It is a county with a proud history and a rich heritage. Nature has given the county a picturesque landscape, productive soil and a sunshine coastline. For many residents and visitors, the countryside provides the cultural context for their life and work, both in rural communities and in the medium-sized and small towns in which most of the population of 750,000 live. Keeping West Sussex an attractive place in which to live, work and play, whilst creating the right climate for its businsses and enterprises to thrive is the job of the West Sussex Structure Plan and the District Local Plans. Over half the land area lies in designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Sussex Downs, Chichester Harbour and the High Weald, and the high quality of the natural and built environment is one of the county's greatest assets.
Tourism is very important in the local economy.
West Sussex has a significantly older population than average. Standards of health are generally higher and crime rates lower than in England as a whole. The county is particularly proud of the high standards achieved by the Education service in West Sussex. During the 1980s the West Sussex local economy grew at a significant rate, but the recession hit the county much harder than many others. The rate of unemployment has fallen to below 5 per cent but remains relatively high by historic standards.