Socio-economic statistics for Bristol, City of Bristol

Is Bristol in Bristol, City of a nice place to live or is it a bit rough? We have collated a series of socio-economic statistics and demographics from UK government sources such as the 2021 Census and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. They should give you a broad snapshot of the area and the surrounding locations. Are the residents of Bristol older than the national average or younger? What is the population of Bristol and Bristol, City of? What is the claimant count in Bristol and how many residents are unemployed? This page should provide you with the answers.

Bristol Unemployment Statistics

Since the introduction of Universal Credit, The Department for Work & Pensions have not issued any statistics (in our view) that can be used to ascertain the levels of unemployment or under employment in the UK, just meaningless geographic counts. However, the Office of National Statistics does publish claimant counts of people receiving out of work benefits, be that legacy Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit as a proportion of people over 16. These figures are usually updated once a month and are for Local Authority Districts and Unitary Authority Districts. So below are the figures of Bristol, City of.

Area	Unemployed	Yearly Change
Bristol, City of	3.3%	-0.5%
South West	2.5%	-0.4%
England	3.8%	-0.3%
UK	3.7%	-0.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Last Retrieved: March 2023

The 2021 census had data on people who were economically active (seeking work) yet unemployed on Census day (Sunday March 21st 2021). These statitics do cover Bristol on a ward level. However, it has to be noted that the Census day was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic and therefore are not reflective of normal levels of unemployment. For example, between March 2020 and June 2020 people claiming Universal Credit doubled in most areas of the United Kingdom and then steadily declined up to the day of the Census and beyond. This data also contains the proportion of people in part-time work (working between 1-35 hours per week), which maybe an indicator of under employment in Bristol.

Economic Status	Proportion
In Employment	61.92%
In Part-Time Work	26.06%
Unemployed	5.3%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

73.94% of the people in work, are in full-time employment in Bristol

How many residents own or rent their home in Bristol and Bristol, City of

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census and calculated what proportion of people in Bristol either own or rent their home. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. 39.09 of residents own their home either outright or mortgaged. 60.91 of Bristol residents rent their home either privately or through a social landlord.

Area	Owned	Rented
Ashley	39.09%	60.91%
Bristol, City of	53.97%	46.03%
South West	65.88%	34.12%
England	61.31%	38.69%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Bristol has a significantly lower level of home ownership than the national average. This is indicative or an economically deprived area.

Bristol compared to other wards in Bristol, City of

#	Ward	Owned	Rented
1	Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze	80.81%	19.19%
2	Stoke Bishop	74.95%	25.05%
3	St George Troopers Hill	73.09%	26.91%
4	Hengrove and Whitchurch Park	70.18%	29.82%
5	Stockwood	69.66%	30.34%
6	Bishopsworth	69.59%	30.41%
7	Brislington West	65.9%	34.1%
8	Redland	65.79%	34.21%
9	Knowle (Bristol)	65.72%	34.28%
10	Brislington East	64.88%	35.12%
11	Bishopston and Ashley Down	64.71%	35.29%
12	Hillfields	60.38%	39.62%
13	St George Central	60.26%	39.74%
14	Bedminster	60.22%	39.78%
15	Frome Vale	58.83%	41.17%
16	Windmill Hill	56.85%	43.15%
17	Easton (Bristol)	54.65%	45.35%
18	Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston	54.39%	45.61%
19	Henbury and Brentry	54.28%	45.72%
20	Eastville	53.35%	46.65%
21	St George West	53.15%	46.85%
22	Lockleaze	51.16%	48.84%
23	Horfield	50.87%	49.13%
24	Southville	48.59%	51.41%
25	Southmead	47.68%	52.32%
26	Filwood	46.67%	53.33%
27	Clifton (Bristol)	43.21%	56.79%
28	Cotham	42.77%	57.23%
29	Hartcliffe and Withywood	39.24%	60.76%
30	Ashley	39.09%	60.91%
31	Clifton Down	36.61%	63.39%
32	Hotwells and Harbourside	35.49%	64.51%
33	Lawrence Hill	21.38%	78.62%
34	Central (Bristol)	19.51%	80.49%

Bristol is ranked 30 out of 34 wards in Bristol, City of for the percentage of home owners.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What are the occupations of the residents of Bristol?

The largest employment sector in Bristol is Professional Occupations. The smallest employment sector is Process Plant & Machine Operatives.

Sector	Proportion
Professional Occupations	32.44%
Associate Professional & Technical	18.99%
Managers, Directors & Senior Officials	9.5%
Elementary Occupations	9.04%
Caring, leisure & Other Services	7.65%
Administrative & Secretarial	6.96%
Skilled Trades	6.05%
Process Plant & Machine Operatives	3.26%

Source: Office for National Statistics (30 June 2020)

Bristol Age Distribution Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 Census and the calculated the proportion of age groups in Ashley.

Age Band	Proportion
4 & under
5 - 9 years
10 - 15 years
16 - 19 years
20 - 24 years
25 - 34 years
35 - 49 years
50 - 64 years
65 - 74 years
75 - 84 years
85 years & over

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Bristol Education Statistics

We have taken the raw data from the 2021 census to found of the level of education Bristol residents have in terms of formal qualifications as a percentage. The UK government breaks qualifications down into 7 levels. A detailed explanation of these levels can be found here. However, the Census groups these into just 4 \'levels\'. Here are some examples of the qualifications each census level represents when not stated;

Level 1 - GCSE grades D, E, F, or G & below
Level 2 - GCSE A*, A, B, C or O Level grades A, B or C
Level 3 - A or AS qualification at any grade
Level 4 - HNC, Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree or Phd

In this first table we have compared Bristol to the national average for England.

Level	Ashley	England
No Qualifications	8.25%	18.08%
Level 1	4.36%	9.69%
Level 2	7.92%	13.32%
Apprenticeship	1.89%	5.32%
Level 3	19.99%	16.92%
Level 4	56.22%	33.92%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Bristol & Bristol, City of Immigration Statistics

We have analysed the Census 2021 raw data on country of birth and compiled immigration statistics as percentages of the population. All percentages have been rounded to two decimal places. Below are the figures for Bristol in the Bristol, City of local area district.

Area	Born in UK	Born outside UK
Ashley	75.92%	24.08%
Bristol, City of	81.17%	18.83%
South West	89.8%	10.2%
England	82.65%	17.35%

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Bristol compared to other wards in Bristol, City of

#	Ward	Born in UK	Born outside UK
1	Lawrence Hill	61.4%	38.6%
2	Central	62.35%	37.65%
3	Hotwells and Harbourside	67.55%	32.45%
4	Easton	73.27%	26.73%
5	Eastville	73.82%	26.18%
6	Southmead	75.23%	24.77%
7	Ashley	75.92%	24.08%
8	Lockleaze	77.8%	22.2%
9	Hillfields	78.47%	21.53%
10	Clifton	79.16%	20.84%
11	Clifton Down	79.45%	20.55%
12	St George West	79.52%	20.48%
13	Frome Vale	79.9%	20.1%
14	Horfield	79.97%	20.03%
15	Henbury and Brentry	80.33%	19.67%
16	St George Central	81.66%	18.34%
17	Southville	81.75%	18.25%
18	Cotham	82.53%	17.47%
19	Filwood	83.5%	16.5%
20	Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston	83.53%	16.47%
21	Windmill Hill	83.62%	16.38%
22	Redland	84.75%	15.25%
23	Brislington East	85.6%	14.4%
24	Stoke Bishop	85.84%	14.16%
25	Bishopston and Ashley Down	86.07%	13.93%
26	Brislington West	86.85%	13.15%
27	Bedminster	86.96%	13.04%
28	Knowle	87.12%	12.88%
29	Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze	87.59%	12.41%
30	St George Troopers Hill	88.42%	11.58%
31	Hartcliffe and Withywood	90.68%	9.32%
32	Hengrove and Whitchurch Park	91.33%	8.67%
33	Stockwood	91.56%	8.44%
34	Bishopsworth	91.59%	8.41%

';Bristol is ranked 7 out of 34 wards in Bristol, City of for the number of residents born outside of the UK.

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Bristol Health Statistics

Ashley has significantly more residents (>5%) describing their health as very good than the national average for England.

Area	VG	G	F	B	VB
Ashley	54.48%	32.29%	9.53%	2.97%	0.72%
Bristol, City of	50.81%	32.73%	11.5%	3.82%	1.15%
South West	47.6%	34.21%	13.12%	3.95%	1.12%
England	48.49%	33.71%	12.65%	3.98%	1.17%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

How has the health of residents in Bristol, City of changed since 2011?

Bristol, City of residents who describe their health as either good or very good has increased by 1.27% between the 2011 and 2021 census.

Year	VG	G	F	B	VB
2011	48.81%	33.46%	12.25%	4.22%	1.27%
2021	50.81%	32.73%	11.5%	3.82%	1.15%

VG = Very Good, G = Good, F = Fair, B = Bad & VB = Very Bad

Source: Census 2011/2021 (Nomis/ONS)

What is the population of Bristol and Bristol, City of?

The table below contains the populations figures for each ward in Bristol, City of including Bristol. These population ONS figures are estimated are dated Mid 2020.

Ward	Population
Ashley	19002
Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston	21361
Bedminster	12568
Bishopston and Ashley Down	13290
Bishopsworth	11442
Brislington East	11767
Brislington West	11563
Central	23066
Clifton	13337
Clifton Down	11296
Cotham	11720
Easton	14340
Eastville	14756
Filwood	13824
Frome Vale	13654
Hartcliffe and Withywood	18839
Henbury and Brentry	12641
Hengrove and Whitchurch Park	16948
Hillfields	12906
Horfield	13339
Hotwells and Harbourside	7005
Knowle	13252
Lawrence Hill	20156
Lockleaze	13278
Redland	12949
Southmead	12676
Southville	12960
St George Central	12876
St George Troopers Hill	5740
St George West	6579
Stockwood	11367
Stoke Bishop	11948
Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze	19677
Windmill Hill	13744
Bristol, City of Total	465866

Source: Census 2021 (Nomis/ONS)

Last updated: 20/02/2024, Additional Sources: Office for National Statistics & Department for Work & Pensions.

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