Ethnic Origin

1.31 The Census provides the most reliable and detailed information about ethnicity.  With just over 113,000 people (less than 2% of the total), the South West had one of the smallest ethnic minority population of all the English regions in 2001, both overall and as a percentage of the total. The Census figures have been updated by the Office for National Statistics for 2003, 2004 and 2005 on an experimental basis.

Table 1.1 Population by Ethnic Group 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Number and Percentages
  2001 Census 2003 Experimental Statistics 2004 Experimental Statistics 2005 Experimental Statistics
South West England South West England South West England South West England
Number % % Number % % Number % % Number % %
White 4,815,316 97.71 90.92 4,846,800 96.96 89.92 4,863,800 96.54 89.5 4,888,600 96.1 89.11
Mixed 37,351 0.76 1.31 43,500 0.87 1.44 47,100 0.93 1.5 51,000 1.00 1.57
Indian 16,394 0.33 2.09 23,800 0.48 2.24 28,400 0.56 2.33 33,300 0.65 2.41
Pakistani 6,729 0.14 1.14 10,500 0.21 1.54 12,600 0.25 1.6 14,400 0.28 1.64
Bangladeshi 4,816 0.1 0.56 6,200 0.12 0.61 6,900 0.14 0.63 7,600 0.15 0.64
Other Asian 4,861 0.1 0.48 7,300 0.15 0.56 8,600 0.17 0.59 10,000 0.20 0.61
Caribbean 12,405 0.25 1.14 15,100 0.3 1.17 16,400 0.33 1.17 17,500 0.34 1.17
African 6,171 0.13 0.97 11,700 0.23 1.17 15,000 0.3 1.25 18,200 0.36 1.30
Other black 2,344 0.05 0.19 3,000 0.06 0.21 3,300 0.07 0.21 3,600 0.07 0.22
Chinese 12,722 0.26 0.45 17,800 0.36 0.58 20,600 0.41 0.62 24,500 0.48 0.69
Other ethnic group 9,305 0.19 0.44 13,300 0.27 0.56 15,500 0.31 0.6 18,200 0.36 0.64
All minority ethnic group 113,118 2.3 9 152,200 3.04 10.08 174,400 3.46 10.5 198,000 3.90 10.89
Total 4,928,434 100 100 4,999,000 100 100 5,038,200 100 100 5,086,700 100 100
 Source: Census 2001 and ONS Experimental Statistics on Ethnicity

    1.32 Residents of mixed race account for the single biggest minority ethnic group, followed by people of Indian, Chinese and Caribbean origin. All ethnic minority groups in the South West account for a smaller percentage share of the total population than England as a whole, with residents of Pakistani, African, Indian and Bangladeshi origin particularly under-represented. The experimental statistics on ethnicity show the proportion of minorities rising in the South West at a faster rate than for England as a whole, reflecting the patterns of population growth and migration described above.

    1.33 All local authority areas in the South West have a lower percentage of residents from a minority ethnic group than England as a whole. The highest percentages are in City of Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon; 42% of the region’s ethnic minority population lived in these three areas.

    Figure 1.17 Proportion Black Minority Ethnic Groups at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion Black Minority Ethnic Groups at SOA Level, percentages

    1.34 Whilst is it is generally unwise to ignore the differences within BME communities, there are elements of common experience and the map shows all BME groups together 1 . The individual ethnic groups are represented in the following maps.

    Figure 1.18 Proportion of White Irish Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of White Irish Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.19 Proportion of White Other Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of White Other Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.20 Proportion of Mixed: White and Black Caribbean Population, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Mixed: White and Black Caribbean Population, percentages
    Figure 1.21 Proportion of Mixed: White Black African Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Mixed: White Black African Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.22 Proportion of Mixed: White Asian Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Mixed: White Asian Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.23 Proportion of Other Mixed Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Other Mixed Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.24 Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Indian Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Indian Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.25 Proportion Asian or Asian British: Pakistani Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion Asian or Asian British: Pakistani Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.26 Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.27 Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Other Asian Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Asian or Asian British: Other Asian Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.28 Proportion Black or Black British: Caribbean Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion Black or Black British: Caribbean Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.29 Proportion of Black or Black British: African Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Black or Black British: African Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.30 Proportion of Black or Black British: Other Black Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Black or Black British: Other Black Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.31 Proportion of Chinese Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion of Chinese Population at SOA Level, percentages
    Figure 1.32 Proportion Other Ethnic Group Population at SOA Level, percentages (Popup full image) 
    Proportion Other Ethnic Group Population at SOA Level, percentages