Government Office Regions (GORs)

Government Offices for the Regions were established across England in 1994. Reflecting a number of government departments they aim to work in partnership with local people and organisations in order to maximise prosperity and the quality of life within their area. In 1996 the regions covered, known as Government Office Regions, became the primary classification for the presentation of regional statistics. At creation there were 10 GORs but in 1998 Merseyside was merged with the rest of the North West to leave the pattern shown on the map. GORs are built up of complete counties/unitary authorities so although they are subject to change they always reflect administrative boundaries as at the end of the previous year. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not subdivided into GORs but are listed with them as regions in UK-wide statistical comparisons. Map of GORs and their constituent counties / unitary authorities (326Kb pdf)

Click on the extract above to view the map of GORs (162Kb pdf)

The former Standard Statistical Regions (SSRs)

Standard Statistical Regions (SSRs) were the primary classification for English regional statistics prior to the adoption of GORs. They are now rarely used, and are certainly no longer 'Standard'.

The 8 SSRs are also based on whole administrative units, but do not have any administrative function. Most SSRs have the same names and boundaries as the GORs, but there are the following differences:

i) The North SSR consists of the North East GOR together with Cumbria (which is part of the North West GOR).
ii) London does not exist as an SSR in its own right; instead it is part of the South East SSR.
iii) The East of England GOR does not exist as an SSR. Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough form the East Anglia SSR; the rest of the GOR is part of the South East SSR.
iv) The Yorkshire and The Humber GOR covers the same area as the Yorkshire and Humberside SSR.

GORs and SSRs use the names and codes listed below. Note that between 1996 and 1999 there were several changes to the GOR list.

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This page last revised: Thursday, 11 March 2004