But natural population of most of the South West is in decline
(Image: Getty)
Births are far outpacing deaths in Bristol even as the natural population of most of the South West is in decline. The news comes as new figures last month showed the city’s population had reached half a million for the first time in its history.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the population of England and Wales jumped by more than 706,000 people last year to an estimated 61.8 million people in mid-2024. But that was almost entirely driven by net international migration, the difference between the number of people who immigrated and emigrated.
“Natural” population growth – the number of births minus the number of deaths – added fewer than 30,000 new residents to England and Wales. That was because, across large parts of the nation, there was a natural population fall, with deaths outpacing births.
It was most obvious in the South West region, where there were 13,651 fewer births than deaths in total, which would have meant for a 0.2% overall drop in the population without internal and international migration. That includes North Somerset, where there were 661 fewer births than deaths.
However, in Bristol, there were 4,942 births and 3,368 deaths last year, a natural population boost of 1,574. That was a greater natural population increase than any other part of the South West.
There were also 249 more births than deaths in South Gloucestershire. Only three other areas of the South West (Swindon, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury) saw more births than deaths.
You can see if there were more births or deaths where you live using our interactive map.
Last year, there were 596,000 births in England and Wales, 2,400 fewer than in mid-2023 and the lowest number since 2002. The number of deaths also fell, by 32,000 to 566,000, the lowest number since before the pandemic in 2019.
The figures show there were 14,800 more male babies than female babies born in England and Wales last year. There were also 9,600 more male deaths than female deaths. Births minus deaths (a negative number means more deaths than births) Bristol, City of: 1574
South Gloucestershire: 249
North Somerset: -661