South West had the oldest population in the UK in mid-2012. The latest ONS Region and Country Profiles analysis takes a look at the regional characteristics of the UK, exploring aspects such as population, age, employment, crime and house prices. The profile of the South West shows it to be the largest region in the UK and the most rural English region. The South West contributed 8% to the UK’s economic output. The region’s population was the oldest with a median age of 42.9 years, and the incidence of crimes in the region was among the lowest in England.