About the West Midlands

The West Midlands area is often thought of as an urban; however, approximately 80% of the area is rural. The local authorities that make up the West Midlands are:

• Birmingham www.birmingham.gov.uk
• Coventry www.coventry.gov.uk
• Dudley www.dudley.gov.uk
• Hereford www.herefordshire.gov.uk
• Redditch www.redditchbc.gov.uk
• Sandwell www.sandwell.gov.uk
• Shropshire www.shropshire.gov.uk
• Solihull www.solihull.gov.uk
• Stafford Borough www.staffordbc.gov.uk
• Staffordshire County www.staffordshire.gov.uk
• Stoke City www.stoke.gov.uk
• Walsall www.walsall.gov.uk
• Warwick District www.warwickdc.gov.uk
• Warwickshire County www.warwickshire.gov.uk
• Worcester City www.worcester.gov.uk
• Worcestershire County www.worcestershire.gov.uk
• Wolverhampton www.wolverhampton.gov.uk
• Tamworth www.tamworth.gov.uk

Industrial and social history

The West Midlands has a rich heritage and is well known for achievements in science, industry, art and culture. Almost every part of the West Midlands was involved in industrial development during the industrial revolution. For example, Birmingham had gun, silverware and toy industries, Shrewsbury was known for its flax spinning, pottery and china industries thrived in Staffordshire, as did carpet manufacturing in Kidderminster and silk weaving in Coventry.

Leading innovators also contributed to social change, campaigning against slavery and for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education.

Some West Midlands statistics

Did you know…

• It is estimated that a total of 5,411,100 people live in the West Midlands
• The estimated number of working age adults is 3,293,800
• Of this, the number of working age men is 1,731,800
• Of this, the number of working age women is 1,727,700
• It is estimated that the total BME population in the West Midlands is 907,200
• The total white British population in the West Midlands is estimated to be 4,474,800
• The 2001 census indicates that migration into the West Midlands in that year was 566,508
• Of this 84,137 migrated from within the UK and 23,506 migrated from outside of the UK.

(Source: ONS, data prepared by WMRO)

Find out more about the West Midlands voluntary and community sector.