How the ethnic landscape of England and Wales shifted over two decades of census data
In short: The 2021 Census reveals a significant transformation in the demographic makeup of England and Wales. While the population remains predominantly white, the proportion identifying as white British has declined notably since 2001. Meanwhile, other ethnic groups have seen steady growth, driven by complex patterns of migration and changing self-identification.
The 2021 Census recorded a total population of 59.6 million for England and Wales. Among these residents, 81.7% identified with white ethnic groups, though this figure masks internal shifts. Specifically, the white British population fell from 87.5% in 2001 to 74.4% in 2021. Conversely, the white 'other' category—which includes significant numbers of residents born in Poland—expanded from 2.6% to 6.2% over the same period, marking the largest percentage point increase among all ethnic groups.
Growth in diversity is also evident across other categories. Asian ethnic groups now constitute 9.3% of the population, with Indian and Pakistani groups representing the largest segments at 3.1% and 2.7% respectively. Black ethnic groups account for 4.0% of the total, while those of mixed ethnicity comprise 2.9%. The 'any other' ethnic background category saw a dramatic rise, growing from 219,800 individuals in 2001 to 923,800 by 2021.
These demographic changes are heavily influenced by international migration, which remains the primary driver of UK population growth. In the year leading to mid-2024, net international migration reached an estimated 738,700. While natural change—the difference between births and deaths—contributed only 16,200 to the population increase, migration continues to reshape the national profile. The census methodology itself has evolved to capture this, introducing new categories like 'Roma' in 2021 to better reflect the country's changing social fabric.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Population of England and Wales
- Also: Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Office for National Statistics
- Also: Demographics of England
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-demographics-of-england.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Visual artists · More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
