Almost 5.4 million people live in the East of England region, with around 45% of the population in rural areas. This diverse region, close to London, contains small market towns as well as larger urban settlements. Extensive tracts of undeveloped a...

Profile of the East of England


Almost 5.4 million people live in the East of England region, with around 45% of the population in rural areas. This diverse region, close to London, contains small market towns as well as larger urban settlements. Extensive tracts of undeveloped and remote coastline follow the Wash to the Thames Estuary. 

The south of the region is strongly influenced by its proximity to London in terms of commuting, development pressure and affluence. The northern and more remote areas remain dominated by agriculture and associated industries.

This is the second largest region in terms of land area. The region’s low-lying, fertile soils create distinctive landscapes that are vulnerable to flooding. Increasingly the issue of water resources will need to meet competing demands of people, farming, wetland habitats and wildlife.

Environmental characteristics of the region.
The East of England countryside has been shaped by human activity to give rise to a diversity of landscapes. These range from the wide, open fens supporting intensive arable farming and horticulture, to the beaches and dunes of the coasts, the lakes, rivers and wetlands of the Broads and rolling landscapes of village, woodland and hedgerow. more
Social characteristics of the region.
The past twenty years have seen the rural population of the East of England grow faster than urban areas. The social composition of rural areas has changed as older people have moved out into the countryside and younger people migrated into urban centres. However, the region still has a relatively large proportion of young people, with a high number of families. more
Economic characteristics of the region.
The health of the rural economy in the East of England reflects the national picture showing growth in the service sector, such as distribution, hotels and restaurants and a continued decline in agriculture, fisheries and manufacturing. In spite of this, agriculture and associated industries remain central to many rural economies, particularly in the northern counties. more