/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000062/

The population reached nearly 91,000

Between the last two censuses (held in 2011 and 2021), the population of Hastings increased by just 0.8%, from around 90,300 in 2011 to around 91,000 in 2021.

The population here increased by a smaller percentage than the overall population of the South East (7.5%), and by a smaller percentage than the overall population of England (up 6.6% since the 2011 Census).

In 2021, Hastings was home to around 21.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land, compared with 21.6 in 2011. This area was among the top 20% most densely populated English local authority areas at the last census.

This article generally uses percentages to enable comparisons over time and between areas. The percentage point change is also used to show the difference between the 2011 and 2021 percentages.

Population growth was lower in Hastings than across the South East

Percentage population change, Hastings and surrounding areas, 2011 Census to Census 2021
England ▲6.6% South East ▲7.5% Hastings ▲0.8%
-2-0.50.5+2+8+16%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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An older Hastings

Between the last two censuses, the average (median) age of Hastings increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years of age.

This area had a higher average (median) age than the South East as a whole in 2021 (41 years) and a higher average (median) age than England (40 years).

The median age is the age of the person in the middle of the group, meaning that one half of the group is younger than that person and the other half is older.

The number of people aged 65 to 74 years rose by just under 2,400 (an increase of 30.0%), while the number of residents between 35 and 49 years fell by around 2,200 (11.3% decrease).

The share of residents aged between 65 and 74 years increased by 2.5 percentage points between 2011 and 2021

Percentage of usual residents by age group,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
85 years and over 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.7 2.2 2.4 2.7%
2.5%
75 to 84 years 5.6 6.4 5.8 6.5 5.5 6.1 5.6%
6.4%
65 to 74 years 8.8 11.4 8.8 10.2 8.6 9.8 8.8%
11.4%
50 to 64 years 19.5 21.7 18.5 19.8 18.1 19.4 19.5%
21.7%
35 to 49 years 21.3 18.8 21.7 19.7 21.3 19.4 21.3%
18.8%
25 to 34 years 12.0 12.5 12.4 12.4 13.5 13.6 12.0%
12.5%
20 to 24 years 6.4 4.9 6.2 5.6 6.8 6.0 6.4%
4.9%
16 to 19 years 5.2 4.0 5.0 4.5 5.1 4.6 5.2%
4.0%
10 to 15 years 7.1 6.9 7.2 7.3 7.0 7.2 7.1%
6.9%
5 to 9 years 5.3 5.7 5.7 6.0 5.6 5.9 5.3%
5.7%
4 years and under 6.2 5.3 6.2 5.3 6.3 5.4 6.2%
5.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Rise in home ownership

Hastings saw England's second-largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of households that owned their home (from 55.2% in 2011 to 56.6% in 2021).

England's largest increase in the percentage of households that owned their home occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 41.7% to 44.5%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Despite the increase, Hastings was in the lowest 20% of English local authority areas for the share of households that owned their home in 2021.

The rate of home ownership in Hastings increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of households by housing tenure,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Owns outright or with a mortgage or loan 55.2 56.6 67.6 65.7 63.3 61.3 55.2%
56.6%
Shared ownership 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.4 0.8 1.0 0.5%
0.5%
Social rented 14.5 14.3 13.7 13.6 17.7 17.1 14.5%
14.3%
Private rented 28.8 28.6 16.3 19.2 16.8 20.5 28.8%
28.6%
Lives rent free 1.0 0.0 1.3 0.1 1.3 0.1 1.0%
0.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Fall in unemployment

Hastings saw the South East's joint second-largest percentage-point fall (alongside Medway) in the proportion of people aged 16 years and over (excluding full-time students) who were unemployed (from 4.9% in 2011 to 3.4% in 2021).

Across the region, only Thanet saw a greater fall in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over (excluding full-time students) who were unemployed (from 4.9% to 3.2%).

Despite the decrease, Hastings was in the highest 15% of English local authority areas for the share of people aged 16 years and over (excluding full-time students) who were unemployed in 2021.

Census 2021 took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a period of rapid and unparalleled change; the national lockdown, associated guidance and furlough measures will have affected the labour market and our ability to measure it.

The percentage of people aged 16 years and over who were unemployed (excluding full-time students) in Hastings decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over by economic activity status,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment 53.8 53.6 59.0 57.6 56.5 55.7 53.8%
53.6%
Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed 4.9 3.4 3.1 2.5 4.0 2.9 4.9%
3.4%
Economically active and a full-time student: In employment 1.9 1.1 2.4 1.6 2.4 1.7 1.9%
1.1%
Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6%
0.4%
Economically inactive: Retired 22.2 22.8 21.8 22.5 21.2 21.5 22.2%
22.8%
Economically inactive: Student 3.7 3.8 4.7 5.1 5.3 5.6 3.7%
3.8%
Economically inactive: Looking after home or family 4.3 5.0 4.0 4.4 4.0 4.8 4.3%
5.0%
Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled 6.2 6.4 2.7 3.1 3.8 4.1 6.2%
6.4%
Economically inactive: Other 2.4 3.4 1.8 2.7 2.2 3.1 2.4%
3.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

| |

More adults worked short hours

In 2021, 11.6% of Hastings residents aged 16 years and over and in employment said they worked 15 hours or less per week. This figure increased from 9.8% in 2011.

The increase in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over and in employment who said they usually worked 15 hours or less per week was greater in Hastings (1.8 percentage points) than across the South East (0.5 percentage points, from 10.4% to 11.0%). Across England, the percentage increased by 0.6 percentage points, from 9.7% to 10.3%.

Working hours may have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The percentage of adults who worked 15 hours or less in Hastings increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over and in employment by the number of hours worked per week,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
15 hours or less worked 9.8 11.6 10.4 11.0 9.7 10.3 9.8%
11.6%
16 to 30 hours worked 22.7 23.2 18.4 18.6 19.5 19.5 22.7%
23.2%
31 to 48 hours worked 56.0 55.7 56.6 58.6 57.5 59.1 56.0%
55.7%
49 or more hours worked 11.6 9.6 14.6 11.9 13.3 11.1 11.6%
9.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Change in unpaid care

Hastings saw the South East's joint largest percentage-point rise (alongside Eastbourne and Dover) in the proportion of people (aged five years and over) providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care (from 1.6% in 2011 to 2.3% in 2021). These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

Rother (from 1.4% to 2.0%), Gosport (from 1.3% to 1.9%) and Swale (from 1.5% to 2.1%) saw the South East's next largest increases in the proportion of people (aged five years and over) providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people (aged five years and over) providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care, as the regional proportion grew from 1.2% to 1.6%.

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and managed their provision of unpaid care, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of those providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Hastings increased by 0.7 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents (aged five years and over) by hours per week of unpaid care provision,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Does not provide weekly unpaid care 88.7 90.1 89.3 91.6 88.7 91.1 88.7%
90.1%
Up to 19 hours of unpaid care 6.8 4.4 7.3 4.5 7.2 4.4 6.8%
4.4%
20 to 49 hours of unpaid care 1.6 2.3 1.2 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.6%
2.3%
50 or more hours of unpaid care 2.9 3.2 2.2 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.9%
3.2%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Family in Hastings

Hastings saw the South East's third-largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of households including a couple with only non-dependent children (from 4.3% in 2011 to 5.3% in 2021).

Across the region, only Rushmoor (from 6.2% to 7.4%) and Slough (from 6.0% to 7.1%) saw a greater increase in the percentage of households including a couple with only non-dependent children.

Despite the increase, Hastings was in the lowest 15% of English local authority areas for the share of households including a couple with only non-dependent children in 2021.

The percentage of households including a couple with only non-dependent children in Hastings increased by 1.0 percentage points

Percentage of households by household composition,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
One-person household: Aged 66 years and over (Aged 65 years and over in 2011) 13.1 14.9 12.7 13.2 12.4 12.8 13.1%
14.9%
One-person household: Other 25.2 20.8 16.1 15.2 17.9 17.3 25.2%
20.8%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: No children 16.6 16.1 18.7 17.4 17.6 16.8 16.6%
16.1%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: With dependent children 15.9 15.5 21.0 20.6 19.3 18.9 15.9%
15.5%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: All children non-dependent 4.3 5.3 6.0 6.5 6.1 6.3 4.3%
5.3%
Single-family household: Lone-parent household 11.7 12.0 9.2 9.7 10.6 11.1 11.7%
12.0%
Other household types 13.2 15.3 16.3 17.4 16.1 16.9 13.2%
15.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Health in Hastings

In 2021, 42.5% of Hastings residents described their health as "very good", increasing from 39.2% in 2011. Those describing their health as "good" fell from 36.6% to 35.1%. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

The proportion of Hastings residents describing their health as "very bad" was 1.7% (similar to 2011), while those describing their health as "bad" fell from 5.9% to 5.4%.

These data reflect people’s own opinions in describing their overall health on a five point scale, from very good to very bad.

Census 2021 was conducted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and rated their health, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

The percentage of people in very good health in Hastings increased by 3.3 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents by self-reported health,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Very good health 39.2 42.5 47.5 49.6 45.0 47.5 39.2%
42.5%
Good health 36.6 35.1 35.3 34.4 34.8 34.2 36.6%
35.1%
Fair health 16.5 15.3 12.7 11.8 14.2 13.0 16.5%
15.3%
Bad health 5.9 5.4 3.6 3.3 4.6 4.1 5.9%
5.4%
Very bad health 1.8 1.7 1.0 0.9 1.4 1.2 1.8%
1.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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National identity in Hastings

In 2021, 7.1% of Hastings residents did not identify with any national identity associated with the UK. This figure increased from 5.0% in 2011.

In 2021, just under 1 in 50 people (1.7%) identified with a UK and non-UK national identity, compared with 0.7% in 2011. The percentage of residents in Hastings that identified as "British only" increased from 16.2% to 57.9%.

The increase in the percentage of people who did not identify with any national identity associated with the UK was greater in Hastings (2.1 percentage points) than across the South East (1.6 percentage points, from 7.1% to 8.7%). Across England, the percentage increased by 1.7 percentage points, from 8.2% to 10.0%.

In Census 2021, “British” was moved to the top response option and this may have influenced how people described their national identity. For further information, please see our quality report.

The percentage of people who did not identify with at least one UK national identity in Hastings increased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents by national identity,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
British only identity 16.2 57.9 17.9 56.7 19.2 56.8 16.2%
57.9%
Welsh only identity 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.4%
0.2%
Welsh and British only identity 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1%
0.1%
English only identity 67.4 17.0 61.8 16.2 60.4 15.3 67.4%
17.0%
English and British only identity 9.0 15.0 9.9 14.6 9.1 14.3 9.0%
15.0%
Any other combination of only UK identities 1.2 0.9 1.6 1.1 1.6 1.1 1.2%
0.9%
Non-UK identity only 5.0 7.1 7.1 8.7 8.2 10.0 5.0%
7.1%
UK identity and non-UK identity 0.7 1.7 0.9 2.2 0.9 2.0 0.7%
1.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Religion in Hastings

In 2021, 51.4% of Hastings residents reported having "No religion", making it the most common response in this local authority area (up from 36.6% in 2011). Because the census question about religious affiliation is voluntary and has varying response rates, caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

Across the South East, the percentage of residents who described themselves as having "No religion" increased from 27.7% to 40.2%, while across England the percentage increased from 24.8% to 36.7%.

In 2021, 37.8% of people in Hastings described themselves as Christian (down from 51.9%), while 6.6% did not state their religion (down from 8.3% the decade before).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as a changing age structure or residents relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses. Religious affiliation is the religion with which someone connects or identifies, rather than their beliefs or religious practice.

Read the bulletin Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021.

In 2021, 51.4% of usual residents in Hastings reported having "No religion"

Percentage of usual residents by religion,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
No religion 36.6 51.4 27.7 40.2 24.8 36.7 36.6%
51.4%
Christian 51.9 37.8 59.8 46.5 59.4 46.3 51.9%
37.8%
Buddhist 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5%
0.6%
Hindu 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.7 1.5 1.8 0.5%
0.5%
Jewish 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.2%
0.2%
Muslim 1.3 1.9 2.3 3.3 5.0 6.7 1.3%
1.9%
Sikh 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.0%
0.0%
Other 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.7%
0.9%
Not answered 8.3 6.6 7.4 6.1 7.1 6.0 8.3%
6.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Hastings residents' country of birth

In the latest census, around 79,000 Hastings residents said they were born in England. This represented 86.8% of the local population. The figure has decreased from just over 80,400 in 2011, which at the time represented 89.1% of Hastings' population.

Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011 (other than Poland, Croatia, Lithuania and Romania) were the next most represented, with just over 1,100 Hastings residents reporting one of these countries as their country of birth (1.3%). This figure was up from just under 750 in 2011, which at the time represented 0.8% of the population of Hastings.

The number of Hastings residents born in Scotland fell from just over 1,000 in 2011 (1.2% of the local population) to around 850 in 2021 (0.9%).

In 2021, 86.8% of Hastings residents reported their country of birth as England

Percentage of usual residents by country of birth,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
England 89.1 86.8 84.8 81.7 83.5 80.3 89.1%
86.8%
Countries that joined the EU between April 2001 and March 2011 (other than Poland, Croatia, Lithuania and Romania) 0.8 1.3 0.7 1.0 0.7 1.0 0.8%
1.3%
Scotland 1.2 0.9 1.6 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.2%
0.9%
Romania 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.8 0.1 0.9 0.1%
0.9%
Poland 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 0.6%
0.7%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021
Notes:
  1. This chart shows the five most common countries of birth in Hastings in 2021
  2. Please see the data dictionary for further detail on country of birth groupings

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More adults never married or in a civil partnership

Of Hastings residents aged 16 years and over, 39.6% said they had never been married or in a civil partnership in 2021, up from 36.5% in 2011.

In 2021, just under 4 in 10 people (38.4%) said they were married or in a registered civil partnership, compared with 39.6% in 2011. The percentage of adults in Hastings that had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership decreased from 12.8% to 12.7%.

The increase in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over who had never been married or in a civil partnership in Hastings (3.1 percentage points) was similar to the increase across the South East (2.9 percentage points, from 31.9% to 34.8%). Across England, the percentage increased by 3.3 percentage points, from 34.6% to 37.9%.

These figures include same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships in 2021, neither of which were legally recognised in England and Wales in 2011. Same-sex marriages have been legally recognised in England and Wales since 2014 and opposite-sex civil partnerships have been recognised since 2019.

The percentage of adults who had never married or registered a civil partnership in Hastings increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over by legal partnership status,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Never married and never registered a civil partnership 36.5 39.6 31.9 34.8 34.6 37.9 36.5%
39.6%
Married or in a registered civil partnership 39.6 38.4 49.6 47.6 46.8 44.7 39.6%
38.4%
Separated, but still legally married or still legally in a civil partnership 3.7 2.9 2.5 2.1 2.7 2.2 3.7%
2.9%
Divorced or civil partnership dissolved 12.8 12.7 9.1 9.3 9.0 9.1 12.8%
12.7%
Widowed or surviving civil partnership partner 7.4 6.3 6.9 6.1 6.9 6.1 7.4%
6.3%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Disability in Hastings

In 2021, 9.8% of Hastings residents were identified as being disabled and limited a lot. This figure decreased from 11.0% in 2011. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

In 2021, just over one in eight people (12.6%) were identified as being disabled and limited a little, compared with 12.0% in 2011. The proportion of Hastings residents who were not disabled increased from 77.0% to 77.6%.

This area had the region’s highest proportion of residents who were identified as being disabled and limited a lot. Thanet had the South East's next highest proportion of residents who were identified as being disabled and limited a lot (9.7%), while Hart had the region's lowest proportion (4.2%).

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived their health status and activity limitations, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of people who were identified as being disabled and limited a lot in Hastings decreased by 1.2 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents by long-term health condition or illness,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Disabled and limited a lot 11.0 9.8 7.2 6.2 9.1 7.5 11.0%
9.8%
Disabled and limited a little 12.0 12.6 9.4 9.9 10.2 10.2 12.0%
12.6%
Not disabled 77.0 77.6 83.4 83.9 80.7 82.3 77.0%
77.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Ethnic groups in Hastings

In 2021, 1.5% of Hastings residents identified their ethnic group within the "Other" category ("Arab" or "Any other ethnic group"), up from 0.5% in 2011. The 1.0 percentage-point change was the largest increase among high-level ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the "Other ethnic groups" ("Arab" or "Any other ethnic group") increased from 0.6% to 1.5%, while across England the percentage increased from 1.0% to 2.2%.

In 2021, 91.4% of people in Hastings identified their ethnic group within the "White" category (compared with 93.8% in 2011), while 2.9% identified their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category (compared with 2.2% the previous decade).

The percentage of people who identified their ethnic group within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category increased from 2.4% in 2011 to 2.8% in 2021.

There are many factors that may be contributing to the changing ethnic composition of England and Wales, such as differing patterns of ageing, fertility, mortality, and migration. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses.

Read the bulletin Ethnic group, England and Wales: Census 2021.

In 2021, 1.5% of usual residents in Hastings identified their ethnic group within the "Other" category ("Arab" or "Any other ethnic group")

Percentage of usual residents by ethnic group,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Hastings_% 2021_Hastings_% 2011_South East_% 2021_South East_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Hastings Percentage in undefined
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh 2.4 2.8 5.2 7.0 7.8 9.6 2.4%
2.8%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African 1.2 1.4 1.6 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2%
1.4%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups 2.2 2.9 1.9 2.8 2.3 3.0 2.2%
2.9%
White 93.8 91.4 90.7 86.3 85.4 81.0 93.8%
91.4%
Other ethnic groups 0.5 1.5 0.6 1.5 1.0 2.2 0.5%
1.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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About the data

Census data are adjusted to reflect estimated non-response so that the published results relate to the entire usually resident population as it was on Census Day (21 March 2021).

Those respondents who were on furlough because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were asked to classify themselves as "temporarily away from work" to ensure they remained in the economically active population.

Students are counted as usually resident at their term-time address even if they were not physically present there on Census Day.

The questions relating to disability differed slightly between 2011 and 2021 to ensure that data were more closely aligned with the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010). There was also a change to question wording for unpaid care, for more information read the health, disability and unpaid care quality information.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout the health, disability and unpaid care sections. They allow for fairer comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure. The 2013 European Standard Population is used to standardise proportions.

Percentages and percentage point changes have been individually rounded to one decimal place. This means they may not sum exactly.

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Download the data used in this article

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About these articles

There is an article like this for every local authority district in England and Wales. The articles have been written and semi-automated by our data journalists and are a new publishing format for the Office for National Statistics.

Topics are chosen and ordered automatically based on how relevant they are for each area, however all data are checked before publishing.

We have not included topics that were new for Census 2021 or where there is no comparability with the 2011 Census. Read about how we developed and tested the questions for Census 2021.

These articles were first published on 8 December 2022 covering topics such as demography, country of birth, ethnic groups, religion, national identity and economic activity status. They were updated on 19 January 2023 following the release of more data from Census 2021 and now include housing tenure, general health, disability and unpaid care.

All versions of this article

Related links

Census 2021 topic summaries

Supporting information | Released 2 November 2022

What topic summary data for Census 2021 will be available and how to view them.

Census maps

Interactive tool | Released 8 December 2022

Use our interactive map to find out what people’s lives are like across England and Wales.

How well do you know your area?

Digital Content Article | Released 2 December 2022

Test your knowledge of where you live with our Census quiz.

Contact

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