OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Cornwall

Economic profile. Data last updated 2026-03-28.

Cornwall supports 232,295 workplace jobs with median earnings 15% below the England average. Productivity (GVA per job) is ranked 296th of 391 local authorities.

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Population

583,289

↑ 10.1%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

232,295

Median Annual Earnings

£28,210

327th of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£234,941

↑ 1.8%327th of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£57,481

296th of 391

England: £63,763

Source: ONS, Nomis, HM Land Registry, 2024-2025·Last updated March 2026

Demographics & Population

Mid-year population estimates (2024) and Census 2021 age profile.

Mid-year population estimate of 583,289. Population has grown by 10.1% over five years, below the England rate of 11.4%. Working-age population (58.1%) is below the England average.

Population

583,289

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

58.1%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

15.9%

Over 65

26.0%

Source: ONS Mid-Year Population Estimates, Census 2021, 2024·Last updated March 2026

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £28,210 are below the England median of £33,080. The 90/10 earnings ratio is 5.7x (England: 6.2x), indicating relatively high wage inequality.

Median Annual

£28,210

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

£9,530

90th Percentile

£53,849

90/10 Ratio

5.7x

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 31.5% (male median £34,373, female median £23,533). This is above the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

31.5%

England: 28.2%

Source: ASHE via Nomis, 2025·Last updated March 2026

Industry Structure

Location quotients and shift-share analysis for Cornwall's economy.

The most specialised sectors are Mining & quarrying (LQ 4.91) and Agriculture, forestry & fishing (LQ 3.61). Accommodation & food service shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Accommodation & food service

Most Specialised

Mining & quarrying

England: LQ 4.91

Fastest Growing

Accommodation & food service

Specialised Sectors

3

England: LQ > 1.25

Source: BRES via Nomis, 2020-2024·Last updated March 2026

Housing & Property Market

Estimated house prices for Cornwall vs England, 2015-2025.

The median house price of £234,941 is significantly below the England median of £290,000. The price-to-earnings ratio is 8.3x. Prices have risen 1.8% over the past year.

Median Price

£234,941

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

12-Month Change

1.8%

Source: HM Land Registry, Census 2021, 2015-2025·Last updated March 2026

Benchmark to national figures

Comparing Cornwall to England and Great Britain averages.

Cornwall's median earnings of £28,210 are 14% below the England average of £32,909. House prices are 14% below the England median. The claimant rate is in line with the GB average.

Median earnings

£28,210

England: £32,909(14% below)
GB: £32,401(13% below)

Median house price

£234,941

England: £274,076(14% below)
GB: £269,841(13% below)

Claimant rate

3.4%

England: 3.6%
GB: 3.5%

GVA per job

£57,481

England: £61,178(6% below)
GB: £61,125(6% below)

Working-age population

58.1%

England: 62.1%(4pp lower)
GB: 61.9%(3.8pp lower)

Population change (5yr)

10.1%

England: 11.5%(1.4pp lower)
GB: 10.3%

Country averages computed from local authority-level data (England: 294 LAs, GB: 348 LAs). May differ slightly from official published national statistics.