What the Bristol Quality of Life survey is, the latest results and data from previous surveys.

Quality of Life survey 2023/24

The Quality of Life (QoL) survey provides an annual snapshot of the quality of life in Bristol.

Extended headlines from the 2023 survey are available in the pdf Quality of Life 2023/24 Final Report (1.06 MB) , including:

• how the 50 headline measures of lived experiences for people in Bristol have changed over the last few years, and how these experiences differ in the most deprived areas
• a summary of 'actions to improve quality of life' that people want to see in Bristol
• a new appendix with a summary of all ward and demographic group results

Full results from the 2023 survey are also available in the new Quality of Life 2023/24 data dashboard.

This includes all 240 QoL indicators (50 new for 2023/24), with trend data for each level reported where available. These are shown by:

• citywide trend
• all 34 Bristol wards
• over 30 equality and demographic groups
• the 10 deciles of deprivation within Bristol
• the NHS Integrated Care Service (ICS) Locality Partnerships

The dashboard shows indicators, wards and equality & demographic groups that are better or worse than the Bristol average.

There are now over 75,000 data points, including trend data, which gives us a rich and detailed view of citizen perception in Bristol.

Quality of Life survey 2022/23

All data from QoL 2022/23 is available in the previous Quality of Life 2022/23 data dashboard. This is also included within the trend views on the new data dashboard.

The  pdf Quality of Life 2022/23 Final Report (864 KB) has full analysis of the 2022 survey, including:

• 50 headline measures of lived experiences for people in Bristol, including the most deprived areas
• a summary from almost 6,200 'actions to improve quality of life' in Bristol
• a detailed appendix of headline results of all indicators, focusing on differences across wards and equality / demographic groups

Bristol's Quality of Life survey

The Quality of Live survey gives local residents an opportunity to voice their opinions about issues close to their hearts and their views on local public services. 

It has been an annual survey since 2001, but does change over time.  The statistics are analysed to a ward level and also equality groups such as age, sex and ethnicity.

The results are used by us, health services and other public sector partners to help plan local services, track change and improve the quality of life in Bristol.

The survey is our main tool for providing neighbourhood level statistics and public perception information.

The quality of life results cover topics such as:

• health
• lifestyles
• community
• local services
• public perception about living in Bristol

Previous Quality of Life results

You can view previous results from 2018 via the new Quality of Life 2023/24 data dashboard, and full data from 2015 onwards is in the Quality of Life theme on Open Data Bristol.

Previous Quality of Life reports and data for 2005 to 2019 are also still available:

• pdf Quality of Life 2021/22 final report (1.46 MB)
• pdf Quality of Life 2020/21 final report (1.08 MB)
• pdf Quality of Life 2019/20 final report (644 KB)
• pdf Quality of Life 2018/19 report (508 KB)
• pdf Quality of Life 2017/18 report (482 KB)
• See full results from 2015 onwards in Open Data Bristol.
• Download default 2015-16 QoL database tool v3 (all indicators) (7.35 MB) (MS Excel required). This database contains all indicators from the 2015-16 survey, plus trend data for Bristol from 2010, with confidence intervals. More technical information and guidance is provided in the tool
• Download  spreadsheet 2005 to 2013 QoL database (14 MB)  (MS Excel required). This database contains data from 2005 to 2013. Due to changes to the process, 2010-2013 figures may be different

Details of the population of Bristol, population estimates and population by Equalities Group.

Overview

An overview of the population living in the Bristol Local Authority area is available in the report:

pdf The Population of Bristol, August 2024 (8.91 MB)

The report paints a picture of the population of Bristol and brings together statistics on the current population, recent trends in population and migration and future projections.

Some facts about Bristol's population:

• The population of Bristol is estimated to be 483,000 (mid-2023)
• Bristol is one of the 11 UK Core Cities and the 8th largest city in England and Wales outside of London
• Over the last decade (2013-2023), Bristol's population grew by an estimated 44,000 people - a 10.0% increase. England and Wales grew by 6.8%
• Bristol was the second fastest growing of all the Core Cities in England and Wales after Manchester
• There are now more than 287 different ethnic groups in the city, more than 185 countries of birth represented, at least 45 religions and more than 90 languages spoken by people living in Bristol
• In 2022/23 there were almost 71,000 students registered at the two Bristol universities

Population estimates

Mid-2023 population estimates were published by the Office for National Statistics on 15 July 2024. The population of Bristol is estimated to be 483,000 people.

Find more information in the following note and table:

• pdf mid-2023 Population Estimates Note (325 KB)
• spreadsheet mid-2023 Population Estimates by age and sex (83 KB)
• spreadsheet mid-2023 Population Estimates by age and sex (23 KB)

Population estimates for small geographies

Mid-2022 population estimates are available by age and sex for a selection of small geographies. Ward and 2021 Lower Layer Super Output Area estimates:

• pdf Ward Mid-2022 population estimates by broad age band (90 KB)
• spreadsheet Ward Mid-2022 population estimates by broad age band (21 KB)
• pdf LSOA21 Mid-2022 population estimates by broad age band (175 KB)
• spreadsheet LSOA21 Mid-2022 population estimates by broad age band (37 KB)

ONS plan to publish Mid-2023 estimates for wards and LSOAs in October/November 2024.

Census 2021 results

Census results for Bristol are presented in two new dashboards which can be found on our Census 2021 page.

Population by Equalities Group

Population profiles by equalities group show the differences between population groups in Bristol.

The profiles analyse Census 2021 data and compare:

• age
• health and disability
• economic activity
• occupation
• qualifications
• housing and household composition

The profiles also map the distribution of population groups across the city.

• pdf Population Profile: Ethnic Group (3.42 MB)
• pdf Population Profile: Religion (2.42 MB)
• pdf Population Profile: Disabled population (1.66 MB)
• pdf Population Profile: Sexual orientation (1.28 MB)
• pdf Population Profile: Trans population (947 KB)
• pdf Population Profile: Somali population (1.17 MB)
• pdf Population Profile: Older people (2.16 MB)

Equalities statistics 

The pdf Equalities Statistics August 2024 (487 KB)  guide outlines the main sources of equalities statistics for Bristol, including information on:

• age
• sex
• ethnic group
• religion
• disability
• sexual orientation
• gender identity
• legal partnership status

Population projections

The latest population projections for the Bristol local authority area are the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2018: based population projections:

• spreadsheet 2018: based population projections by broad age band (13 KB)

Advice on using the projections

These projections published on 24 March 2020 are based on the 2018 mid-year population estimates.

The projections are trend-based projections. This means assumptions for future levels of births, deaths and migration are based on observed levels mainly over the last five years.

The projections do not attempt to predict the impact of:

• future government or local policies
• changing economic circumstances
• local development policy
• the capacity of an area to accommodate population
• other factors might have on demographic behaviour

Events not included

Future population projections are uncertain. The following current events, and their potential impacts on our economy and society,  are not reflected in the current 2018-based population projections:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• leaving the EU
• war in Ukraine
• new Hong Kong British National Overseas visa
• the economic crisis
• global climate emergency

New 2021-based subnational population projections and household projections will be published by ONS in Summer 2024. These projections will use Census 2021 data and revised trends to re-base the projections.

We use the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) indices of deprivation for England to measure deprivation in Bristol.

The Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 is the official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in England. It ranks every small area in England from 1, most deprived area, to 32,844, least deprived area.

The Indices of Deprivation 2019 combine a number of indicators, chosen to cover a range of economic, social, environmental and housing issues, into a single deprivation score for each small area in England.

The use of Indices

The Indices are used widely to:

• analyse patterns of deprivation
• allocated resources
• identify areas that would benefit from special initiatives or programmes
• determine eligibility for specific funding streams

Indices of Deprivation 2019

The MHCLG published new Indices of Deprivation for England on 26 September 2019.

Our pdf Deprivation in Bristol 2019 report (10.91 MB)  gives a summary of the findings of the 2019 Indices of Deprivation within the Bristol local authority area.

The following information and tools present the statistics including data for Bristol.

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Indices of Deprivation dashboard

Local authority dashboard of Indices of Deprivation, 2019

You can use this dashboard to explore the:

• range of summary measures across the indices of deprivation 2019 at local authority level
• lower-layer super output areas (LSOAs) within each district

Indices of Deprivation explorer 

The Indices of Deprivation 2019 explorer and postcode mapper

You can use the explorer to search by a place name or postcode.

The explorer shows the relative deprivation of neighbourhoods for selected areas according to the indices of deprivation 2019 and indices of deprivation 2015.

2019 English Indices of Deprivation map

English Indices of Deprivation map tool

You can use this map tool to compare deprivation levels across the whole of England by Lower Layer Super Output Area. You can select an area by putting in a postcode.

Each area is highlighted according to its level of multiple deprivation together with a breakdown by each of the types of deprivation including: 

• income
• employment
• education
• health
• crime
• housing
• environment

Deprivation in Bristol 2019

We use deprivation deciles to:

• measure inequality within Bristol 
• compare levels of deprivation in Bristol with other parts of England

Read pdf guidance on how deprivation deciles are worked out and used (234 KB) .

Bristol deprivation by neighbourhood

The spreadsheet Deprivation decile LSOA by lookup document (48 KB)  shows neighbourhoods in Bristol and their:

• deprivation rank and deprivation decile within Bristol 
• deprivation rank and deprivation decile within England 

Bristol deprivation by postcode

The spreadsheet Deprivation decile by postcode lookup document (756 KB)  shows postcodes in Bristol and their:

• deprivation rank and deprivation decile within Bristol 
• deprivation rank and deprivation decile within England

Further Indices of Deprivation information

Visit the MHCLG website for further information, data and an infographic showing how 2019 indices were put together.

The next update of the English Indices of Deprivation is provisionally planned for late 2025.

Deprivation in Bristol 2015

Patterns of deprivation and key findings for Bristol in 2015 are presented in  pdf Deprivation in Bristol 2015 (8.82 MB) .

Key information resources from the 2011 Census for Bristol.

2011 Census Interactive Mapping Tools

• 2011 Census Statistics interactive map
• Commuter flows by Local Authority

• pdf Transport Map Book: Bristol (8.02 MB)

2011 Census briefing notes and summary statistics

• pdf Key statistics about Bristol local authority area (206 KB)
• pdf 2011 geographies for 2011 Census data in Bristol (1.72 MB)
• pdf Bristol 2001-2011 Census change (258 KB)

Topic reports

These reports give information on specific topics.

• pdf Key Statistics about Equalities Communities in Bristol (271 KB)
• pdf Community cohesion statistics (4.02 MB)
• pdf Who walks to work? (5.23 MB)
• pdf Who cycles to work? (969 KB)

Population data

Visit our population of Bristol page for our population data.

2011 Census Profiles

Profiles for a variety of geographies are available using our downloadable spreadsheet 2011 Census Selected Statistics Tool (2.86 MB) .

Use the tool to select the type of area that you're interested in (eg LSOA) and then the name of the area you're interested in and a 4 page 2011 Census profile is produced.  Profiles can be produced for the following areas: 

• 2016 Wards
• 2016 Neighbourhood Partnership
• 2011 Wards
• 2011 Neighbourhood Partnerships
• Lower Super Output Area
• Output Area
• Postcode District
• Neighbourhood Planning Area
• Clinical Commissioning Group Locality
• Children and Young People Service Area
• Local Economic Partnership
• Neighbourhood Policing Area
• Fire: Community Safety Sector

More statistics for the new 2016 wards are available in the 2016 Ward Profiles.

Equality profiles

• pdf Equality Profile Africans (451 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: African Caribbeans (444 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Arabs (440 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Disability (479 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Bangladeshis (444 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Chinese (440 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Eastern Europeans (673 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Faith groups (294 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Gypsies, Roma and Irish Travellers (285 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Indians living in Bristol (444 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Men and Women (531 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Muslims (457 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Pakistanis (443 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: Somalis (883 KB)
• pdf Equality Profile: White British (519 KB)

Historic Census records note:
Individual Census forms remain confidential for 100 years. Records from the 1911 Census have recently been made available online.