Cardiff VS Reading

Cardiff and Reading are similarly sized business centres with 30,508 and 23,946 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
Active30,508
Total67,837
2020s Growth136.9%
Oldest Co.1881
Reading
Active23,946
Total26,367
2020s Growth55.0%
Oldest Co.1865

Head-to-Head

Active Companies
30,508
23,946
Total Registered
67,837
26,367
Dissolved Companies
37,329
2,421
2020s Growth Rate
1,369%
550%
CardiffReading

Company Formation by Decade

Cardiff
Pre-1990
977
1990s
849
2000s
3,331
2010s
20,909
2020s
41,771
Reading
Pre-1990
671
1990s
952
2000s
2,712
2010s
8,870
2020s
13,162

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city has more registered companies, Cardiff or Reading?

Cardiff has 30,508 active companies compared to 23,946 in Reading — 6,562 more.

Which is growing faster, Cardiff or Reading?

Cardiff has a higher 2020s company formation rate (136.9%) compared to Reading (55.0%).

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 Development of building projects, while Reading stands out in Other information technology service activities.