Manchester VS Edinburgh

Manchester and Edinburgh are similarly sized business centres with 98,153 and 56,473 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 Buying and selling of own real estate and Dormant Company.

Key Figures

Manchester
Active98,153
Total116,352
2020s Growth64.2%
Oldest Co.1871
Edinburgh
Active56,473
Total61,282
2020s Growth37.7%
Oldest Co.1871

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
98,153
56,473
Total Registered
116,352
61,282
Dissolved Companies
463
113
2020s Growth Rate
642%
377%
ManchesterEdinburgh

Company Formation by Decade

Manchester
Pre-1990
2,361
1990s
2,106
2000s
8,176
2010s
32,829
2020s
70,880
Edinburgh
Pre-1990
1,055
1990s
1,838
2000s
6,782
2010s
28,248
2020s
23,359

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, Manchester or Edinburgh?

Manchester has 98,153 active companies compared to 56,473 in Edinburgh — 41,680 more.

Which is growing faster, Manchester or Edinburgh?

Manchester has a higher 2020s company formation rate (64.2%) compared to Edinburgh (37.7%).

What industries do Manchester and Edinburgh have in common?

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