Bristol inequality

Bristol is a very unequal city. Bristol Redistro aims to help address this by redistributing money and other resources from those who have more than they need to those who don’t have enough. Many people in Bristol are affected by not having enough income, poor housing, poor health, discrimination, living in areas that lack green spaces, access to fresh produce, good transport links or other amenities that are essential to living well. Here are some statistics on Bristol:

Income

  • 10.4% of people in Bristol are struggling financially – up from 6.8% three years ago
  • In the most deprived areas this goes up to 20.9%. And down to 5.6% in the least deprived areas
  • In Hartcliffe and Withywood 25% of people find it difficult to manage financially
  • Under 5% are struggling financially in Clifton Down, Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze, Clifton and Stoke Bishop
  • 30% of single parents, 24% of Black people and 21.5% of disabled people are struggling to made ends meet

Source: JSNA Health and Wellbeing Profile 2024/25

Children

  • There are 18,072 children under 16 living in relative low-income families in Bristol, which is 22.0% of all children (2022/23), higher than the UK average of 20.1%
  • Just over 54% of children in Lawrence Hill and 52% of children in Central live in relative low income families compared to 3.2% in Redland.

Source: JSNA Health and Wellbeing Profile – Annual Summary 2023/24

Life expectancy

  • Women in St George Troopers Hill live 9.3 years longer than those in St George West
  • Men in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze live 11.9 years longer than those in Lawrence Hill

Source: JSNA Health and Wellbeing Profile 2025/26

Quality of life

  • 19% households in most deprived areas have experienced moderate to severe food insecurity
  • 44% in most deprived areas whose fear of crime affects their day-to-day lives

Source: Bristol Quality of Life survey 2023/24

Racial inequality

  • Bristol was ranked 7th worst of 348 districts for racial inequalities
  • 60% of Global Majority people live in a deprived area
  • The employment gap (between GM and white people) is over twice the national level

Source: Bristol: a city divided? Ethnic Minority disadvantage in Education and Employment

LGBTQ+

  • 30% of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people in Bristol are disabled, compared to 19% of heterosexual people
  • Despite having a younger age profile, twice as many people who identify as trans are
  • disabled (38%) compared with 19% of cis people
  • 1 in 5 trans and non-binary people feel unsafe. 71% have thoughts about suicide

The higher rates of disabled people within the LGBTQ+ community relates to systemic inequalities and social challenges, for eg the stress caused by discrimination and stigma, isolation and a number of barriers to accessing healthcare (including gender affirming healthcare).

Source: JSNA Health and Wellbeing Profile 2023/24 and Rethink LGBTplus Mental Health Factsheet