Bristol Population passes half a million for the first time

New population projections have been published for Bristol.

Highest Core City Increase (apart from Manchester)

The population in Bristol is projected to increase from 478,600 people in 2022 to 526,600 people in 2032. TThe biggest factor in this population change is net international migration, which will increase the population by an estimated 49,800 people. This is different to the majority of areas in England, where net internal migration (ie to/from other parts of the UK) is projected to be the biggest factor in population change.his is a 10% increase, which is higher than the England average of 6.4% and the second highest percentage increase of the England Core Cities - only Manchester has a greater projected increase at 11%.

Net International Migration

The biggest factor in this population change is net international migration, which will increase the population by an estimated 49,800 people. This is different to the majority of areas in England, where net internal migration (ie to/from other parts of the UK) is projected to be the biggest factor in population change.

Population Change Components

In Bristol, our projections show that between 2022 and 2032:

▪ More births than deaths mean that the population is projected to increase by 21,465, with 55,887 births and 34,423 deaths in Bristol between 2022 and 2032. This means natural change would increase the population in Bristol by 4.5%, compared with an increase of 0.2% in England.

▪ Net internal migration (people moving to and from other local authorities in the UK) is projected to reduce the population by 23,258, with 433,157 people moving to the area and 456,415 people moving from the area between 2022 and 2032. This would decrease the population in Bristol by 4.8%.

▪ Net international migration is projected to increase the population by 49,757, with 98,766 people moving to the area and 49,009 people moving from the area between 2022 and 2032. This would increase the population in Bristol by 10.4%, compared with an increase of 6.5% in England.