UK Census 2021 results Bristol: how has population of the city changed according to ONS data for England?

Another decade has passed since the publication of England and Wales’ last national census, a 10-year-period that has been impacted by both a cost of living crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.

This means that the results of the 2021 Census have now been published.

Households across both countries took part in answering various questions during Census Day, which was just over a year ago at the time of publication.

But the official data is now known, so how has Bristol changed over the last 10 years? Are there more men than women in the city? How do the numbers compare to official estimates? BristolWorld has you covered with everything you need to know.

What is a census?

A census is a procedure that has been taken every 10 years since 1801 which systematically calculates, acquires and records information about members of any given population.

It is the most complete source of information about the UK people that is used to paint a detailed picture of society for authorities.

The census is a good way to easily compare different parts of the country and allows central and local government, health authorities and various other organisations to target their resources more effectively.

It helps plan vital elements of everyday life such as housing, education, health and transport services for the future.

Every household in the UK is required to take part.

When was the Census 2021 recorded and released?

Census Day - which was the time when the census was recorded and a majority of the population answered various questions - was on Sunday, 21 March 2021.

The first census results for England and Wales were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday, 28 June 2022.

How has the population of Bristol changed over the last 10 years?

According to data supplied via the Census 2021 by the ONS, Bristol and the surrounding South West of England region has changed exponentially over the last decade.

The city has seen its population swell with 472,400 people living in the area on Census Day - up by 10% from 428,234 in 2011.

This also means that population density has also increased, with 4,308 usual residents per square kilometre - up from 3,905 in 2011.

In terms of the gender split of Bristol, the balance has changed over the last 10 years with a slightly higher proportion of women.

The Bristolian population sits at 49.6% male and 50.4% female compared to 49.8% and 50.2% respectively in 2011.

The 2021 Census has also revealed that Bristol has seen a relative drop in the amount of young and elderly people, with 11.2% of the population currently under-10s and 12.9% over-65s.

As per the data of the last five census, here are the historic population figures of Bristol:

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

How does the data from Census 2021 compare to the ONS estimates?

The following data shows how the official information from the 2021 Census compares to the estimates made by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

These estimates - which are normally produced annually - were made in mid-2020 and are based on the most recent census.

• Total Bristol population - 465,866 (ONS estimate), 472,400 (Census 2021) - above the estimate
• Number of over-65s - 60,274 (ONS estimate), 60,800 (Census 2021) - above the estimate
• Number of males - 234,262 (ONS estimate), 234,500 (Census 2021) - above the estimate
• Number of females - 231,604 (ONS estimate), 237,900 (Census 2021) - above the estimate

How has the population of the South West of England changed over the last 10 years?

Across England and Wales as a whole, the total population increased from 56,075,912 (2011) to 59,597,300 (2021) - a growth of 6.3%.

This includes a sizable increase in the South West of England too, which has seen its population grow by 7.8% from 5,701,200 (2011) to 5,288,935 (2021).