Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

England and Wales more ethnically mixed; nearly one in 10 has Asian roots

North-east is the least diverse English region with 90.6 per of people (2.4 million) identifying themselves as white. About seven out of 10 people (71.8 per cent or 4.3 million) people identify themselves as white.

England and Wales more ethnically mixed; nearly one in 10 has Asian roots

England and Wales' population has become more diverse now than a decade ago, with almost one in every 10 people identifying themselves as having Asian ethnicity, Census 2021 has revealed.

According to the figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday, the share of Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh ethnic groups rose both in terms of absolute numbers and as the percentage of the total population during the 10 years preceding the most recent census.

They accounted for 9.3 per cent (5.5 million) of the overall population in 2021, up from 7.5 per cent (4.2 million) 10 years earlier.

They form the second largest ethnic group in England and Wales after white people whose proportion in the population declined to 81.7 per cent (48.7 million) in 2021 from 86.0 per cent (48.2 million) in 2011.

The share of people identifying themselves as belonging to black or Caribbean or African ethnicity went up to 2.5 to (1.5 million) in 2021, up from 1.8 per cent (990,000) in 2011.

Many factors such as different patterns of ageing, fertility, mortality and migration may be contributing to the changing ethnic composition, the ONS said adding it could also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses.

Within England, London remains the most ethnically diverse region with the number of people who identified as white declining by 8.1 percentage points to 36.8 per cent (3.2 million) in 2021, down from 44.9 per cent (3.7 million) in 2011).

North-east is the least diverse English region with 90.6 per of people (2.4 million) identifying themselves as white, while about seven out of 10 (71.8 per cent or 4.3 million) identify themselves as white in the West Midlands.

Separate census data revealed that 90.3 per cent (53.8 million) of usual residents identified with at least one UK national identity – English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish, British, and Cornish.

Census deputy director Jon Wroth-Smith said the data highlighted “the increasingly multi-cultural society we live in.”

Despite the ethnic diversity, “nine in 10 people across England and Wales still identify with a UK national identity,” Wroth-Smith.

More For You

Minouche Shafik

Shafik served as deputy governor for markets and banking at the Bank of England between August 2014 and February 2017.

Reuters

Starmer appoints Minouche Shafik as chief economic adviser in reshuffle

Highlights:

  • Minouche Shafik named chief economic adviser to Keir Starmer.
  • Darren Jones moves into Downing Street role; James Murray replaces him.
  • Wider reshuffle includes changes in Starmer’s private office and communications.
  • Appointment comes ahead of a budget expected to include further tax rises.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has named Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, as his chief economic adviser. The appointment comes as he looks to strengthen his team ahead of what is expected to be a difficult end to the year.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi putin

Before their formal meeting, Putin offered Modi a ride in his Aurus limousine.

X/@narendramodi

Six key takeaways from the SCO summit

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi met Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Modi pressed for ending the Ukraine conflict at the earliest, reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia, and discussed trade and border issues with Xi.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afghanistan earthquake

Afghan volunteers and Taliban security personnel carry an earthquake victim evacuated by a military helicopter from the Nurgal district of Kunar province onn September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800, thousands injured

A MAJOR rescue operation was underway in Afghanistan on Monday after a powerful earthquake and several aftershocks destroyed homes in a remote mountainous region, killing more than 800 people, according to Taliban authorities.

The quake struck just before midnight and was felt as far as Kabul and in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ganpati festival

The Ganpati festival celebrates Ganesha as the god of new beginnings, and the god of wisdom and intelligence. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Hindu community centre in London damaged in fire after Ganapati Visarjan event

A HINDU community centre in east London caught fire on Saturday evening, causing major damage to the building. The London Fire Brigade brought the fire under control and confirmed that no injuries were reported.

The incident took place at the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre on Cleveland Road in Ilford, which had been decorated for a Ganapati Visarjan event attended by members of the Hindu community.

Keep ReadingShow less
Modi ,Xi & Putin

Narendra Modi talks with Vladimir Putin and Xi jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Getty Images

SCO declaration slams Pahalgam attack, calls for united action on terror

Highlights:

  • SCO condemns terror attack in Pahalgam and echoes India’s stance on “double standards”.
  • Leaders call for justice for perpetrators of attacks in Pahalgam and Balochistan.
  • Declaration criticises Israeli military strikes in Gaza causing civilian casualties.
  • SCO stresses UN’s central role in global counter-terrorism strategy.

THE SHANGHAI Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Monday condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam and agreed with India’s position that “double standards” in tackling terrorism are not acceptable.

Keep ReadingShow less