2011 Census form for England and Wales

Release date:
6 April 2016

You asked

Please provide:

(a) The words used in the "other" category in the What is your ethnic group section of the 2011 census form returns and the number of uses for each of the word used in this "other" category in such returns - please breakdown result to show England and Wales separately.

(b) Why are the ethnic groups listed as English, Welsh, Scottish etc under the category not separated out in to different tick boxes?

(c) How does the ONS calculate the number of people within each of such ethnic groups English, Welsh etc?

(d) What is the number of people in each of the following ethnic groups on the 2011 census form: English, Welsh, British, Scottish, Northern Irish? Please breakdown result to show England and Wales separately.

We said

Thank you for your email requesting data pertaining to ethnic group categories on the 2011 Census form.

(a) A full list of ethnic group classifications is available from the page: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011census/2011censusdata/2011censususerguide/variablesandclassifications

Part 6 - Classifications (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-user-guide/information-by-variable/part-6--full-classifications.pdf) - contains the full classifications for some of the larger variables, for example ethnic group.

When information is processed from the 2011 Census questionnaires, write-in responses are given unique codes. However, it is not possible for the standard tables to show the full breakdown. Therefore written-in responses are aggregated into higher categories in certain tables. This file gives those groupings and breakdowns for tables including QS211EW (Ethnic group (detailed)) and CT0010 (Ethnic group (write-in responses)) whose links are shown below: Annex A: Write-in response groupings (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/2011/census-data/2011-census-user-guide/information-by-variable/write-in-response-groupings.xls)

QS211EW - Ethnic group (detailed) - is available from the Nomis website: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs211ew The table shows a detailed breakdown of the "any other" categories you requested. You can use the "Query data" option to select various geographies (e.g. separate figures for England and Wales).

CT0010 - Ethnic group (write-in responses) - is available from the Nomis website: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ct0010 The commissioned table shows a breakdown of written-in responses to the "What is your ethnic group?" question. You can use the "Query data" option to select various geographies (e.g. separate figures for England and Wales).

Please note that, in the above tables, in order to protect against disclosure of personal information, some records have been swapped between different geographic areas. Some counts will be affected, particularly small counts at the lowest geographies.

(b) A question on ethnic group was first included in a census in England and Wales in 1991. This information has enabled national and local government and health authorities to allocate resources, and to allow for the special needs of ethnic minority groups when planning programmes. In particular, response to this question has provided baseline figures against which the Government can monitor possible racial disadvantage within minority groups. The classification of ethnic groups used in the census is now widely regarded as a standard for intercensal surveys and ethnic monitoring.

The inclusion of an ethnic group question in the 2011 Census met a wide range of needs for ethnicity data:

  • to enable organisations to meet their statutory obligations under race relation and equal opportunities legislation (where other sources of data do not adequately provide accurate data for small, geographically dispersed ethnic minority populations)

  • in the formulae for grant allocation by central and local government

  • to inform policy development and monitoring

  • to provide public bodies with a better understanding of the communities they serve, and hence inform service provision

While ethnicity is a dynamic characteristic, data about it must be comparable from one census to another, so the 2011 Census question had to retain a degree of stability with previous censuses. Consequently, in order to make provision for those people, regardless of their broad ethnic group, to indicate their identity as being British, English or Welsh (or Scottish or Northern Irish, etc) a new, additional and separate component to the cultural characteristics question asked about national identity in the 2011 Census. Responses to both the national identity and ethnic group questions were self-determined.

The form and content of the ethnicity and national identity questions resulted from extensive testing and consultation with users and other key stakeholders. In particular there was a formal consultation exercise on census topics in 2005, and a further consultation from November 2006 to March 2007 focused on ethnicity, identity, language and religion, including a round of public meetings. This consultation aimed to determine not only requirements for information but also changing public attitudes towards the acceptability of the question among particular ethnic minority communities.

More information about the questions relating to ethnicity and national identity is available from:

(c) As described in answer (b) above, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the national identity characteristic rather than the ethnic group characteristic to provide separate figures for British, English, Welsh (etc.) identity in the 2011 Census.

(d) Use the Nomis table finder (http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/data_finder) and select the keyword: National Identity, to gain access to a whole range of tables with the national identity characteristic. Similarly, select the keyword: Ethnic Group, to gain access to a whole range of tables with the ethnic group characteristic.

KS202EW - National identity, is available from the Nomis website: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks202ew
The table shows a breakdown of the population by the national identity characteristic. You can use the "Query data" option to select various geographies (e.g. separate figures for England and Wales).

DC2202EW - National identity by ethnic group, is available from the Nomis website: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/dc2202ew The table shows a breakdown of the population by both the national identity and the ethnic group characteristics. You can use the "Query data" option to select various geographies (e.g. separate figures for England and Wales).

Please note that, in the above tables, in order to protect against disclosure of personal information, some records have been swapped between different geographic areas. Some counts will be affected, particularly small counts at the lowest geographies.

If you have any further questions may I suggest that, rather than using the Freedom of Information route, you contact Census Customer Services directly. They will be glad to deal with any census related queries and the process is much speedier.

Web: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/censuscustomerservices Email: census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk Tel: +44 (0)1329 444972 Census Customer Services: ONS, Titchfield, Fareham, Hants, PO15 5RR

Should you wish to consider commissioning a bespoke table, Census Customer Services will be able to advise you on the procedure and the associated costs: https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/2001censusandearlier/dataandproducts/dataandproductcatalogue/commissionedoutput

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