OverviewDemographicsEarningsIndustryHousing

Sunderland

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

Sunderland supports 117,940 workplace jobs with median earnings 15% below the England average.

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Population

288,606

↑ 4.6%

England: 58,620,101

Workplace Jobs

117,940

Median Annual Earnings

£27,989

331st of 348

England: £33,080

Median House Price

£233,101

↑ 1.8%331st of 348

England: £290,000

Price-to-Earnings

8.3x

GVA per Job

£65,054

54th 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 288,606. Population has grown by 4.6% over five years, significantly below the England rate of 11.4%.

Population

288,606

England: 58,620,101

Working-Age (16-64)

62.0%

England: 62.9%

Under 16

17.3%

Over 65

20.7%

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

Earnings & Income

Gross annual earnings distribution, 2025.

Median annual earnings of £27,989 are significantly below the England median of £33,080.

Median Annual

£27,989

England: £33,080

10th Percentile

N/A

90th Percentile

N/A

90/10 Ratio

N/A

Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is 18.8% (male median £31,018, female median £25,174). This is significantly below the England gap of 28.2%.

Gender Pay Gap

18.8%

England: 28.2%

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

Industry Structure

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

The most specialised sectors are Electricity, gas & air conditioning (LQ 4.69) and Manufacturing (LQ 2.40). Manufacturing shows the strongest local competitive advantage. Administrative & support services underperforms its national sectoral trend.

Largest Sector

Human health & social work

Most Specialised

Electricity, gas & air conditioning

England: LQ 4.69

Fastest Growing

Manufacturing

Specialised Sectors

5

England: LQ > 1.25

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

Housing & Property Market

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

The median house price of £233,101 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

£233,101

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 Sunderland to England and Great Britain averages.

Sunderland's median earnings of £27,989 are 15% below the England average of £32,909. House prices are 15% below the England median. The claimant rate of 3.8% is higher than the GB average of 3.5%.

Median earnings

£27,989

England: £32,909(15% below)
GB: £32,401(14% below)

Median house price

£233,101

England: £274,076(15% below)
GB: £269,841(14% below)

Claimant rate

3.8%

England: 3.6%
GB: 3.5%

GVA per job

£65,054

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

Working-age population

62.0%

England: 62.1%
GB: 61.9%

Population change (5yr)

4.6%

England: 11.5%(6.9pp lower)
GB: 10.3%(5.7pp lower)

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