The city of Bristol has been an important point of reference for other English and European cities for several centuries. Already in the 13th century, Bristol was the third most important city in the country, and its influence continued to be strong until the onset of the Industrial Revolution. In our days, Bristol continues to play an important role in the social and economic life of the United Kingdom, although the city has had to adapt to many demographic and economic changes. In this article we review the transition that Bristol has experienced in the recent past in terms of its population, economic base, and industry.

Demographic changes in Bristol

Like many other British cities, the population of Bristol increased dramatically during the second half of the 19th century, when young people and families were drawn to the city and its surrounding area due to better employment prospects. In just the forty years that elapsed between 1851 and 1891, the city’s population grew by more than double, and nearly reached the figure of 300,000. A new population peak was reached in the 1970s, when the population went over 428,000 people. After two decades of decline, population numbers are on the rise again. During the last decade, Bristol has experienced population growth levels of 10 per cent, a figure that is higher than the national average. The latest census (July 2012) shows that the current population is in the region of 432,000.

Bristol’s population is predominantly young, and the largest age group is made up of people aged 20 to 24, which comprise nearly 12 per cent of the total population. The numbers of Bristol residents aged 30 to 44 are also significantly high. The median age at the time of the last census was 33.7 years old. On the other end of the scale, the number of residents aged 85 and over is also slowly increasing.

With regards to Bristol’s ethnic makeup, between 8 and 15 per cent of the population are of an ethnic origin other than white British. International immigration was particularly high after 2004, when many Eastern European citizens moved to the city. In-country migration trends have also contributed to Bristol’s growing population, as there are more people moving to Bristol from other parts of the UK than international migrants arriving in the city.

According to the projections made by the local authority, it is expected that population numbers will continue to increase, reaching 472,000 by 2021.

Bristol and its changing economy

Bristol’s economy has experienced an unprecedented transformation that has warranted the city’s inclusion in the eight English Core Cities list. Whereas the city’s economy traditionally relied on Bristol’s status as a seaport, nowadays the economic base is highly diverse and increasingly dependent on high value industries, as will be discussed in the following section. According to the local city council, Bristol’s economy is the second strongest in the country, only preceded by London. Start-up rates have been constantly increasing over the past decade, and there are more than 20 agencies devoted to providing business support to entrepreneurs in Bristol. Moreover, the city has undergone several regeneration projects with the objective of creating new enterprise zones and business districts, such as the Temple Quarter enterprise zone.

At over £24,000 a year, Bristol’s GDP per capita is among the top five highest in the UK. As of August 2013, unemployment levels in Bristol were more than 50 per cent lower than the national average, standing at 3.3 per cent. Approximately 30 per cent of all FTSE 100 companies have some degree of presence in Bristol.

Industry trends in Bristol

The manufacturing sector is still relatively important in Bristol, as nearly 2,000 manufacturing firms are based in the city. Of these, 400 companies are micro-electronic manufacturers. Aerospace is also an important industry sector, as well as automotive manufacturing, since Rolls Royce is based in the city.

Nearly 60,000 people work in the financial sector in Bristol. When combined, the banking, insurance, and finance sectors provide employment to 25 per cent of the local workforce. Industries that make up the knowledge economy (defence, media, engineering, creative, and education) are particularly strong in Bristol, and so is the private sector. Between 2009 and 2013, more than 15,000 new businesses were launched in the city by private entrepreneurs, mostly in the construction, administrative, and recreational sectors. Business services, the creative sector, and environmental technology are the fastest-growing industries in the city.

Lastly, tourism is another important industry, as Bristol is the country’s seventh most visited destination. Approximately 25,000 people work in this industry, which is thought to contribute with over £1 billion a year to the economy of Bristol and South Gloucestershire.