1 in 4 England and Wales Residents Are Ethnic Minority, Latest Census Data Reveals
OTS Solicitors explores the newest set of Census 2021 data to ascertain the ethnic diversity of England and Wales and its cities.
As UK immigration solicitors, we pride ourselves on helping people from across the globe to immigrate to the UK. Because of this, it is fantastic to see how our work is creating such ethnic diversity within England and Wales.
Our recent study displays just how much the landscape of the British Isles has changed and developed over the past 10 years. Through exploring newly published ONS census data, which highlights the ethnic origins of people living in England and Wales and their cities, we’ve uncovered some brilliant statistics.
Ethnic Diversity Statistics for England and Wales
The research showed that 1 in 4 England and Wales residents were of an ethnic minority in 2021. Meanwhile, 74.4% residents were White: English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British. This compares to the 4 in 5 figure for 2011.
Some of the key players in the cultural makeup of England and Wales in 2021 were:
- White: Other White, 6.2%
- Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Indian, 3.1%
- Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Pakistani, 2.7%
- Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: African, 2.5%
- Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Other Asian, 1.6%
- Other ethnic group: Any other ethnic group, 1.6%
- Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Bangladeshi, 1.1%
- Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African: Caribbean, 1.0%
- Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean, 0.9%
- White: Irish, 0.9%
Ethnic Diversity Statistics for the Cities in England and Wales
The study also analysed the census 2021 data to find the population percentages for each ethnicity in each city, revealing the 10 most ethnically diverse cities to live in England and Wales. The cities and their ethnic minority percentages were:
- Westminster, 72%
- Leicester, 67%
- City of London, 67%
- Birmingham, 57%
- Manchester, 51%
- Cambridge, 47%
- Oxford, 47%
- Wolverhampton, 45%
- Coventry, 45%
- Bradford, 43%
Interestingly, Westminster is the most ethnically diverse city in England and Wales, with a 7% decrease in White: English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British residents over the past ten years.
Leicester and City of London are also at the top, showing a 12% and 15% decrease in White: English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British residents respectively since 2011, suggesting that these are increasingly multicultural cities to live.
Oshin Shahiean, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at OTS Solicitors, said, “It’s not too much of a surprise to see the population of ethnic minorities in England and Wales having increased since 2011. It’s also no shock to see large cities, like Birmingham and Manchester, up at the top of the list of ethnic diversity.
“That said, it’s somewhat of a surprise to see popular cities, like York, Cardiff, Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol and Liverpool not make it into the top 10. In fact, almost all of these cities either met the overall England and Wales average for ethnic minorities, or were lower than this. It seems that our top 10 cities are setting the precedent for welcoming a more diverse population.”
If you’re seeking entry to the UK to live, work, study or for any other personal reason, OTS can assist you through the immigration process. From finding the best entry route to applying for a visa, OTS can offer some of the best legal guidance and expertise.
Call us on 0203 959 9123 or email info@otssolicitors.co.uk if you’d like to get in touch and discuss your UK immigration needs.
Methodology
This report has been created using data from the Office for National Statistics 2011 and 2021 Census. Specifically, it looked at the population percentages for each ethnicity in each city, and across the whole of England and Wales, in 2021 and 2011.
Please keep in mind that, while the data was obtained from reputable sources, the interpretations are that of the OTS researchers.