It has a large number of recent immigrants, and approximately 22% of the population are from ethnic minority groups, particularly from Pakistan. Asian immigrants’ restaurants have led to the city being dubbed “the curry capital of Europe”. Bradford is the district with the fourth highest percentage of Muslims in Britain (16.1% compared to an average of 3.0%).

Racial problems

There have been riots in 2001, where muslim youth clashed with the British National party and West Yorkshire Police. Destroying many businesses and further polarising the tense situation that exists in Bradford with relations between different communities. The local authority was criticised for having a ‘weak, and ‘muddled’ response to the situation and its aftermath. Indeed, national figures have commented on the response by the local authority in their collusion with corrupt practices and of their toleration of discrimination on a number of levels.

Age Structure

0-4 years 33,240 (7.1 %)
5-15 years 76.087 (16.3 %)
16-24 years 58,305 (12.5 %)
25-44 years 130,742 (28.0 %)
45-64 years 101,630 (21.7 %)
65-74 years 36,101 (7.7 %)
75+ years 31,560 (6.7 %)

Work

Economically active, of all people aged 16 - 74 207,122 (63.4 %)
Employed (including self-employed) of economically active 184,558 (89.1 %)
Unemployed, of economically active 14,281 (6.9 %)
Full time student working or looking for work, of economically active 8,283 (4.0 %)
Economically inactive, of all people aged 16 - 74 119,656 (36.6 %)
Retired, of economically inactive 41,922 (35.0 %)
Student not working or looking for work, of economically inactive 18,116 (15.1 %)
Looking after family/home, of economically inactive 24,972 (20.9 %)
Permanently sick or disabled, of economically inactive 20,042 (16.7 %)
Other, of economically inactive 14,604 (12.2 %)

Ethnic Group

Bangladeshi 4,968 (1.1 %)
Black or Black British 4,333 (0.9 %)
Indian 12,504 (2.7 %)
Mixed 6,937 (1.5 %)
Pakistani 67,994 (14.5 %)
White 366,041 (78.3 %)
Other ethnic group 4,890 (1.0 %)