You asked
Please provide the following information:
The details of the current percentage breakdown of the different ethnicities forming the population of the United Kingdom;
Based on the most accurate information and assumptions available to you:
(a) the trends of how the ethnic percentages are changing over the longer term, e.g. over successive 20 year periods;
(b) the approximate date on which those individuals identify themselves as Muslim will form the largest ethnic group; and
(c) the approximate date on which those individuals identify themselves as Muslim will form a majority of the population of the UK.
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request asking for details of the percentage breakdown of different ethnicities forming the population of the United Kingdom.
The most up to date data we hold on ethnicity is from Census 2011 table DC2201EW Ethnic group by religion for England and Wales.
This table was downloaded from the Nomis website. Further tables for England and Wales (including ones from the 1981, 1991 and 2001 censuses) can be downloaded via www.nomisweb.co.uk. These will help you assess trends over the period covered by those censuses.
Our population projections are based on observed trends over recent years but do not include either religion or ethnicity so we are unable to provide answers to your questions 2 b and c.
Although the UK censuses take place on the same day, the last one being 27 March 2011 they are run separately by each National Statistics Office (Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (NISRA), National Records of Scotland (NRS), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for both England and Wales. Detailed census tables can be obtained from each statistical organisation:
NATIONAL RECORDS OF SCOTLAND
Tel: 0131 3144299
Email: statisticscustomerservices@nrscotland.gov.uk
Website: www.nrscotland.gov.uk
NORTHERN IRELAND STATISTICS & RESEARCH AGENCY
Tel: 02890 255156
Email: census.nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk
When accessing any of our files please read the 'notes, terms and conditions' contained within them. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us on pop.info@ons.gov.uk.