30+ Stats about Manchester in 2024!

As a Manchester-based, independent marketing agency, it’s fair to say that we know a thing or two about this city – from tram routes and historical buildings to the best places to grab a bite after work. With a growing community of professionals, students and locals alike, there’s no getting away from the fact that Manchester is a city that’s constantly on the go. And we would know, our office is right in the centre of town.

Keen to discover more about Manchester? We’ve put together a selection of over 30 top facts and statistics to get you started…

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Stats about Manchester in 2024: Get to know the city

  • Manchester has been ranked the 28th best city in the world to live, and number one in the UK
  • It’s no surprise, then, that the city has a population of 510,000+ 
  • It’s the most multilingual city in the UK, with over 200 languages spoken every day 
  • Manchester Airport serves over 26 million passengers a year, making it the largest regional airport 
  • The University of Manchester has 25 Nobel Prize winners, including the faculty, staff and students
  • 60% of graduates remain in the North West 
  • The Metrolink was opened in 1992, making it the first tram in the UK
  • Offering convenience for shoppers, commuters and tourists alike, the Metrolink now has 99 stops across the city
  • Manchester has over 115 million visitors each year
  • There are around 7.2 million commuters travelling within an hour of Manchester 

At Embryo, we have a diverse team of digital marketing experts. Some of us are born and bred Mancunians, some of us are commuters and some of us are university graduates who fell in love with the city and never left.

We spoke to Sam Evans, our Senior Client Services Manager, about living in the city:

‘The best thing about living in Manchester is actually feeling a part of it. It’s close to football, gig venues, bars, restaurants and work – it’s got everything. The only negative is the weather, but on the flip side of that, on the days when it is sunny there’s a buzz around the place that’s pretty indescribable. Other Mancunians will understand what I mean by that…’. 

The UK’s top digital city

  • Manchester is in the top 20 digital European cities
  • Over 10,000 digital businesses are based in Manchester
  • The city’s digital ecosystem is worth around £5 billion
  • 3,000 e-Commerce companies are based in Manchester, including Pretty Little Thing and Missguided
  • The Greater Manchester AI Foundry was launched in 2020, a £6 million project to help the growth of SMEs with new AI products and services

The home of football

  • Manchester hosted the world’s first professional football league in 1888
  • Manchester United was the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968 (now known as the UEFA Champions League) 
  • The 1936 ‘Manchester United v Arsenal’ game was the first ever televised football game in the world
  • In 1970, Manchester City became the first English club to win a European trophy and a domestic trophy in the same season 
  • City and United are the only two football teams to have completed the Treble 

From readers to ravers

  • The famous nightclub and music venue, The Hacienda, opened in 1982
  • The Hacienda is linked to numerous legendary bands, including New Order, Oasis and The Smiths 
  • The first public library was founded near Victoria Station in 1653, with a collection of over 100,000 books 
  • The Arndale was built in 1972 and is the largest city centre shopping area in Europe
  • Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2002, with England winning a total of 165 medals
  • Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903, marking the start of The Suffragette Movement  
  • Rolls Royce was founded in The Midland’s Hotel in 1904

Food fanatics

  • In 1847, the Vegetarian movement was founded by William Cowherd
  • Manchester is home to more than 50 veggie and vegan restaurants 
  • The city hosts the annual World Pie Eating Championship, which was founded in 1992
  • The Curry Mile has around 50 curry houses and is located along the Wilmslow Road 
  • In 1908, Vimto was created in Manchester by Noel Nichol

Are you a business based in Manchester or further afield? We can help.

Whether you’re looking to launch a new website or are in need of a multi-channel approach to boost your online performance, we support a wide range of businesses with award-winning digital marketing strategies.

Get in touch with our expert team to discover more.

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