The largest increases were seen in the number of people who identified their ethnic group within the “Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh” category (9.3%, 5.5 million in 2021, up from 7.5%, 4.2 million in 2011) and within “Other ethnic group” (2.1%, 1.3 million people in 2021, up from 1.0%, 564,000 in 2011). 'Asian Welsh' and 'Black Welsh' ethnic groups were included on the census questionnaire in Wales only, these categories were new for 2021. We have presented ethnic group categories alphabetically (except for 'Other ethnic group'). We have excluded the 'White' ethnic group from this chart to make it easier to clearly see the differences for the four high-level ethnic groups that account for a smaller percentage of the overall population. Figure 1: The percentage of the population in all high-level ethnic groups, excluding “White”, has increased since 2011 Ethnic group distribution (high-level categories), 20, England and Wales 'White' remained the largest high-level ethnic group in England and Wales 81.7% (48.7 million) of usual residents identified this way in 2021, a decrease from 86.0% (48.2 million) in 2011. High-level ethnic groups in England and Wales For more information on question structure, see Section 9: Measuring the data. Secondly, a person identifies through one of the 19 available response options, which include categories with write-in response options. 'Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African' Firstly, a person identifies through one of the following five high-level ethnic groups: The ethnic group question has two stages. Since 1991, the census for England and Wales has included a question about ethnic group. Ethnic groups in England and Wales The ethnic group question's two stages Tell us what you think about this publication by answering a few questions. In England and Wales, 10.1% (2.5 million) of households consisted of members identifying with two or more different ethnic groups, an increase from 8.7% (2.0 million) in 2011. Large changes were also seen in the numbers of people identifying their ethnic group as 'Other ethnic group: Any other ethnic group' (1.6%, 924,000 in 2021, up from 0.6%, 333,000 in 2011), and 'Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: African' (2.5%, 1.5 million in 2021, up from 1.8%, 990,000) both ethnic groups had the option to write in their response.

The next most common high-level ethnic group was 'Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh' accounting for 9.3% (5.5 million) of the overall population, this ethnic group also saw the largest percentage point increase from 2011, up from 7.5% (4.2 million people).Īcross the 19 ethnic groups, the largest percentage point increase was seen in the number of people identifying through the 'White: Other White' category (6.2%, 3.7 million in 2021, up from 4.4%, 2.5 million in 2011), this response option allows people to specify their ethnic group through writing it in the increase may be partly explained by the new search-as-you-type functionality introduced for Census 2021, making it easier for people to self-define when completing the census online. In 2021, 81.7% (48.7 million) of usual residents in England and Wales identified their ethnic group within the high-level 'White' category, a decrease from 86.0% (48.2 million) in the 2011 Census.Īs part of the 'White' ethnic group, 74.4% (44.4 million) of the total population in England and Wales identified their ethnic group as 'English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British', this is a continued decrease from 80.5% (45.1 million) in 2011, and from 87.5% (45.5 million) who identified this way in 2001. This page is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) (PDF, 507KB)

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