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TITLE Ethnic Minorities in Britain. CRE Factsheet. Revised. INSTITUTION Commission for Racial Equality, (). DATE 1999-00-00 NOTE 6p. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Census Figures; *Educational Attainment; *Ethnic Groups; Family Characteristics; Foreign Countries; *Language Minorities; *Minority Groups; *Socioeconomic Status; Urban Areas IDENTIFIERS Fact Sheets; *

ABSTRACT This factsheet provides information about the status of ethnic minorities in Great Britain. At the 1991 census, just over 3 million (5.5%) of the people in Britain did not classify themselves as White. About half were of South Asian descent (Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi) and 30% were Black. Nearly 7.3% of the British population had been born elsewhere in the world, including Ireland. Nearly half of the nonWhite population had been born in the , and about three-quarters of them were British citizens. The ethnic groups speak many languages and represent a number of religions. Most have become urban residents, with 97% of Britain's nonWhite population living in England, mostly in large urban centers. London alone contains nearly half of England's nonWhite popula,tion. Nearly one-third of the nonWhite population is under 15 years of age. The largest households are those of Bangladeshis and Pakistanis, and adults of Caribbean origin are most likely to live on their own. Only nine (1.4%) of the 652 members of Parliament in the House of Commons are from nonWhite ethnic groups, and only 3% of the 21,498 councilors in England and are from nonWhite ethnic groups. (Contains 13 references, 5 tables and 2 figures.) (SLD)

******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Ethnic Minorities in Britain

Commission For Racial Equality

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ETHNIC DIVERSITY Table 1. Ethnic composition of the population of Britain has always had Great Britain, 1991 _ ethnic minorities People % total '% born with diverse histories, Namber poptilatiOn in UK cultures, beliefs and lang- Total pOp 54,888,844 MO 93 uages have settled here White 51,873,794 94 5 , 96 since the beginning of Ethnic minorities 3,015,050 5 5 48 recorded time Some, like Black Canbbean 499,964 0 9 53 the (Protestant Black African, 212,362 0 4 , 36 Black Other 178,401 0 9 84 refugees who arrived in , Indian 840 255 1 5 42 the seventeenth century), - PakiStani -476,555 0- 9 50 gradually became assimi- Bangladeshi 162,835 0 3 37 lated Others, such as the CInnese 1,56,938 0 3 28' Irish and , who came Other Asn 197,534 0 4 , 22 , - _ ;; at various periods, have to Other-Other 290,206 0 5 40' some extent maintained separate group identities Source OWen, D, 1992-1995 ' People from South Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean the rich diversity of Ireland (north and south) arrived in substantial Britain's minority popula- make up the largest group numbers after the Second tions. However, the figures of these1.5% of the World War to help meet do not show the true size population, or 4.5% if severe labour shortages. of the communities, as their children are included. The most recent arrivals in they exclude British-born People born in Britain include refugees members of these groups. are the largest group from and asylum seekers from For example, Indians born other countries in the Vietnam, Somalia, Turkey, in India represent only European Community, the Middle East and 37% of the Indian group; while Poles, who settled in former Yugoslavia. 41% were born in the Britain after the war, make UK, 17% in the East up the majority of people POPULATION African Commonwealth from eastern Europe. 0. At the 1991 census, just countries and 5% over 3 million (5.5%) of \tkG elsewhere. Moreover the 0- number the 55 million people in figures include people born about 285,000. There are Britain did not classify overseas to aiound 63,000 Gypsies in themselves as white. As parents. Rngland, 53,000 of whom COMMISSION FOR Table 1 shows, half of are Romanies. RACIAL EQUALITY them are South Asian 0. In 1991, nearly half of (that is, of Indian, Paki- Britain's non-white popu- LANGUAGE 0 4' stani and Bangladeshi des- lation had been born in 0- Punjabi is the most 4 cent), and 30% are black. the UK, and about three- commonly spoken South JUST S quarters of them were Asian language among 0. Nearly four million British citizens. The over- British Asians (52% over- people (7.3% of the total whelming majority of all, which includes 95% of population) resident in non-white children under all and 74% of Great Britain at the 1991 16 were born in the UK. Pakistanis). Urdu follows census had been born (31% overall, including elsewhere in the world 0- People of European 73% of all Pakistanis), and (including Ireland, north origin account for the then Hindi (27% overall, and south). The majority majority of the rest of including 70% of all of them (61%) were white. those people born outside Gujaratis) and Gujarati REVISED l Table 2 demonstrates Britain. People from (25%, including 67% of 1 9 9 9 NOTE: The ethnic group question in the 1991 census does not yield complete data on Britain's very diverse ethnic minority groups, both white and non-white. The term 'ethnic minority' is generally used to refer to

those who did not tick the 'White' category. This factsheet distinguishes between white and non-white . ethnic minorities. The ethnic categories used are those used in the study or survey quoted. African Asians). Cantonese this age group are found is the most commonly among Pakistani (84%) Table 2: people born. outside'SGreat Britairi:anci spoken language among and Bangladeshi women resident here, bk Countiles of birth, 1991 ethnic Chinese people (80%). Among women .pio.resident (66%), while 22% of aged 45 to 64, those of in Biltain- popidatiOn Caribbeans speak Patois. Pakistani. Bangladeshi and _ 245,000 Irish Rep.ublic 592.000 With the exception of Chinese origin are least 1.08 Germany. 216,006- 0.39 Bangladeshis, who use likely to be proficient in . . . Italy 91;000 0.17 Bengali and Sylheti, the English - only 4% of '53,000 0.10 proportions writing in all Bangladeshi women, 28% Other EC 133,900 0.24 these languages are signifi- of Pakistani women and Scandinivia and EFTA' 58300 0.11 cantly lower. 47% of Chinese women g EuropeAformer USSR 142,900. 0.26 its A survey of school are proficient. elTrus: 78,000: 0.14 pupils in Rest ofNeir and tutiddle East 58,300 0.11 shows that at least a quar- RELIGION old CoininohWealth (Aust, NZ, Canada) 177,400 0.32 Ow The 1991 census did New Commonwealth 1.688;44)0 3.08 not include a question Jamaica. 142,000 0.26 Rest Of Caribbean 12Z600 0.22 about religion, so precise In 1991, India 409,000 0.75 information about the size Pakistan 234,000 0.43 of Britain's faith commu- Bangladesh 105,000 0.19 'non-white' ethnic nities is not available. The Rest of South Asia 39,500 0.07 estimates given below are Sotith East Asia (inc Hong Kong) 150,400 0.27 minorities made up based on extrapolations East Africa 220,600 0.40 from census data on ethnic West and Southern Africa 110,700 0.20 background, other sample Rest of the World 566,200 1.03 20% of London's studies, and information Asia 231,000 0.42 supplied by organisations Noith)Africi 44,600 0.08 within the religious SoUthAfrica woo 0.12 Rest of Africa population. If all communities themselves. 34,300 0.06 USA 143,000 0.26 . . Therefore, these estimates Rest Of Ameticai (exc Canada) 42,000 born are not strictly accurate: Total born outside aB 3.991,000 7.27 Baha'i: 6,000 Buddhist: 130,000 Includes chlkfren Of Britiih army personnel who were born in Germany. outside the UK are Christian: 40 million Source: ehven, p, 1992-1995 Hindu: 400555,000 counted, London's Jain: 25 - 30,000 bers of Reform synagogues; compared with only 10% Jewish: 300,000 37% do not belong to any of the white population. Muslim: 1 - 1.5 million synagogue. ethnic minority Sikh: 350500,000 isWhite ethnic minorities, Zoroastrian: 5 - 10,000. OF too, are concentrated in population is 30% RESIDENCE the south east, especially Is The fourth national Ps97% of Britain's non- in London. For example, survey of ethnic minorities white population live in 88% of the Turkish-born by the Policy Studies England, mostly in large population are settled in ter of them speak a lan- Institute (PSI) found that urban centres. the south east, with 77% guage other than English Chinese (11%) and white ris As Table 3 shows, in London. People born at home. Bengali, spoken people (13%) were least Greater London contains in Ireland, north and by 5% of pupils, is the likely to say that 'religion nearly half (45%) of Brit- south, and their children most common first lan- was very important to the ain's non-white population make up 11.5% of guage other ,than English, way they lived their life'. followed by Punjabi (3%) Pakistanis (73%) and !ReligidAit "mei* iniportant,to the way and Turkish and Urdu (at Bangladeshis (76%) were I Hire my lifeby:etkirik 2% each). Altogether, 275 most likely to agree with languages are spoken by 16-34' year's the statement. Figure 1 1135-49 yeark pupils in London's schools. shows how age affected 'arid ()I-ler,. each group's responses to I> Almost all 16-24 year- this statement. olds from ethnic minority groups speak English flu- E1t- 40% of Jews are mem-

ently or fairly well - the bers of Orthodox syna- MM MMImon man MM. Adm RoMMI SoUrce: Modood et at 1997 'lowest proficiency rates in gogues and 13% are mem- .

, 4 south east (53%) and the the UK, including 545,000_ Table i:,Regloi*citreirdenee. Midlands (30%). in England and 15,000 in . The dispersal BLACK GROUPS rate for Scots-born people cF: if, of.GB: 58% of Black is lower (15%), including '5CR.rtiv:east", 29.9. Grgatfr1,1-9,1r .,Td .: bzOito /0.3 1,344800 44.8 Caribbeans, 79% of Black 744,000 in England and 3.8 43,300 1.4 Africans, and 44% of 23,000 in Wales, bin . 8.8. 6:700 2.1 Other live in English-born people are .11(esMic-IIncis' : 4,727,200 9.1 422,900 14.1 Greater London. 16%-of least likely (2%) to live in WestMidlarids MC 2,179200 42 372,500 12.4 black Caribbeans live in other parts of the UK, Eiseylidlands: 3,764,500 7:3 188,800 6.3 the . with 354,000 in Scotland . YorkS 4 Humbeiside 4.621 ;266 8.9 215,200 7,2 and 540,000 in Wales. North Wes-t 6,000,400 11.6 243,200 8.1 CHINESE . Grater Mancbester 2,351,900 4.5 147,500 4.9 Chinese people are ' : 1,378,300 2.7 25.300 0 8 AGE AND SEX North 2,969,000 5.8 37,800 1.3 more dispersed than other or.Nearly a third of Tyne & Wear 1,075,500 2.1 19,700 0.7 non-white groups, with Britain's non-white Wales- 2,773,900 5.4 41,200 1.4 36.1% in Greater London, population are under 15 - Scotland- 4934,500 9.5 64,000 2.1 53% in the south east and years of age, and only , Total 51,843,900 100.0 3.006,500 100.0 10% in the north west of 3% are pensioners com- 'Source: Owen, D, 1992-1995 England. pared with 17% of the white population (see INTERNAL MIGRANTS Figure 2). Caribbeans London's population. people and jobs away from 211,000 people born in (6%), Indians (4%) and The London Research big cities to smaller Northern Ireland and Chinese (3%) have the Centre estimates that, if and rural areas between living elsewhere in the UK largest proportions of all white people born out- 1971 and 1991 did not are settled in England over-65 year-olds. side the UK were counted much affect the non-white (86%), 26,000 in Scot- as ethnic minorities, population, who have land and 7,000 in Wales. Although the ratio of London's ethnic minority remained concentrated in One in five people born in men to women is roughly population in 1991 would large urban areas; for Wales lives elsewhere in equal in the non-white have been 30%. example they made up 20.2% of Greater London's Table 4; Districts with the largestnon7white titt. Two per cent of Britain's population in 1991 com- proportioni, 1991 non-white population pared to 7.9% in 1971. (62,600) live in Scotland, Conversely, in East Anglia Larges-t % of - All.nan- % of non-white District district mainly in Strathclyde, the non-white population Wtiite 04)GB pop group pop 8rent _ . Lothian, Grampian and grew by only 1.4% over .4.8 3.61 Indian 17.2 Newham Tayside, and 1.4% (41,600) the same period while the _42.3 2.98 Indian 13.0 Hamlets live in Wales, principally population of the as 35:6 57.3 8anOladeshi 22.9 *Hackney 33.6 in Cardiff and Newport. a whole grew by 26.1%. 2.02 Black Carfb 11..2 The largest non-white Table 4 gives the 29 local 32.3 2.95 Indian 16.1 30:3 2.46 Black Carib 12.6 group in Scotland is Paki- authority districts with the Haringey 29.0 1.95 stani (21,200) followed by largest non-white popula- Black Carib 9.3 28.5 2.55 Chinese (10,476) and ',Indian 223 tions in Britain. The 27.7 0.93 Indian - 12.5 Indian (10,050). People. London of Brent, -Harrow 26.2 1.74 Indian 16.1 from the 'Other' group which has the largest pro- Waltham Forest 25.6 1.80 Black Carib 6.8 form the largest non-white portion (45%), also has 24.4 1.77 Black Carib 8.3 minority in Wales (8,000) the largest Irish-born pop- 24.4 1.66 Indian 14.3 followed by Indians ulation in Britain. 22.0 1.68 Black Carib- 10.1 (7,000), Pakistanis (6,000) 2.1.5 6.86 Pakistani 6.9 , City of and Chinese (5,000). SOUTH ASIANS 21.5 6.86 Other-Other 4.3 Redbridge 21.4 )0.- Greater London is 1.61 Indian 10.2 20.0 lb. Different ethnic minor- 1.68 Black Carib 6.1 home to 54% of Britain's 19.8 1.13 Pakistani 6.2 ity groups tend to be con- Bangladeshi population, 18.9 1.03 Black Carib 5.1 centrated in different and the West Midlands to Wolverhampton 18.6 1.49 Indian 11.4 regions. These largely another 12%. Pakistanis Barnet 18.4 1.79 Indian 7.3 reflect the areas where the Camden are concentrated in the 17.8 1.01 Bangladeshi 3.5 first settlers from these West Midlands (21%) and 17.6 1.83 Black Carib 4.9 & groups found work on in Yorkshire and Humber- 17.5 0.86 BlackCarib 5.9 their arrival in Britain. The side (20%), while Indians 16.3 0.91 Indian 3.4 general movement of have settled mainly in the 15.6 2.37 Pakistani 9.9 & Chelsea 15.6 0.72 Other-Other 3.6 15.4 0.70 Indian 7.7 EST COPY AVAILABLE Source: Owen, 0, 1992-1995 5

, ",..T,77+77," 13,000 people from the British-born Caribbeans, Philippines in London, however, 50% of men and 71% of whom are women. 30% of women had white partners. The rate among FAMILIES AND British-born Indian men is HOUSEHOLDS 19%, compared with 4% !O. The fourth PSI survey for the group as a whole. shows that the largest Around 44% of Jewish households are to be found men under 40 who are among Bangladeshis and married or in a steady Pakistanis (5.7 people), relationship have a non-

Ource:1446dO4d et ali;19.97, followed by Indians and Jewish partner. African Asians (3.9 each), . II : Chinese (3.3), Caribbeans POLITICAL - Table 5 Councillorsin England (3.2) and white people REPRESENTATION and Walei,- by ethnic (2.4). Po- In December 1998, nine ...group and sex;-1997, (1.4%) of the 652 Mr's in $o Caribbean adults are the House of Commons MAtE TEI1014E, more likely than adults were from non-white % , . . , grauto,- .. from other non-white ethnic minority groups. All 'White ,2.8 groups to live on their were Labour MPs. : . Black Caribbean 31 own, with or without chil- ,Blocic'African% dren: 31%, compared with Oa- On 1 May 1997, 662 :BckOth 16% for Chinese, 7% for (3%) of the 21,498 coun- Indian 149 . ". Indians and 6% for cillors in England and . Pakiitani' . Pakistanis and Bangla- Banglage4o.:. Wales were from ethnic

Chinese deshis. Among white minority groups. At adults overall, 16% live on 11.4%, London had the .MyóthefOtig..: their own, but nearly a largest proportion of . , d53 third of households ethnic minority council- headed by Irish-born Stotic. f..GMI3 1998... lors, followed by 6.9% in people at the 1991 census the Midlands, 0.7% in the consisted of one person. North, and 0.4% in Wales. :- population as a whole, - :. - there are substantial to At 45%, the largest 0. With 309 councillors, variations between groups. proportion of one-parent South Asians formed the Women outnumber men families is found among largest ethnic minority among whites, Caribbeans, Caribbeans, compared with group, followed by 135 Chinese and Other ethnic 21% among whites and councillors from the black groups, while men out- 8% among South Asians. groups. Only one (male) number women among councillor was from the South Asians, particularly pi.The PSI survey found Chinese group. Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. that 13% of white people in their 60s and 70s share 141- 32% of Caribbean 10- Among people born a household with a son or councillors were women outside the UK, there are daughter compared with compared with 28% of marked differences in the 31% of Caribbean, 72% of white councillors and only gender balance between Chinese, and 70% of Afri- 5% of South Asian coun- groups. Among those born can Asian elderly people. cillors (see Table 5). in western Europe, - . . women significantly out- Only 1% of all mar- 0.83% of ethnic minority number men, while the riages are between part- councillors represented reverse is true for those ners of different ethnic Labour, 8% the Liberal born in eastern Europe origins. Among non-white Democrats and 6% the and the former USSR, the minorities, Caribbeans Conservative Party, com- Near and Middle East and (20%) and Chinese (17%) pared with 46%, 23% and north Africa. The imbal- are most likely to be with 21%, respectively, of ance is greatest among the a white partner. Among white councillors. dONI I 410., I The Commission for Racial Equality is working fora just society which gives everyone an equal chance to learn, work and live free from discrimination and prejudice and from the fear of racial harassment and violence. ® U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) IC National Library of Education (NLE) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

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