Census 2021: Population of Bristol grew by 10% in last decade

The first results of the 2021 census are in – and they show Bristol has seen its population swell over the last decade.

The census takes place every 10 years, with every household in the UK required to take part. The latest snapshot of England and Wales was captured on March 21 2021.

Now the first results have been released – and there’s been a large rise in the number of people living in Bristol.

On census day, 472,400 people were living in the area – up 10% from 428,234 in 2011, when the last census was carried out.

This also means the population density has grown to 4,308 usual residents per square kilometre, up from 3,905 in 2011.

It shows the balance of men and women in the area has changed – Bristol’s population is now 49.6% male and 50.4% female, meaning there is now a slightly higher proportion of women in the area than 10 years ago.

In 2011, people living in Bristol were 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

The area has also seen a relative drop in both young children and the elderly – a decade ago the population was made up of 12.3% under-10s and 13% over-65s, but this had changed to 11.2% and 12.9% respectively by 2021.

Historic populations of Bristol:

• 1981: 384,875
• 1991: 376,146
• 2001: 380,612
• 2011: 428,234
• 2021: 472,400

Historic populations of the South West:

• 1981: 4,251,941
• 1991: 4,609,424
• 2001: 4,928,434
• 2011: 5,288,935
• 2021: 5,701,200

The census is crucial for the UK’s statisticians to understand how our population is changing, and plays a vital role in how our public services and government operate.

Across England and Wales, the total population grew 6.3% over the past decade, from 56,075,912 in 2011 to 59,597,300 last year.

This included a 7.8% increase in the South West, where the population rose to 5,701,200 from 5,288,935 in 2011.

There were 24.8 million households in England and Wales on census day 2021, up from 23.4 million in 2011, with an average of 2.4 people in each household – the same as in 2011.