Guide Knowing East Devon summary

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3. People

The section on People covers population, households, ethnicity, religion, migration, income and earnings, deprivation, crime and health. The population of East Devon has an older age profile with the average age of its residents being 50.7 years (national average is 40.1 years). The 65+ age range looks set to grow more than any other over the next 10 years growing from 30.1% of the population in 2017 to 32.5% of the population in 2027. The overall population is expected to increase by 14,300 people between 2017 and 2027, a rise of 10%. An aging population will have an impact on the provision of health care, housing requirements, the labour market and economic growth. The average household size in the district is 2.2 residents. Predominantly East Devon residents are from a white British background, with just 1.59% of the district’s population coming from an ethnic background.

The migration of population into East Devon from other parts of the UK show that in 2017 there were 2,620 more people moving into the area than out. The largest age group moving in to the district were in the 25-44 age group and the largest group moving out where from the 16-24 age group. 

The average income for households in East Devon in 2016/17 was £29,300 which was just above the Devon average of £28,800 but below the England average of £34,300. Overall, the district is relatively well-off and is in the 40% least deprived districts nationally. East Devon is one of the lowest crime rate areas in Britain. At just over 82 years old the life expectancy for residents in East Devon is very high with the area ranking in the top 10% of districts nationally and is top of all the Devon districts.