Policy

Older people
Looking at the ethnic minority population in Great Britain in 1997-99, 7% of the population was aged 65 and over and belonging to a minority ethnic group. Within specific groups:

• 15% of Black-Caribbean people were aged over 65
• 3% of Black-African people were aged over 65
• 10% of Indian people were aged over 65
• 7% of Pakistani people were aged over 65
• 6% of Bangladeshi people were aged over 65
• 9% of Chinese people were aged over 65

(Source: The sizes and characteristics of the minority ethnic populations of Great Britain – latest estimates, PT, 105, op cit, table 3 [Population size, per cent distribution by age and median age by ethnic group, 1997-99, Great Britain])

Ethnicity and Religion

In terms of the minority ethnic population as a whole, the following figures were taken from the 2001 Census Ethnicity and Religion pages:

Ethnicity

The size of the minority ethnic population was 4.6 million in 2001 or 7.9% of the total population of the United Kingdom.

London has the highest proportion of people from minority ethnic groups.

• 2.1% of the population of England is Indian
• 1.4% is Pakistani
• 0.6% is Bangladeshi
• 0.5% is from Other Asian Groups

• 1.1% of the population of England is Black Caribbean
• 1% is Black African
• 0.2% is from Other Black Groups
  
• 0.4% of the population of England is Chinese
• 87% of the population of England is White British
• 1.3% is White Irish
• 2.7% is from Other White Groups

• 0.5% of the population of England is Mixed White & Black Caribbean
• 0.2% is Mixed White & Black African
• 0.4% is Mixed White & Asian
• 0.3% is Other Mixed

• 0.4% is from Other Ethnic Groups

The proportion of minority ethnic groups in England rose from 6% to 9% between 1991 and 2001, partly as a result of the addition of ‘mixed ethnic groups’ in 2001.

There were increases in each of the Asian ethnic groups in England and increases in the proportion of Black Caribbean and Black African people. However, the proportion in the ‘Black Other’ category fell. Some of these people in 2001 may have ticked Mixed White & Black Caribbean or Mixed White & Black African.

The proportion of Chinese people rose from 0.3% in 1991 to 0.4% cent in 2001.

Religion

• 71.7% of people in England state their religion as Christian. 6% follow other religions and of these:

• 3.1% is Muslim
• 1.1% is Hindu
• 0.7% is Sikh
• 0.5% is Jewish
• 0.3% is Buddhist
• 0.3% is of Other Religions

London has the highest proportion of:

• Muslims 8.5%
• Hindus 4.1%
• Jews 2.1%
• Buddhists 0.8%
• and people of other religions (other than Christian) 0.5%

The Census religion question was voluntary, and 4,011,000 people chose not to answer it (7.7%)

Contact us

Lullyn Tavares
Administration & Projects Officer
Telephone:
020 8765 7467
Email: Lullyn Tavares

Claire Ball
Ethnic Minorities Development & Policy Officer
Telephone:
020 8765 7718
Email: Claire Ball