Cardiff VS Reading

Cardiff and Reading are similarly sized business centres with 28,707 and 23,543 active companies respectively. This close match makes their industry mix, growth trajectory, and formation history all the more interesting to compare. Both cities share strength in Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. and Business and domestic software development.

Key Figures

Cardiff
Active28,707
Total85,626
2020s Growth59.5%
Oldest Co.1881
Reading
Active23,543
Total27,876
2020s Growth51.1%
Oldest Co.1865

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
28,707
23,543
Total Registered
85,626
27,876
Dissolved Companies
30,641
2,444
2020s Growth Rate
595%
511%
CardiffReading

Company Formation by Decade

Cardiff
Pre-1990
1,010
1990s
881
2000s
3,472
2010s
22,925
2020s
56,671
Reading
Pre-1990
702
1990s
952
2000s
2,720
2010s
8,793
2020s
14,374

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, Cardiff or Reading?

Cardiff has 28,707 active companies compared to 23,543 in Reading — 5,164 more.

Which is growing faster, Cardiff or Reading?

Cardiff has a higher 2020s company formation rate (59.5%) compared to Reading (51.1%).

What industries do Cardiff and Reading have in common?

Both cities share these top industries: Activities of other holding companies n.e.c., Business and domestic software development, Buying and selling of own real estate, Information technology consultancy activities, Management consultancy activities other than financial management. Cardiff is uniquely strong in Other, while Reading stands out in Other information technology service activities.