%
5 Broadbridge Heath 87.29% 12.71%
6 Trafalgar 87.6% 12.4%
7 Rudgwick 87.97% 12.03%
8 Holbrook East 88% 12%
9 Holbrook West 88.39% 11.61%
10 Roffey North 89.48% 10.52%
11 Nuthurst & Lower Beeding 90.31% 9.69%
12 Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham 91.64% 8.36%
13 Henfield 91.74% 8.26%
14 Billingshurst 91.78% 8.22%
15 Southwater North 91.81% 8.19%
16 Southwater South & Shipley 92.21% 7.79%
17 Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley 92.84% 7.16%
18 Storrington & Washington 93.04% 6.96%
19 Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote 93.05% 6.95%
20 Steyning & Ashurst 93.08% 6.92%
21 West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington 93.28% 6.72%
22 Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead 93.38% 6.62%
'; Washington is ranked 18 out of 22 wards in Horsham for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Washington Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Storrington & Washington.
Age Band Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

How many residents own or rent their home in Washington and Horsham

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Washington either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 73.22 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 26.78 of Washington residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.
Area Owned Rented
Storrington & Washington 73.22% 26.78%
Horsham 72.25% 27.75%
South East 65.66% 34.34%
England 61.31% 38.69%

Washington has a significantly higher level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically wealthy area.

Washington compared to other wards in Horsham

# Ward Owned Rented
1 West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington 84.2% 15.8%
2 Nuthurst & Lower Beeding 81.66% 18.34%
3 Southwater North 80.57% 19.43%
4 Rudgwick 79.86% 20.14%
5 Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote 79.78% 20.22%
6 Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead 79.27% 20.73%
7 Roffey North 78.03% 21.97%
8 Steyning & Ashurst 76.72% 23.28%
9 Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham 75.48% 24.52%
10 Trafalgar 74.97% 25.03%
11 Holbrook East 74.27% 25.73%
12 Storrington & Washington 73.22% 26.78%
13 Holbrook West 71.68% 28.32%
14 Billingshurst 70.74% 29.26%
15 Southwater South & Shipley 70.46% 29.54%
16 Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley 70.06% 29.94%
17 Henfield 69.89% 30.11%
18 Broadbridge Heath 68.74% 31.26%
19 Forest (Horsham) 68.11% 31.89%
20 Colgate & Rusper 65.06% 34.94%
21 Roffey South 60.98% 39.02%
22 Denne 58.98% 41.02%
Washington is ranked 12 out of 22 wards in Horsham for the percentage of home owners.

Washington Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Washington residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

  • Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
  • Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
  • Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
  • Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Washington to the national average for England.
Level Storrington & Washington England
No Qualifications 14.99% 18.08%
Level 1 9.42% 9.69%
Level 2 15.13% 13.32%
Apprenticeship 4.95% 5.32%
Level 3 16.32% 16.92%
Level 4 35.8% 33.92%

What is the population of Washington and Horsham?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Horsham including Washington. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward Population
Billingshurst 9881
Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote 5403
Broadbridge Heath 6187
Colgate & Rusper 4872
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead 5567
Denne 10501
Forest 8911
Henfield 5821
Holbrook East 5921
Holbrook West 6582
Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham 5995
Nuthurst & Lower Beeding 2932
Pulborough, Coldwaltham & Amberley 7363
Roffey North 6272
Roffey South 6902
Rudgwick 3026
Southwater North 7135
Southwater South & Shipley 5803
Steyning & Ashurst 6294
Storrington & Washington 9354
Trafalgar 6277
West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington 8475
Horsham Total 145474



Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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