The Office for National Statistics published the mid-2024 population estimates on 30 July 2025 and the ward population estimates on 7 November 2025. These update the mid-2023 population estimates.
The mid-2024 results show that Bradford has a total population of 563,600 - an increase of 4,500 (0.8%) people since the mid-2023 population estimates were published.
The population consists of 51% female and 49% male.
Bradford is the fifth largest metropolitan borough council in England in terms of population after Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester.
City ward has the highest population (25,290) and Wharfedale ward has the lowest population (12,320).
Life expectancy at birth is 76.6 for males and 81.1 for females
22.3% of the District's population is aged from 0 to 15 and Bradford has the ninth highest percentage in England after the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Slough Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, Peterborough City Council, Dartford Borough Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Thurrock Borough Council and Oldham Borough Council.
Bradford's median age (where 50% is older and 50% is younger) is 36.9 years. This is younger than the Regional (40.3) and England (40.2) averages. In West Yorkshire, only Leeds has a lower median age (36.1).
Bradford has a population density of 1,538 people per sq km and a total of 209,900 households, an increase of 10,604 (5.3%) since the 2011 Census (2021 census data).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the 2025 population projections on 24 June 2025. This uses data from the mid-2022 population estimates to make projections about the population up to 2049.
The population projections show that the District's population is projected to increase by 3.1% to 570,100 by 2032 and by 6.4% to 588,541 by 2049.
The median age (where 50% of the population is older and 50% is younger) is projected to increase from 36 years in 2022 to 39 years in 2032.
The under-19 population is projected to fall from 27% in 2022 to 23% in 2032. The working age population is projected to remain the same and the percentage of people aged 65 and over is projected to increase from 15.4% in 2022 to 17.9% in 2032.
ONS has advised local authorities to use the migrant category variant projection as this is a better reflection of short-term population change and this data has been used in the attached briefing note.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) ceased publication of migration statistics in 2021 and so no updates are available.
