Pakistani Population in Bradford: 53,000 (2011 Census) — UK's Highest Concentration

Per the 2011 UK Census (latest detailed ethnicity data):

• Pakistani-born residents in Bradford District: 53,000
• % of district population: 18%
• Total Pakistani-born in England & Wales: 106,000 → Bradford = 50%

Context & Updates

• 2021 Census: Ethnicity data shows "Asian/Asian British: Pakistani" at ~30% of Bradford (~160K total Asian; Pakistani largest subgroup). Country-of-birth data not yet fully cross-tabbed.
• Est. 2024 Pakistani-heritage population: 70,000–80,000 (including British-born).
• Top UK concentrations: 1. Bradford, 2. Oldham, 3. Luton, 4. Birmingham, 5. Manchester.

Historical Roots

• 1950s–70s: Mirpuri (Azad Kashmir) men recruited for textile mills (wool, worsted).
• 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act → family reunification → women/children join.
• Bradford's mills (Lister's, Manningham) — "Wool Capital of the World" — anchored settlement.

Community Infrastructure

• Mosques: 30+ (incl. Hanfia, Markazi Jamia).
• Organisations: Bradford Council for Mosques, QED Foundation, Khidmat Centres.
• Politics: Multiple Pakistani-heritage councillors; MPs (Imran Hussain, Naz Shah).
• Culture: Bradford Mela (Europe's largest South Asian festival), Eid in the Park.

Note: "Pakistani-born" ≠ "Pakistani ethnicity." 2021 ethnicity data better captures British-born generations. Bradford remains the symbolic and demographic heart of British Pakistani community.