The North East region was the UK's joint-fastest-growing economy in 2024, with real GDP rising by 1.6 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That matched the North West and put the region ahead of London, Scotland and every other UK region. London grew by 1.3 per cent, Scotland by 1.2 per cent and the UK as a whole by 1.1 per cent.

GDP per head also increased. It rose by 0.3 per cent in real terms, level with London and Northern Ireland and behind only Scotland, where it increased by 0.5 per cent. Across the UK as a whole, GDP per head was unchanged.

But the North East is still growing from a low base. GDP per head stood at £29,957 in 2024, the lowest of any UK region and 72 per cent of the UK figure of £41,627. Wales, the next lowest region, was at £31,484.

The figures point to a relatively strong year for the North East region, but one that has not changed its position at the bottom of the UK on GDP per head.

The regional figures include both the North East mayoral area and Tees Valley, but their performance in 2024 was markedly different.

Most of the region's growth came from the area covered by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

The authority, which covers Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham, recorded real GDP growth of 2.0 per cent. That was the second-fastest rate among the 14 combined authorities for which figures were published. GDP per head rose by 0.8 per cent to £30,872.

Tees Valley grew by just 0.3 per cent. Its GDP per head fell by 1.2 per cent to £27,330.

The area covered by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority accounted for £63.2bn of the North East region's £82.7bn economy in 2024, about 76 per cent of the regional total. Its greater size and faster growth than Tees Valley meant it accounted for most of the region's increase.

GDP per head was £3,542 higher in the mayoral area than in Tees Valley. Both remained well below the UK figure.

Part of the difference between the 1.6 per cent rise in total GDP and the 0.3 per cent increase per head reflects population growth.

The gap between the two figures implies that the North East's population grew by about 1.3 per cent. The ONS estimates that every English region grew by between 1.0 and 1.4 per cent in the year to mid-2024.

The North West shows a similar pattern. Its economy also grew by 1.6 per cent, but GDP per head increased by 0.2 per cent as it recorded the fastest population growth of any English region.

A larger population can raise total GDP even when output per head grows much more slowly.