White British

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White British
Total population
White British
51,745,135
[1][2][3]
[note 1]
  1. ^ (Data from 2011 Census except Scotland 2001 Census)
Regions with significant populations
 United Kingdom
Countries:
England England 42,279,236 (79.8%) (2011)[2]
Scotland Scotland 4,832,000 (95.5%) (2001)[3]
Wales Wales 2,855,450 (93.2%) (2011)[4]
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland 1,778,449 (98.2%) (2011)[1]
Languages

English, Scots language, Scottish Gaelic, Scottish English, Irish Gaelic
Hiberno-English, Ulster Scots dialects,
Welsh English, Welsh language,
Cornish language, Manx Gaelic, British sign language,
Irish Sign Language

White British is an ethnicity classification used in the 2011 United Kingdom Census. As a result of the 2011 census the estimated White British population was 51,745,135 (81.9% of the UK total population)[1][2][3] (NB. This total remains an estimated figure as it is incorporates 2001 census data for Scotland, as the ethnicity data for Scotland for 2011 is still awaiting publication).

Contents

Census classifications [edit]

For 2011, in England and Wales, the White British self-classification option included the subcategories of: White English, White Welsh, White Scottish and White Northern Irish.[5][6] The 2011 questionnaire for Scotland the White British category was broken down into two different categories: White Scottish and Other White British.[7] For Northern Ireland in 2011 the White British classification did not appear, the only choice being White.[8]

The 2011 census for England, Wales and Scotland also included additional White ethnic classifications of White Irish, Gypsy or Irish Traveller and White Other. As indicated above none of these classifications were options in the Northern Ireland questionnaire, although Irish Traveller appears as a separate ethnic category. The term 'British' in White British means being of British ancestry rather than being a British citizen. Non-British and non-Irish respondents in Great Britain could choose White Other.[5][7][8]

Demographics [edit]

Population and distribution [edit]

The White British census classification have their ages more evenly distributed in their population pyramid and have the highest percent female population of all ethnic-based classifications. About 64% percent of the White British classification are between the ages of 16 and 64 while about 19% percent are under 16 and 19% percent 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 41% percent male and 59% percent female, making them have the lowest percent male population among all census classifications defined as "ethnic" in the census.[9]

According to the 2011 Census results, White British people make up the largest percentage of the population in rural areas such as, Allerdale (97.6%) in Cumbria, and Staffordshire Moorlands (97.5%). Cities across the UK regions with high White British populations include, Swansea (91.5%), Plymouth (92.2%), Darlington (93.7%), Belfast (96.4% - NI classification "white"),[1] Norwich (84.7%) and Lichfield (94.6%). Within London Havering (83.3%) has the highest White British percentage, followed by Bromley (77.4%), Bexley (77.3%) and Richmond upon Thames (71.4%).[2]

As at 2011 London contains by far the lowest percentage of White British people of all the UK regions, where they make up less than half of the population in 24 of the 32 boroughs, including the Newham(16.7%), Brent (18.0%), Ealing (30.4%), Harrow (30.9%), Tower Hamlets (31.2%), Westminster (35.2%) and Hackney (36.2%). The city with the lowest White British population as a percentage is Leicester (45.1%). The Unitary Authority with the lowest White British percentage is Slough (34.5%), followed by Luton (44.6%).[2]


UK Region White British population Percentage of local population Year
Northern Ireland 1,778,449 98.2% 2011[1]
Scotland 4,832,800 95.5% 2001[3]
Wales 2,855,450 93.2% 2011[2]
North East England 2,431,423 93.6% 2011[2]
South West England 4,855,676 91.8% 2011[2]
North West England 6,141,069 87.1% 2011[2]
Yorkshire and The Humber 4,531,137 85.8% 2011[2]
East of England 4,986,170 85.3% 2011[2]
East Midlands 3,871,146 85.4% 2011[2]
South East England 7,358,998 85.2% 2011[2]
West Midlands 4,434,333 79.2% 2011[2]
Greater London 3,669,284 44.9% 2011[2]

Employment [edit]

Based on data published in 2004 derived from the 2001 UK Census, the unemployment rates for White British, at about 4%, were below those for other ethnic groups, including the Indian ethnic group at 7%, and other groups which were around 15%. The proportion of White British who were self-employed - around 13% - was similar to the level in the Indian (14%) ethnic group, significantly lower than the proportions in the Pakistani (22%) and Chinese (18%) groups, and higher than in the Black Caribbean and Bangladeshi ethnic groups (both 10%), and Black Africans (6%). A higher proportion of White British (12%) worked in professional occupations, compared with the Black Caribbean group (8%); the proportion was comparable to that in the Black African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups (both 10%), but lower than in the Indian and Chinese ethnic groups (about 18%).[10]

Religion [edit]

Statistically, White British are more likely to be Christian than other ethnic-based classifications. White British are 75% Christian, mostly Anglican (or Presbyterian in Scotland), while the percentage for all "ethnic" groups is a little less than 75%. About 17% of the White British population reported having "no religion". The 17% percent figure for "no religion" is about the same for all groups. About 7% percent of the White British declined to state any religion.[11]

Households [edit]

The average size of 2.3 people in White British households is tied for the second smallest of all ethnic groups.[12]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency – Ethnic Group: KS201NI (administrative geographies) Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 2011 Census: Ethnic group, unitary authorities in Wales, Accessed 27 December 2012
  3. ^ a b c d Key Census 2001 Statistics for Settlements and Localities Scotland, Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  4. ^ 2011 Census: Ethnic group, unitary authorities in Wales, Accessed 27 December 2012
  5. ^ a b 2011-2001 Census questionnaire comparability, Office for National Statistics, Accessed 28 December 2012
  6. ^ Census 2011 Wales Household Questionnaire 2011, Accessed 28 December 2012
  7. ^ a b Scotland's Census 2011 Household Questionnaire 2011, Accessed 28 December 2012
  8. ^ a b NISRA 2011 census Questionnaire, Accessed 28 December 2012
  9. ^ National Statistics. "Age/Sex Distribution". 2001. 18 August 2001.<http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=456>.
  10. ^ Focus on Ethnicity and Religion March 2005 National Statistics, Accessed 30 March 2012
  11. ^ National Statistics. "Religion". 2001. 18 August 2006. <http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=460>.
  12. ^ National Statistics. "Households". 2001. 18 August 2006. <http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=458>.