White British

Ethnic classification used in the 2011 United Kingdom Census From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

White British

White British is an ethnicity classification used for the White population identifying as English, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Northern Irish, or British in the United Kingdom Census. In the 2011 census, the White British population was 49,997,686, 81.5% of Great Britain's total population. For the entire United Kingdom, due to different reporting measures within Northern Ireland which includes all those who identified as British with those who identified as Irish, an amalgamated total of 52,320,080 is given. This accounts for 82.8% of the population and includes individuals who identified as White Irish in Great Britain.[6][7][8] In the 2021 Census, the White British group numbered 44,355,044 or 74.4% of the population of England and Wales.[9]

Quick Facts Total population, Languages ...
White British
Thumb
Geographic distribution of the White British in 2021 (in England and Wales)
Total population
United Kingdom: 50,858,508 – 76.0% (2021/22 Census)
 England: 41,540,791 – 73.5% (2021)[1]
 Scotland: 4,737,319 – 87.1% (2022)[2]
 Wales: 2,814,427 – 90.9% (2021)[1]
Northern Ireland: 1,765,971 – 92.8% (2021)[a][3]
Languages
Predominantly English
Also: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots, Cornish, Manx, British Sign Language[citation needed]
Religion
Predominantly Christianity (50.3%);
minority follows other faiths (1.0%)[b] or are irreligious (42.8%)
2021 census, NI, England and Wales only[4][5]
    Close

    Census classifications

    For the 2011 census, in England and Wales, the White self-classification option included a subcategory of "English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British".[10][11] In Scotland, the White category included "Scottish" and "Other British" options.[12] In Northern Ireland, the White British classification did not appear, the only choice being 'White'.[13]

    The 2011 census for England, Wales and Scotland also included additional White ethnic classifications of White Irish, White Gypsy/Irish Traveller and White Other. There were calls for the 2011 national census in England and Wales to include an extra subcategory so people could identify their ethnic group as Cornish.[14][15]

    For the 2021 census, in England and Wales, the ‘Roma’ group was added under the ‘White’ ethnic group.[9]

    Geographic distribution of the White British by constituency in 2021 (in England and Wales)

    Demographics

    Summarize
    Perspective

    Population and distribution

    Thumb
    Population pyramid of the White British in 2021

    The White British census classification have their ages more evenly distributed in their population pyramid and have the highest per cent female population of all ethnic-based classifications. The following numbers were based on the 2011 census conducted in each country. In England and Wales, about 64 per cent of the White British classification are between the ages of 16 and 64 while about 18 per cent are under 16 and 19 per cent are over 64. All other census classifications have a higher percentage of their population under 16 and a lower percentage over 64. Of those aged 65 or over, White British are 8 per cent male and 10 per cent female, making them have the lowest per cent male population among all census classifications defined as "ethnic" in the census.[16]

    In Scotland, about 65 per cent of the White British classification are between the ages of 16 and 64 while about 17 per cent are under 16 and 18 per cent are over 64. Of those aged 65 or over, White British are 8 per cent male and 10 per cent female, the same percentages as in England and Wales.[17]

    In Northern Ireland, about 13 per cent of the White classification are between the ages of 16 and 24 while about 21 per cent are under 16 and 65 per cent are over 24. Of those aged 25 or over, white people are 32 per cent male and 34 per cent female.[18]

    According to the 2011 UK Census results, White British people made up the largest percentage of the population in rural areas, such as Allerdale (99.4%) and Copeland (99.3%) in Cumbria, Ryedale (99.4%) in North Yorkshire, North Norfolk (99.2%) and North Devon (99%). Cities across the UK regions with high White British populations included Swansea (91.5%), Kingston Upon Hull (89.7%), Plymouth (92.2%), Darlington (93.7%), Belfast (96.4% – NI classification "white"),[19] Norwich (84.7%), Liverpool (84.8%) and Chelmsford (90.0%). The highest unitary authority with a White British proportion was Redcar and Cleveland (97.6%) followed by Northumberland (97.2%), Hartlepool and County Durham (both 96.6%), Lincolnshire (93%) followed by Nottinghamshire, Norfolk and Worcestershire, all above 92%. Within the London region, Havering had the highest White British percentage with 83.3%, followed by Bromley with 77.4%, Bexley with 77.3% and Richmond upon Thames with 71.4%.[6]

    Since the 2011 UK Census was returned, London contained by far the lowest percentage of English and other White British people of all the UK regions, where they made up less than half of the population in 24 of the 32 boroughs, including: Newham (16.7%), Brent (18.0%), Ealing (30.4%), Harrow (30.9%), Hackney (31.2%), Redbridge (35.2%) and Tower Hamlets (36.2%). Despite this, the White British population in London was still higher in numbers than the entirety of Wales or Northern Ireland, owing to London's high overall population. The city with the lowest White British population as a percentage was Leicester (40.9%) – also the only city below 50% – while the lowest for unitary authorities was Slough (34.5%), followed by Luton (44.6%).[6] The local ward with the lowest percentage was Southall Broadway in Ealing (3.5%), followed by Southall Green in Ealing; Green Street East, Green Street West, and East Ham North, all in Newham, which were the only wards below five per cent.

    More information United Kingdom NUTS 1 Regions, Year ...
    White British population in regions of the UK
    United Kingdom NUTS 1 Regions Year
    2001[20][21][22] 2011[6][7][8] 2021[23][24][25]
    Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage
    Northern Ireland[t 1] 1,670,988 99.1% 1,738,604 97.7% 1,765,971 92.8%
     Scotland 4,832,756 95.4% 4,863,000 91.9% 4,737,319 87.1%
     Wales 2,786,605 96% 2,855,450 93.2% 2,814,427 90.9%
     England 42,747,136 87% 42,279,236 79.8% 41,540,791 73.5%
    North East England 2,425,592 96.4% 2,431,423 93.6% 2,397,557 90.6%
    South West England 4,701,602 95.3% 4,855,676 91.8% 5,008,149 87.8%
    North West England 6,203,043 92.1% 6,141,069 87.1% 6,019,385 81.2%
    Yorkshire and the Humber 4,551,394 91.6% 4,531,137 85.8% 4,431,265 80.9%
    East of England 4,927,343 91.4% 4,986,170 85.3% 4,972,149 78.5%
    East Midlands 3,807,731 91.2% 3,871,146 85.4% 3,882,390 79.6%
    South East England 7,304,678 91.3% 7,358,998 85.2% 7,315,058 78.8%
    West Midlands 4,537,892 86.1% 4,434,333 79.2% 4,275,557 71.8%
    Greater London 4,287,861 59.7% 3,669,284 44.9% 3,239,281 36.8%
    Overall in the United Kingdom[t 2] 52,728,717
    (50,366,497)[t 3]
    89.7%
    (88.2%)
    52,320,080
    (49,997,686)[t 4]
    82.8%
    (81.5%)
    50,858,508[t 5]
    (49,092,537)[t 6]
    76.0%[t 7]
    (75.5%)[t 8]
    Close
    1. Figure includes all those who identified with British/Irish/Welsh/English/Scottish and Northern Irish and is White.
    2. Figure not in bracket includes White Irish figures, to make Great Britain data and Northern Ireland data comparable over time due to different reporting measures.
    3. Excluding Northern Irish figures entirely, only including those for White British in Great Britain
    4. Excluding Northern Irish figures entirely, only including those for White British in Great Britain
    5. In 2021 and 2022, Scotland held its census a year later after England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the data shown is from two separate years.
    6. Excluding Northern Irish figures entirely, only including those for White British in Great Britain
    7. In 2021 and 2022, Scotland held its census a year later after England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the combined population of the United Kingdom according to the 2021 and 2022 census results was 66,940,563.
    8. In 2021 and 2022, Scotland held its census a year later after England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the combined population of the United Kingdom according to the 2021 and 2022 census results was 65,037,384.

    Population by local authority

    More information Local Authority District (England and Wales), Total ...
    Local Authority District (England and Wales) 2021[26]
    Total  %
    Allerdale92,98196.7
    Copeland64,85196.7
    Staffordshire Moorlands92,56796.6
    Redcar and Cleveland131,78996.5
    Isle of Anglesey66,33996.3
    Caerphilly169,35696.2
    Northumberland308,01596.1
    Torridge65,45296.1
    Barrow-in-Furness64,48595.7
    North East Derbyshire97,65795.7
    Wyre107,17195.7
    East Lindsey136,03695.6
    North Norfolk98,40395.6
    Hambleton86,67895.6
    Blaenau Gwent63,99095.6
    Derbyshire Dales68,32695.5
    Torfaen87,87395.2
    Rhondda Cynon Taf226,12395.1
    Hartlepool87,76195.0
    Amber Valley119,93495.0
    Ryedale51,96395.0
    Neath Port Talbot135,11195.0
    Teignbridge127,93794.9
    West Devon54,19694.9
    Powys126,35794.9
    Eden51,89194.8
    High Peak86,18394.8
    County Durham494,63894.7
    Forest of Dean82,40194.7
    Pembrokeshire116,81694.7
    Bridgend137,75594.7
    East Riding of Yorkshire323,83894.6
    West Lindsey89,96494.5
    Cannock Chase95,01994.5
    Denbighshire90,47094.4
    North Devon92,94494.3
    North Kesteven111,30494.3
    Craven53,69094.3
    East Devon142,01194.2
    South Hams83,48194.2
    Monmouthshire87,56694.2
    Ribble Valley57,91694.1
    Conwy107,92694.1
    Maldon62,26894.0
    Mid Suffolk96,58194.0
    Carmarthenshire176,67394.0
    Dorset356,27093.9
    Selby86,38093.9
    Isle of Wight131,69793.8
    South Lakeland97,96093.8
    Mid Devon77,69993.8
    Rochford80,33993.8
    Isles of Scilly1,92693.7
    Scarborough101,84893.7
    Halton120,30193.6
    Cornwall533,88293.6
    Broadland123,26593.6
    Babergh86,41893.6
    St. Helens171,54693.6
    Tendring138,60493.5
    Shropshire301,91893.3
    Bolsover74,85293.3
    Malvern Hills74,19793.3
    Gwynedd109,54893.3
    Merthyr Tydfil54,91693.3
    Havant115,73293.2
    New Forest163,84793.2
    North Warwickshire60,59893.2
    Flintshire144,35693.2
    Chesterfield96,39293.1
    Fylde75,79393.1
    East Suffolk229,06393.1
    Chorley109,44993.0
    South Tyneside137,42993.0
    Melton48,06492.9
    Sunderland254,65592.9
    Fareham106,21292.8
    South Ribble103,08992.8
    West Lancashire108,99892.8
    Carlisle102,00492.7
    North East Lincolnshire145,36292.6
    Castle Point82,99792.6
    Barnsley226,48892.6
    Erewash104,40092.5
    Gosport75,76392.5
    Richmondshire46,02792.5
    Wyre Forest93,96192.5
    North Tyneside193,30392.5
    Stroud111,89692.4
    Knowsley142,69892.4
    Wirral295,96792.4
    South Staffordshire101,83292.2
    Torbay128,37592.1
    North West Leicestershire96,43092.1
    Cotswold83,54592.0
    Bassetlaw108,33892.0
    Lichfield97,95292.0
    Vale of Glamorgan121,37192.0
    Ceredigion65,67491.9
    Wealden146,96891.8
    South Norfolk130,29291.8
    Ashfield115,97291.8
    Mendip106,60891.8
    Wigan302,48291.8
    Sefton256,32791.8
    Rother85,36291.7
    South Somerset158,32591.7
    Cheshire West and Chester325,62091.2
    Sedgemoor114,34091.2
    Herefordshire, County of170,41991.1
    Rutland37,37291.0
    Newark and Sherwood111,93991.0
    Tamworth71,45690.9
    Hinckley and Bosworth103,22590.8
    Harrogate147,47990.7
    Wrexham122,54790.7
    Wychavon120,04890.6
    East Hampshire113,81490.5
    South Kesteven129,74190.5
    Somerset West and Taunton142,56090.5
    Blackpool127,44590.4
    North Somerset195,91590.4
    Braintree140,28390.4
    Rossendale64,07390.4
    Bromsgrove89,67690.4
    Stockton-on-Tees177,52690.3
    Darlington97,32090.3
    Tewkesbury85,72090.3
    Dover105,11190.3
    Gateshead177,13190.3
    Wiltshire459,59490.1
    South Derbyshire96,63490.1
    Stratford-on-Avon121,33090.1
    Chichester111,82290.1
    Newcastle-under-Lyme110,94790.0
    Stafford123,20390.0
    Cheshire East357,33789.6
    Plymouth236,80289.5
    West Oxfordshire101,64889.0
    Lewes88,83088.9
    Uttlesford81,24588.9
    Great Yarmouth88,66388.9
    Adur57,39088.9
    King's Lynn and West Norfolk136,96688.8
    North Lincolnshire150,55488.7
    Breckland125,51688.7
    Arun146,17888.7
    Swale134,38588.6
    Tonbridge and Malling116,78788.3
    Rotherham234,61388.3
    Wakefield311,63488.2
    Warrington185,94088.1
    Eastleigh120,24288.1
    Winchester112,30488.1
    Horsham129,34888.1
    Test Valley114,87388.0
    Folkestone and Hythe96,59088.0
    Lancaster125,55287.8
    Harborough85,47487.6
    Swansea208,70387.5
    York176,96387.3
    Thanet122,79687.3
    Mansfield96,47587.3
    Hart86,41486.9
    Waverley111,32186.8
    Doncaster266,87986.6
    East Cambridgeshire75,89786.5
    Rushcliffe102,47986.1
    Fenland88,02885.9
    South Gloucestershire249,16085.8
    South Oxfordshire127,89085.8
    Mole Valley74,98385.8
    Mid Sussex130,97185.8
    Bath and North East Somerset165,47885.6
    West Berkshire138,25385.6
    Sevenoaks103,11685.6
    Gedling100,36785.6
    Huntingdonshire154,08985.2
    Hastings77,41885.1
    Worthing94,68085.0
    East Hertfordshire127,24584.7
    Broxtowe93,71884.5
    South Holland80,24484.4
    Tunbridge Wells97,04984.2
    Kingston upon Hull, City of223,96283.9
    Central Bedfordshire245,76983.5
    Tandridge73,34383.5
    Stockport245,83183.4
    Cheltenham98,93283.3
    Vale of White Horse115,51783.2
    Chelmsford150,75883.1
    Telford and Wrekin153,93683.0
    Exeter108,09582.7
    Brentwood63,69682.7
    Lincoln85,89182.7
    Worcester85,86882.7
    Calderdale170,98382.7
    Ashford109,67382.6
    Canterbury129,88782.5
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole329,60982.4
    Redditch71,74282.4
    Tameside190,30582.4
    Dudley266,56482.4
    Blaby84,74682.3
    West Suffolk147,93582.2
    Eastbourne83,46582.1
    Basildon154,04582.1
    Maidstone144,11482.0
    Basingstoke and Deane151,57281.9
    Nuneaton and Bedworth109,80781.8
    Southend-on-Sea147,44281.6
    North Hertfordshire108,29881.3
    Colchester155,48880.7
    North Northamptonshire289,27480.5
    Newport128,24580.4
    South Cambridgeshire128,98579.6
    Hyndburn65,47179.6
    Middlesbrough114,42179.5
    Dacorum122,10778.7
    Stoke-on-Trent202,90678.5
    Medway218,95378.3
    East Staffordshire97,01978.2
    Bury151,52878.2
    Gloucester103,31778.0
    Burnley73,75277.9
    Charnwood143,34577.9
    Cherwell125,42277.9
    Surrey Heath70,47377.9
    Solihull168,39877.9
    Bracknell Forest96,95077.8
    Portsmouth161,66477.7
    Norwich111,62377.6
    Guildford111,07677.3
    Liverpool375,78577.3
    Reigate and Banstead115,94976.9
    Warwick112,65075.9
    Epping Forest101,99475.6
    Stevenage67,39475.3
    West Northamptonshire319,50975.1
    Rugby85,68474.9
    Ipswich104,20874.6
    Boston52,54074.5
    Sheffield414,69874.5
    Newcastle upon Tyne223,56774.5
    Swindon173,23174.2
    Elmbridge102,86774.1
    Salford199,61474.0
    Brighton and Hove204,83173.9
    Cardiff266,53373.6
    St Albans108,96273.5
    Leeds595,73773.4
    Harlow67,99372.9
    Wokingham129,08772.7
    Buckinghamshire401,48972.6
    Runnymede63,96572.6
    Trafford169,55072.1
    Bristol, City of338,45271.6
    Rushmoor70,91771.1
    Kirklees305,57970.5
    Rochdale156,66970.0
    Epsom and Ewell56,13669.4
    Spelthorne71,26169.2
    Windsor and Maidenhead105,99169.1
    Bolton203,48668.8
    Broxbourne67,89168.6
    Gravesham73,03068.3
    Southampton169,48168.1
    Three Rivers63,70667.9
    Walsall191,52967.4
    Dartford78,55767.3
    Woking69,91167.3
    Welwyn Hatfield80,55167.2
    Bromley219,49366.5
    Havering174,23266.5
    Derby173,07766.2
    Thurrock116,43066.2
    Pendle63,32066.1
    Preston97,71566.1
    Oldham157,91465.2
    Bexley158,84264.4
    Bedford118,77964.1
    Hertsmere68,03263.1
    Richmond upon Thames123,09363.0
    Milton Keynes178,56862.2
    Crawley73,17861.8
    Oadby and Wigston34,51259.8
    Peterborough128,35359.5
    Nottingham185,58057.3
    Wandsworth157,04857.2
    Blackburn with Darwen87,99756.9
    Bradford309,91256.7
    Coventry190,88955.3
    Wolverhampton144,30354.7
    Kingston upon Thames90,28853.7
    Reading93,16753.5
    Oxford86,67253.5
    Cambridge77,19553.0
    Sandwell177,92952.1
    Manchester268,57248.7
    Sutton120,01448.0
    Watford46,82045.8
    Birmingham491,21142.9
    City of London3,64960.5
    Greenwich119,66553.4
    Merton88,67341.2
    Islington86,09249.7
    Hammersmith and Fulham70,10538.3
    Lambeth119,39537.6
    Croydon146,26837.4
    Lewisham111,72637.2
    Hillingdon113,37737.1
    Barnet140,77736.2
    Southwark109,25335.5
    Camden74,34835.4
    Waltham Forest94,76634.0
    Hackney87,92722.9
    Leicester122,39533.2
    Kensington and Chelsea46,88332.7
    Haringey84,29831.9
    Luton71,53231.8
    Enfield103,14031.3
    Barking and Dagenham67,55030.9
    Hounslow81,93328.4
    Westminster77,33452.0
    Ealing89,26524.3
    Slough38,10124.0
    Redbridge71,84423.2
    Tower Hamlets71,17733.9
    Harrow53,56720.5
    Brent51,61115.2
    Newham51,81914.8
    Total
    44,355,218 74.4%
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    Population in metropolitan counties

    Population in city districts

    Population in school children

    Thumb
    White British percentage of the under 16 population
    Thumb
    White British school children within England for the school year of 2021/2022
    More information Ethnic group, School year ...
    Proportion of White British school children in England
    Ethnic group School year[27]
    2021/2022
    Number %
    White: Total 6,011,045 71.4%
    White: British 5,379,748 63.9%
    Close

    Population in births

    More information Ethnic Group, Year ...
    Proportion of White British births in England and Wales[28]
    Ethnic Group Year
    2005[29] 2011 2015 2019
    Number % Number % Number % Number %
    White: Total 451,514 69.5%
    (80.3%)
    536,021 74.49% 507,829 72.29% 452,248 70.67%
    White: British 418,052 64.4%
    (75.2%)[fn 1]
    476,328 66.19% 432,114 62.05% 374,056 58.45%
    Not stated 70,303 10.8% 22,848 3.17% 22,041 3.16% 25,578 4.00%
    Close

    Country of birth

    Thumb
    Country of birth (2021 census, England and Wales)[30]

    The 2021 census for England and Wales recorded a population of over 43.20 million White British born in the United Kingdom, representing the main birthplace of the majority (97.4%) of those who identified as White British. The remaining 1.15 million White British residing in England and Wales were born in countries outside of the United Kingdom. The most common countries of birth were Germany (149,838), South Africa (101,425), Poland (73,685), Romania (63,101) and the United States (59,036).[30]

    Economic status and education

    Summarize
    Perspective

    According to official UK Government figures from 2016, the employment rate for White British people stood at 75%, with the overall employment rate in the UK standing at 74%.[31] UK Government figures also demonstrate that 31% of White British people work in professional and managerial occupations, higher than the Mixed (30%), Pakistani/Bangladeshi (27%) and Black (25%) groups, but lower than the Indian ethnic group (43%).[32]

    At GCSE level, official UK Government statistics state that 63% of White British pupils attained A* to C grades in English and Mathematics in the 2015–16 academic year, higher than Black Caribbean (51%) and Pakistani (58%) pupils, but lower than Bangladeshi (67%), Indian (77%) and Chinese (83%) pupils.[33] According to a report by the Sutton Trust, "White working class pupils achieve the lowest grades at GCSE of any main ethnic group, with just a quarter of boys and a third of girls achieving 5 good GCSEs."[34] At A-Level, in the 2015–16 academic year, 11% of White British pupils achieved at least 3 'A' grades at A-Level; the only major ethnic groups to achieve the same benchmark at a higher rate were Indian (14%) and Chinese (24%) pupils.[35]

    According to Department for Education statistics for the 2020–21 academic year, White British pupils attained slightly below the national average for academic performance at both A-Level and GCSE. 25.9% of White British pupils achieved at least 3 As at A Level[36] and an average score of 50.2 was achieved in Attainment 8 scoring at GCSE level.[37] White British pupils eligible for free school meals, a measurement of socioeconomic status, are found to be the largest disadvantaged group in education across the early years, GCSE performance and access to higher education.[38] Since 2007, out of all ethnicities aged 18 years old who have received a state education, white pupils have had the lowest rate of entry into higher education and have also seen the lowest rate of increase, from 21.8% in 2007 to 33.3% in 2021. For comparison, 72.1% of Chinese pupils and 48.6% of Black pupils gained a higher education place in the same year.[39]

    More information Percentage of students getting at least 3 A grades at A level (2020/21), Ethnic group ...
    Close

    Health

    Whites have the highest rate of cancer in the United Kingdom.[41]

    Religion

    Summarize
    Perspective

    Statistically, White British are more likely to be Christian than other ethnic-based classifications. According to the 2011 UK Census, White British are 64% Christian in England and Wales, mostly Anglican in England, while the percentage for all groups is about 59%. The percentage of White British who are Christians is lower in Scotland, at 55% (mainly Presbyterian there), whereas at least 54% of all Scots are Christian. The British country with the highest percentage is Northern Ireland, where white people are 94% Christian, while 93% of all usual residents are. About 27% of the White British population in England and Wales, and 36% in Scotland reported having "no religion". In Northern Ireland, the lowest percentage of white people who reported "no religion" in the census is about 5%. The 27% and 36% per cent figures for "no religion" are about the same for all groups. About 7% of the White British in England and Wales, and Scotland declined to state any religion.[42][43][44]

    More information Religion, England and Wales ...
    Religion England and Wales
    2001[45] 2011[42] 2021[46]
    Number % Number % Number %
    Christianity 34,576,389 75.9% 28,738,688 63.7% 21,747,631 49.0%
    No religion 7,033,407 15.4% 12,624,325 28.0% 19,480,022 43.9%
    Judaism 218,324 0.5% 202,600 0.4% 181,738 0.4%
    Islam 63,042 0.1% 77,272 0.2% 90,939 0.2%
    Buddhism 50,408 0.1% 72,423 0.2% 74,908 0.2%
    Hinduism 5,820 0.0% 6,909 0.0% 5,145 0.0%
    Sikhism 6,192 0.0% 5,417 0.0% 2,616 0.0%
    Not Stated 3,471,290 7.6% 3,238,911 7.2% 2,575,113 5.8%
    Other religions 108,869 0.2% 168,141 0.4% 196,926 0.4%
    Total 45,533,741 100% 45,134,686 100% 44,355,038 100%
    Close

    See also

    Notes and references

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