Demographics of England

Demographics of England
Population pyramid of England in 2021
Population56,489,800 Increase (2021)
Density434/km2 (1,120/sq mi)
Fertility rate1.61 (2021)
Age structure
0–14 years17.4% (2021)
15–64 years64.1%
65 and over18.6%
Nationality
NationalityEnglish (2021)
Major ethnicDecrease White: 81.0%
Decrease White British: 73.5% (2021)
Decrease White Irish: 0.9%
Increase Other White: 6.6%
Minor ethnic
Increase Asian British: (9.7%)
Increase Black British: (4.2%)
Increase British Mixed: (2.9%)
Increase Other: (2.2%)
Language
SpokenBritish English
Map of population density in England as at the 2011 census
The non-metropolitan counties and unitary authorities of England in 2020 by total population.

The demographics of England have been measured by the decennial national census since 1801, and are marked by centuries of population growth and urbanization. Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources, estimates of the population of England for dates prior to the first census in 1801 vary considerably. The population of England at the 2021 census was about 56,489,800.

Population

The population of England in 2021 was estimated to be 56,489,800. This is the most recent census. In the previous census, in 2011, the population was 53,012,456.

Data for the 2021 census:

Historical population

Population of England over time

Domesday population

Russell (1948) states that the fundamental demographic categories of the Domesday Survey in 1086 were broadly similar to that of the Poll Tax Survey of 1377. These were:

There was a recorded 740 monks, 200 nuns and 4500 secular clergy in 1086. The counties of Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire all had different boundaries to their modern namesakes and had uncharacteristically low populations due to the Harrying of the North.

Estimated Population of Domesday Counties
County Landed group Burghal group Total
Bedfordshire 13,562 420 13,982
Berkshire 22,082 2,558 24,640
Buckinghamshire 18,879 560 19,439
Cambridgeshire 18,098 1,960 20,058
Cornwall 19,033 19,033
Derbyshire 9,982 490 10,472
Devon 60,095 2,562 62,657
Dorset 26,736 3,152 29,888
Essex 53,991 2,082 56,073
Gloucestershire 28,749 5,138 33,877
Hampshire 35,312 7,032 42,344
Herefordshire 18,543 1,991 20,534
Hertfordshire 14,388 1,558 15,946
Huntingdonshire 8,998 1,316 10,314
Kent 40,348 8,238 48,586
Leicestershire 23,320 1,278 24,598
Lincolnshire 83,384 6,957 90,341
Middlesex 7,833 17,850 25,683
Norfolk 87,437 8,001 95,438
Northamptonshire 29,008 1,032 30,040
Nottinghamshire 19,040 1,190 20,230
Oxfordshire 23,706 1,431 25,137
Rutland 2,992 2,992
Shropshire 17,056- 922 17,978
Somerset 46,473 3,811 50,284
Staffordshire 10,874 746 11,620
Suffolk 68,870 4,248 73,118
Surrey 14,728 1,197 15,925
Sussex 35,490 7,133 42,623
Warwickshire 22,631 1,284 23,915
Wiltshire 34,489 6,416 40,905
Worcestershire 15,449 1,550 16,999
Cheshire 4,038 2,142 6,180
Cumberland 5,971 5,971
Durham 3,983 1,000 4,983
Lancashire 7,385 7,385
Northumberland 7,927 7,927
Westmorland 3,098 3,098
Yorkshire 23,827 4,726 28,553
Total 987,805 111,971 1,099,766

Russell (1948) therefore calculates a total English population in 1086 as 1,105,216 including burgesses, landowners and clergy. To this he adds estimates of Wales (100,000), Ireland (400,000) and Scotland (120,000) for a total British Isles population of roughly 1,720,000.

Population 5000–100 BC
YearPop.±%
5000BCbelow 6000—    
3000BC100,000—    
1800BC300,000+200.0%
100BC1,500,000+400.0%
Source:
Population 1086–1700
YearPop.±% p.a.
10861,710,000—    
11903,100,000+0.57%
12203,970,000+0.83%
12504,230,000+0.21%
12794,430,000+0.16%
12904,750,000+0.64%
13154,690,000−0.05%
13254,120,000−1.29%
13484,810,000+0.68%
13512,600,000−18.54%
13772,500,000−0.15%
14002,080,000−0.80%
14302,020,000−0.10%
14501,900,000−0.31%
14902,140,000+0.30%
15222,350,000+0.29%
15412,830,000+0.98%
15603,020,000+0.34%
16004,110,000+0.77%
16505,310,000+0.51%
17005,200,000−0.04%
Source:
Population 1801–2023
YearPop.±%
18018,287,907—    
18119,405,342+13.5%
182111,178,050+18.8%
183112,976,329+16.1%
184114,847,888+14.4%
185116,738,495+12.7%
186118,753,390+12.0%
187121,361,235+13.9%
188124,397,385+14.2%
189127,231,229+11.6%
190130,072,180+10.4%
191133,561,235+11.6%
192135,230,225+5.0%
193137,359,045+6.0%
193938,084,321+1.9%
195141,164,356+8.1%
196143,460,525+5.6%
197146,411,700+6.8%
198146,820,800+0.9%
199147,875,000+2.3%
200149,138,831+2.6%
201153,012,456+7.9%
202156,489,800+6.6%
202357,690,300+2.1%
Source: Year(s) 1801–2011

Vital statistics

This is UK wide information.

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Fertility rates
1929 599,078
1930 604,870
1931 589,751
1932 573,099
1933 540,989
1934 557,686
1935 559,569
1936 567,383
1937 573,382
1938 583,579
1939 581,950
1940 567,710 545,952 21,758 14.1 13.6 0.5
1941(c) 539,205 499,343 39,862 13.9 12.9 1.0
1942 608,373 448,777 159,596 15.6 11.5 4.1
1943 641,064 469,916 171,148 16.2 11.9 4.3
1944 704,748 461,189 243,559 17.7 11.6 6.1
1945 638,422 456,216 182,206 15.9 11.4 4.5
1946 773,153 460,543 312,610 19.2 11.4 7.8
1947 829,863 484,324 345,539 20.5 12.0 8.5
1948 728,131 439,803 288,328 17.9 10.8 7.1
1949 686,181 478,627 207,554 16.8 11.7 5.1
1950 654,321 477,006 177,315 15.5 11.3 4.2
1951(c) 41,164,356 636,259 513,375 122,884 15.5 12.5 3.0
1952 632,347 466,479 165,858 15.3 11.3 4.0
1953 642,844 472,137 170,707 15.5 11.3 4.2
1954 633,395 469,074 164,321 15.2 11.3 3.9
1955 628,935 484,926 144,009 15.0 11.7 3.3
1956 659,420 488,893 170,527 15.7 11.7 4.0
1957 681,736 482,174 199,562 16.1 11.5 4.6
1958 698,255 494,201 204,054 16.4 11.7 4.7
1959 706,239 495,517 210,722 16.5 11.6 4.9
1960 740,858 493,553 247,305 17.1 11.5 5.6
1961(c) 43,460,525 766,358 518,047 248,311 17.6 11.9 5.7
1962 793,354 523,855 269,499 18.0 12.0 6.0
1963 807,017 538,105 268,912 18.2 12.2 6.0
1964 828,470 501,991 326,479 18.5 11.3 7.2
1965 816,433 516,317 300,116 18.1 11.5 6.6
1966 804,957 528,981 275,976 17.7 11.8 5.9
1967 788,458 509,356 279,102 17.2 11.2 6.0
1968 775,065 541,862 233,203 16.9 11.9 5.0
1969 754,456 543,425 211,031 16.4 11.9 4.5
1970 741,999 540,196 201,803 16.0 11.6 4.4
1971(c) 46,411,700 740,099 532,445 207,654 15.9 11.5 4.4
1972 46,572,000 685,485 554,251 131,234 14.7 11.9 2.8
1973 46,686,000 638,356 549,876 88,480 13.7 11.8 1.9
1974 46,682,000 603,153 547,980 55,173 12.9 11.7 1.2
1975 46,674,000 568,900 545,444 23,456 12.2 11.7 0.5
1976 46,659,000 550,383 560,317 −9,934 11.8 12.0 −0.2
1977 46,639,000 536,953 538,652 −1,699 11.5 11.5 −0.0
1978 46,638,000 562,589 547,685 14,904 12.1 11.7 0.4
1979 46,698,000 601,316 554,840 46,476 12.9 11.9 1.0
1980 46,787,000 618,371 544,349 74,022 13.2 11.6 1.6
1981(c) 46,820,800 598,163 541,018 57,145 12.8 11.6 1.2
1982 46,777,000 589,711 544,984 44,727 12.6 11.7 0.9 1.76
1983 46,813,000 593,255 542,509 50,746 12.7 11.6 1.1 1.75
1984 46,912,000 600,573 531,314 69,259 12.8 11.3 1.5 1.75
1985 47,057,000 619,301 553,153 66,148 13.2 11.8 1.4 1.78
1986 47,187,000 623,609 544,545 79,064 13.2 11.5 1.7 1.76
1987 47,300,000 643,330 531,150 112,180 13.6 11.2 2.4 1.80
1988 47,412,000 654,353 535,553 118,800 13.8 11.3 2.5 1.82
1989 47,552,000 649,357 539,804 109,553 13.7 11.4 2.3 1.79
1990 47,699,000 666,920 528,920 138,000 14.0 11.1 3.9 1.83
1991(c) 47,875,000 660,806 533,980 126,826 13.8 11.2 2.6 1.81
1992 47,998,000 651,784 522,660 129,124 13.6 10.9 2.7 1.79
1993 48,102,000 636,473 540,904 95,569 13.2 11.2 2.0 1.76
1994 48,228,000 628,956 516,297 112,659 13.0 10.7 2.3 1.75
1995 48,383,000 613,257 529,038 84,219 12.7 10.9 1.8 1.71
1996 48,519,000 614,184 526,650 87,534 12.7 10.9 1.8 1.73
1997 48,664,000 608,202 521,598 86,604 12.5 10.7 1.8 1.73
1998 48,820,000 602,111 518,089 84,022 12.3 10.6 1.7 1.72
1999 49,032,000 589,468 517,119 72,349 12.0 10.5 1.5 1.69
2000 49,233,000 572,826 503,026 69,800 11.6 10.2 1.4 1.65
2001(c) 49,449,000 563,744 497,878 65,866 11.4 10.1 1.3 1.63
2002 49,679,000 565,709 500,792 64,917 11.4 10.1 1.3 1.64
2003 49,925,000 589,851 504,127 85,724 11.8 10.1 1.7 1.72
2004 50,194,000 607,184 480,717 126,467 12.1 9.6 2.5 1.77
2005 50,606,000 613,028 479,678 133,350 12.1 9.5 2.6 1.77
2006 50,965,000 635,748 470,326 165,422 12.5 9.2 3.3 1.83
2007 51,381,000 655,357 470,721 184,636 12.8 9.2 3.6 1.88
2008 51,815,000 672,809 475,763 197,046 13.0 9.2 3.8 1.92
2009 52,196,000 671,058 459,241 211,817 12.9 8.8 4.1 1.91
2010 52,642,000 687,007 461,017 225,990 13.1 8.8 4.3 1.94
2011(c) 53,107,000 688,120 452,862 235,258 13.0 8.5 4.5 1.93
2012 53,493,000 694,241 466,779 227,462 13.0 8.7 4.3 1.94
2013 53,865,000 664,517 473,552 190,965 12.3 8.8 3.5 1.85
2014 54,316,000 661,496 468,875 192,621 12.2 8.6 3.6 1.83
2015 54,786,000 664,399 495,309 169,090 12.1 9.0 3.1 1.82
2016 55,268,000 663,157 490,454 172,703 12.0 8.9 3.1 1.81
2017 55,619,000 646,794 498,882 147,912 11.6 9.0 2.6 1.76
2018 55,977,000 625,651 505,859 119,792 11.2 9.0 2.2 1.70
2019 56,287,000 610,505 488,952 121,553 10.8 8.7 2.1 1.66
2020 56,550,000 585,195 569,700 15,495 10.3 10.1 0.3 1.59
2021(c) 56,489,800 595,948 549,207 46,741 10.5 9.7 0.8 1.56
2022 57,106,398 577,046 540,333 36,713 10.2 9.5 0.7 1.49
2023 57,910,000 563,561 544,032 19,529 9.8 9.4 0.4 1.44
2024 58,607,200 567,708 531,953 35,755 9.7 9.1 0.6 1.42
2025 58,834,800 558,988 534,020 24,968 9.5 9.1 0.4 1.39

(c) = Census results.

In 2025, 35.5% of live births were to mothers born outside the UK and for 41.1% of live births, one or both parents were born outside of the UK.

Current vital statistics

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January—June 2025 276,063 278,000 –1,937
January—June 2026 274,406 271,908 +2,498
Difference Decrease −1,657 (−0.6%) Positive decrease –6,092 (–2.19%) Increase +4,435
Source:

Population distributions by age band, 20th century

This shows a trend of an ageing population with increasing expectation of life and falling fertility rates.

Age distribution by census year
Age band 1901 1931 1951 1961
0–14 32% 24% 22% 23%
15–64 63% 69% 67% 65%
65 years and over 5% 7% 11% 12%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

Country of birth

Country of birth given by respondents in the corresponding UK censuses were as follows:

Map showing the percentage of the population born outside England according to the 2011 census.
Country of birth 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
United Kingdom 41,951,042 91.3% 42,620,882 93.1% 43,506,411 92.46% 44,594,817 90.75% 45,675,317 86.16% 46,687,505 82.65%
England 40,374,714 87.9% 41,084,399 89.8% 42,003,211 89.3% 42,968,596 87.44% 44,246,592 83.46% 45,388,724 80.35%
Scotland 716,499 1.6% 731,412 1.7% 743,856 1.58% 794,577 1.62% 708,872 1.34% 626,443 1.11%
Wales 632,548 1.4% 573,014 1.3% 545,381 1.16% 609,711 1.24% 506,619 0.96% 478,697 0.85%
Northern Ireland 227,281 0.5% – – 211,133 0.45% 215,124 0.44% 206,735 0.39% 190,541 0.34%
United Kingdom (not otherwise specified) – – 232,057 2,830 0.01% 6,809 0.01% 6,499 0.01% 2,612
Europe (non-UK) 1,217,245 2.7% 1,142,182 2.4% 1,196,524 2.5% 1,450,260 2.95% 2,375,441 4.5% 4,042,538 7.16%
Republic of Ireland Ireland 647,429 1.4% 567,021 1.3% 555,805 1.18% 460,287 0.94% 395,182 0.75% 314,674 0.56%
Channel Islands & Isle of Man – – – – 26,303 0.06% 27,550 0.06% 24,653 0.05%
Total born in all EU Member Countries (excluding Ireland) 569,816 1.2% 340,113 0% 452,092 1% 660,061 1.34% 1,980,259 3.73% 3,236,799 5.73%
EU Member Countries (joined pre-2001)
or EEC Members		 – – 340,113 452,092 1% – – 894,908 1.69% 1,263,707 2.24%
Germany Germany – – – – 193,346 0.41% 233,418 0.48% 262,356 0.49% 252,252 0.45%
Italy Italy – – – – 83,724 0.18% 98,757 0.20% 131,195 0.25% 272,019 0.48%
France France – – – – 49,947 0.11% 87,562 0.18% 127,601 0.24% 152,697 0.27%
Spain Spain – – – – 37,006 0.08% 50,431 0.10% 77,554 0.15% 163,848 0.29%
Other EU Member Countries
(joined post-2001)		 – – – – – – – – 1,085,351 2.04% 1,973,092 3.49%
Poland Poland – – – – 68,049 0.14% 56,679 0.12% 561,098 1.06% 718,251 1.27%
Romania Romania – – – – 3,762 0.01% 7,077 0.01% 78,192 0.15% 530,320 0.94%
Other non-EU Europe – – 235,048 0.5% 115,247 0.2% – – – – 491,065 0.87%
Turkey Turkey – – – – 26,016 0.06% 52,402 0.11% 89,484 0.17% 124,758 0.22%
USSR – – – – 25,235 0.05% 27,250 0.06% – – – –
Africa 148,473 0.3% 278,678 0.6% 456,396 1% 798,218 1.62% 1,290,611 2.43% 1,558,199 2.76%
South Africa South Africa – – – – 21,220 0.05% 129,302 0.26% 186,355 0.35% 211,447 0.37%
Kenya Kenya – – – – 109,610 0.23% 126,119 0.26% 135,966 0.26% 133,416 0.24%
Nigeria Nigeria – – – – 45,873 0.10% 86,370 0.18% 188,690 0.36% 266,877 0.47%
Middle East and Asia 522,263 1.1% 727,838 1.6% 1,108,529 2.4% 1,778,296 3.62% 2,529,137 4.77% 3,241,701 5.74%
India India 301,862 0.7% 378,721 0.9% 395,563 0.84% 450,493 0.92% 682,274 1.29% 906,962 1.61%
Pakistan Pakistan 131,826 0.3% 179,712 0.4% 221,776 0.47% 304,706 0.62% 476,684 0.90% 616,454 1.09%
Bangladesh Bangladesh 46,873 0.1% 101,829 0.22% 150,057 0.31% 206,331 0.39% 266,290 0.47%
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 15,366 – – 38,145 0.08% 66,330 0.13% 125,917 0.24% 141,861 0.25%
Far East 73,209 122,532 0.3% – – 360,604 0.73% – – – –
Hong Kong Hong Kong – – – – 64,496 0.14% 84,770 0.17% 98,724 0.19% 117,714 0.21%
China China – – – – 21,292 0.05% 47,201 0.10% 146,202 0.28% 176,072 0.31%
Americas and Caribbean 292,966 0.6% 291,679 0.6% 481,299 1% – – 663,091 1.25% 790,002 1.40%
United States United States – – – – 128,337 0.27% 141,198 0.29% 173,470 0.33% 198,656 0.35%
Jamaica Jamaica – – – – 141,352 0.30% 145,234 0.30% 159,170 0.30% 141,289 0.25%
Canada Canada – – – – 53,195 0.11% 59,356 0.12% 66,320 0.13% 66,847 0.12%
Antarctica and Oceania – – – – 104,141 0.2% – – 179,200 0.34% 170,023 0.30%
Australia Australia – – – – 66,279 0.14% 96,437 0.20% 113,592 0.21% 109,963 0.19%
New Zealand New Zealand – – – – 37,862 0.08% 53,466 0.11% 57,076 0.11% 47,842 0.08%
Other: Old Commonwealth 119,683 0.3% 133,220 0.3% – – – – – – – –
Other: New Commonwealth 109,971 0.2% 155,389 0.3% 147,602 0.3% – – – – – –
Other Countries (non Europe or UK for 2001–2021) 482,351 1% 421,895 0.9% – – 3,093,754 6.30% 4,961,698 9.36% 5,760,008 10.20%
Total 45,917,667 100% 45,771,763 100% 47,055,204 100% 49,138,831 100.00% 53,012,456 100.00% 56,490,051 100%

Below are the estimates of the largest foreign-born groups in England according to ONS estimates.

Country of birth 2013 2014 2015 2018
India 698,000 748,000 751,000 832,000
Poland Poland 561,000 677,000 713,000 832,000
Pakistan 479,000 499,000 478,000 535,000
Republic of Ireland Ireland 315,000 317,000 318,000 369,000
Germany Germany 263,000 267,000 253,000 309,000
Population pyramid from 2001 to 2020

Age

Population pyramid in 2020

The data below is based on the 2011 census. In 2001, the mean age of England's population was 38.60, and the median age was 37.00. In 2022, the median age was 40.5.

Ages attained
(years)		 Population
Numbers % of total population
Whole
age band		 Per year
of age band
0–4 3,318,449 6.26 1.25
5–9 2,972,632 5.61 1.12
10–14 3,080,929 5.81 1.16
15–19 3,340,265 6.30 1.26
20–24 3,595,321 6.78 1.36
25–29 3,650,881 6.89 1.38
30–34 3,509,221 6.62 1.32
35–39 3,549,116 6.69 1.34
40–44 3,885,934 7.33 1.47
45–49 3,879,815 7.32 1.46
50–54 3,400,095 6.41 1.28
55–59 2,996,992 5.65 1.13
60–64 3,172,277 5.98 1.20
65–69 2,508,154 4.73 0.95
70–74 2,044,129 3.86 0.77
75–79 1,669,345 3.15 0.63
80–84 1,258,773 2.37 0.47
85–89 776,311 1.46 0.29
90+ 403,817 0.76 –

Ethnicity

Ethnic demographics of England from 1981 - 2021
Ethnic makeup of England in single year age groups in 2021
Estimates of selected Commonwealth non-white population in England and Wales, 1951–1968
Ethnic group (reported as 'Area of origin') 1951 1961 1966 Sample Census mid-1968
Estimates based
solely on selected
Commonwealth
immigrant populations		 Total estimated
(including estimates
of those born
in the UK)
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Selected Commonwealth non-White: Total 74,500 0.17% 336,500 0.73% 595,100 1.26% 924,200 1.96% 1,123,000 2.31%
India 30,800 81,400 163,600 223,600 – –
Pakistan 5,000 24,900 67,700 119,700 – –
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 5,800 9,000 12,900 16,100 – –
West Indies 15,300 171,800 267,900 – – – –
Jamaica – – – – – – 273,800 – –
Other Caribbean (inc. British Guiana) – – – – – – 180,300 – –
British West Africa
(Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone)		 5,600 19,800 36,000 50,700 – –
Far East
(Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore)		 12,000 29,600 47,000 60,000 – –
Total population 43,758,000 100% 46,105,000 100% 47,135,500 100% 47,135,500 100% 48,640,000 100%
Ethnicity in England, 1981–2021
Ethnic group Year
1981 estimations 1991 2001 2011 2021
Population % Population % Population%Population% Population %
White: Total – 95.4% 44,144,339 93.8%44,679,36191%45,281,142

85.4%

 45,783,401 81%
White: British – – – –42,747,13687.0%42,279,23679.8% 41,540,791 73.5%
White: Irish – – – –624,1151.3%517,0011.0% 494,251 0.9%
White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy – – – –––54,8950.1% 64,218 0.1%
White: Roma – – – – – – – – 99,138 0.2%
White: Other – – – –1,308,1102.7%2,430,0104.6% 3,585,003 6.3%
Asian or Asian British: Total – 2.65% 1,762,262 3.7%2,468,9705%4,143,403

7.8%

 5,426,392 9.7%
Asian or Asian British: Indian – 1.32% 823,821 1.8%1,028,5462.1%1,395,7022.6% 1,843,248 3.3%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani – 0.7% 449,646 1.0%706,5391.4%1,112,2822.1% 1,570,285 2.8%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi – 0.18% 157,881 0.3%275,3940.6%436,5140.8% 629,567 1.1%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese – 0.22% 141,661 0.3%220,6810.5%379,5020.7% 431,165 0.8%
Asian or Asian British: Asian Other – 0.23% 189,253 0.4%237,8100.5%819,4031.6% 952,127 1.7%
Black or Black British: Total – 1.51% 874,882 1.9%1,132,5082.3%1,846,614

3.5%

 2,381,724 4.2%
Black or Black British: Caribbean – 0.91% 495,682 1.1%561,2461.1%591,0161.1% 619,419 1.1%
Black or Black British: African – 0.3% 206,918 0.4%475,9381.0%977,7411.8% 1,468,474 2.6%
Black or Black British: Other – 0.3% 172,282 0.4%95,3240.2%277,8570.5% 293,831 0.5%
British Mixed: Total – – – –643,3731.3%1,192,879

2.3%

 1,669,378 2.9%
Mixed: White and Caribbean – – – –231,4240.5%415,6160.8% 499,310 0.9%
Mixed: White and African – – – –76,4980.2%161,5500.3% 241,528 0.4%
Mixed: White and Asian – – – –184,0140.4%332,7080.6% 474,190 0.8%
Mixed: Other Mixed – – – –151,4370.3%283,0050.3% 454,350 0.8%
Other: Total – 0.44% 273,721 0.6%214,6190.4%548,418

1.0%

 1,229,153 2.2%
Other: Arab – – – –––220,9850.4% 320,203 0.6%
Other: Any other ethnic group – 0.44% 273,721 0.6%214,6190.4%327,4330.6% 908,950 1.6%
Non-White: Total – 4.6% 2,910,865 6.2% 4,459,470 9% 7,731,314 14.6% 10,706,647 19%
Total – 100% 47,055,204 100%49,138,831100%53,012,456

100%

 56,490,048 100%

Notes for table above

  1. ↑ Figure accounts for all of Europe apart from Ireland
  2. ↑ Used as main option for when no other options are given, for example in 1971. This group contains all for Canada, Australia and New Zealand
  3. ↑ Used as a conglomerate for New Commonwealth for when there are no other options as for example in 1971. This group contains all for remenents of the British Empire after 1945 (if not already indicated).
  4. 1 2 3 Estimates taken solely from selected Commonwealth immigrant populations at the time, excluding estimates of those that were white from these areas. Does not include South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Commonwealth East Africa, other parts of Commonwealth Africa, or non-Commonwealth countries in Africa, the Caribbean, or Asia. Colour and Citizneship p. 97.
  5. ↑ Uniquely, this experimental census saw each household was given a short form to complete, while a sample of the population completed a more detailed long form.
  6. ↑ Estimates are taken from a combined estimate of the immigrant population (excluding estimates of white people), additional non-white people who may not have been enumerated, and estimates of non-white people born in the UK from parents from shown areas. Does not include South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Commonwealth East Africa, other parts of Commonwealth Africa, or non-Commonwealth countries in Africa, the Caribbean, or Asia. Colour and Citizneship p. 99.
  7. ↑ The number of people who answered the census may not equal the estimated population total at the time due to the fact an estimated 1 million people did not answer the form.
  8. ↑ In 2001, listed under the 'Chinese or other ethnic group' heading.

Population distribution

Ethnic composition by ceremonial county

The table shows the ethnic composition in the ceremonial counties of England, based on the 2021 Census data. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and may not sum to exactly 100% due to rounding.

Ethnic composition of ceremonial counties
County White % Mixed % Asian % Black % Other %
Bedfordshire72.03.816.65.61.9
Berkshire73.13.617.13.82.4
Bristol81.14.56.65.91.9
Buckinghamshire77.23.712.45.01.7
Cambridgeshire85.43.07.92.11.7
Cheshire94.81.62.30.60.7
City of London69.45.516.82.75.6
Cornwall96.81.20.70.21.1
Cumbria97.60.81.00.20.3
Derbyshire90.71.95.01.41.0
Devon95.81.51.60.50.6
Dorset94.12.02.30.70.9
Durham95.51.12.30.60.6
East Riding of Yorkshire94.91.31.81.01.0
East Sussex91.03.13.01.21.7
Essex88.82.64.23.41.0
Gloucestershire92.52.33.21.30.8
Greater London53.85.720.713.56.3
Greater Manchester76.43.013.64.72.3
Hampshire90.12.25.01.61.1
Herefordshire96.91.11.20.30.5
Hertfordshire81.83.88.63.72.1
Isle of Wight97.01.21.20.30.3
Kent88.62.44.73.11.3
Lancashire86.61.610.40.70.8
Leicestershire71.62.720.23.42.1
Lincolnshire95.81.21.80.60.6
Merseyside91.72.13.11.51.5
Norfolk94.71.62.10.90.7
North Yorkshire94.21.32.90.70.8
Northamptonshire87.92.64.54.01.0
Northumberland97.70.81.00.20.3
Nottinghamshire85.43.16.33.71.5
Oxfordshire86.93.16.42.11.6
Rutland94.81.81.51.30.5
Shropshire93.61.72.81.30.6
Somerset95.41.61.90.60.5
South Yorkshire87.72.25.82.51.8
Staffordshire91.31.94.81.20.8
Suffolk93.12.32.31.30.9
Surrey85.53.47.71.71.7
Tyne and Wear90.51.55.11.51.4
Warwickshire89.12.36.31.31.0
West Midlands61.44.222.98.13.5
West Sussex91.02.44.31.31.0
West Yorkshire76.62.815.83.11.7
Wiltshire90.32.05.11.60.9
Worcestershire93.81.93.10.70.6

Ethnicity of school pupils

The ethnicity of school pupils in England has been changing since the figures were first published in 1997, White and especially White British students proportionally have been in decline compared to other groups who have risen.

Ethnic group School year
1997 2001 2004 2008 2010 2014 2015/16 2017/18 2019/20 2021/22 2025/26
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
White: Total 5,976,100 89% 5,832,501 86% 5,584,800 82.9% 5,389,340 81.3% 5,243,870 79.9% 5,222,070 76.9% 5,258,582 75.6% 6,027,781 74% 6,048,980 72.8% 6,011,045 71.4% 5,636,598 67.4%
White: British – – – – 5,408,700 80.3% 5,136,610 77.4% 4,963,110 75.6% 4,859,730 71.6% 4,822,332 69.3% 5,454,108 66.9% 5,432,991 65.4% 5,379,748 63.9% 4,992,446 59.7%
White: Irish – – – – 26,100 0.3% 23,620 0.4% 22,190 0.3% 21,640 0.3% 21,127 0.3% 23,110 0.3% 22,443 0.3% 21,495 0.3% 19,625 0.2%
White: Roma – – – – 6,500 0.1% 3,940 0.1% 4,000 0.1% 4,625 0.1% 22,092 0.3% 26,653 0.3% 28,091 0.3% 27,359 0.3% 28,669 0.3%
White: Irish Traveller – – – – 3,900 0.1% 8,770 0.1% 10,990 0.2% 19,030 0.3% 4,975 0.1% 6,008 0.1% 6,578 0.1% 6,903 0.1% 6,501 0.1%
White: Other – – – – 139,600 2.1% 216,410 3.3% 243,580 3.7% 317,055 4.7% 388,056 5.6% 517,902 6.4% 558,877 6.7% 575,540 6.8% 589,357 7.1%
Asian / Asian British: Total – – 425,020 6.3% 476,900 7.1% 536,420 8.1% 575,670 8.8% 676,920 10.0% 755,817 10.8% 937,983 11.4% 985,795 11.9% 1,040,541 12.3% 1,170,540 14.0%
Asian / Asian British: Indian – – 162,498 2.4% 154,400 2.3% 161,150 2.4% 163,780 2.5% 180,995 2.7% 196,351 2.8% 247,280 3.0% 268,318 3.2% 289,179 3.4% 353,670 4.2%
Asian / Asian British: Pakistani – – 171,741 2.5% 180,600 2.7% 214,210 3.2% 231,380 3.5% 273,465 4.0% 293,089 4.2% 360,554 4.4% 372,699 4.5% 380,781 4.5% 390,881 4.7%
Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi – – 66,854 1.0% 72,000 1.1% 87,320 1.3% 95,420 1.5% 110,735 1.6% 117,004 1.7% 143,379 1.8% 148,290 1.8% 151,613 1.8% 150,877 1.8%
Asian / Asian British: Chinese – – 23,927 0.4% 23,700 0.4% 24,780 0.4% 24,690 0.4% 26,725 0.4% 28,915 0.4% 36,196 0.4% 37,732 0.5% 48,396 0.6% 64,930 0.8%
Asian / Asian British: Other – – – – 46,200 0.7% 73,770 1.1% 85,080 1.3% 111,720 1.6% 120,458 1.7% 150,574 1.8% 158,756 1.9% 170,572 2.0% 210,182 2.5%
Black / Black British: Total – – 249,550 3.7% 244,900 3.6% 292,860 4.4% 312,260 4.8% 366,130 5.4% 389,585 5.5% 464,367 5.7% 474,570 5.7% 486,517 5.8% 590,002 7.1%
Black / Black British: Caribbean – – 99,139 1.5% 96,100 1.4% 92,090 1.4% 91,400 1.4% 89,350 1.3% 85,830 1.2% 91,429 1.1% 86,543 1.0% 82,402 1.0% 72,951 0.9%
Black / Black British: African – – 90,934 1.3% 120,900 1.8% 167,990 2.5% 184,790 2.8% 232,065 3.4% 253,781 3.6% 311,012 3.8% 323,874 3.9% 338,614 4.0% 442,053 5.3%
Black / Black British: Other – – 59,477 0.9% 27,900 0.4% 32,770 0.5% 36,070 0.5% 44,710 0.7% 49,974 0.7% 61,926 0.8% 64,153 0.8% 65,501 0.8% 74,998 0.9%
Mixed / British Mixed – – – – 181,500 2.7% 229,650 3.5% 256,980 3.9% 325,140 4.8% 363,730 5.3% 473,305 5.8% 515,061 6.1% 558,184 6.6% 610,250 7.3%
Mixed: White and Caribbean – – – – 64,600 1.0% 77,350 1.2% 82,410 1.3% 95,785 1.4% 101,278 1.5% 123,873 1.5% 128,774 1.5% 133,504 1.6% 134,069 1.6%
Mixed: White and African – – – – 17,000 0.3% 24,110 0.4% 27,860 0.4% 40,245 0.6% 47,472 0.7% 63,518 0.8% 70,403 0.8% 76,262 0.9% 80,139 1.0%
Mixed: White and Asian Other – – – – 36,300 0.5% 47,510 0.7% 54,610 0.8% 73,555 1.1% 84,133 1.2% 111,811 1.4% 123,153 1.5% 134,821 1.6% 147,651 1.8%
Mixed: Other Mixed – – – – 63,500 0.9% 80,680 1.2% 92,110 1.4% 115,560 1.7% 130,847 1.9% 174,103 2.1% 192,731 2.3% 213,597 2.5% 248,391 3.0%
Other: Total – – 169,069 2.5% 57,900 0.9% 78,560 1.2% 86,880 1.3% 106,115 1.6% 119,647 1.7% 154,575 1.9% 168,758 2.0% 185,355 2.2% 220,633 2.6%
Unclassified – – 108,219 1.6% 190,700 2.8% 81,300 1.2% 64,610 1.0% 67,935 1.0% 67,126 1.0% 94,312 1.2% 119,388 1.4% 136,371 1.6% 131,432 1.6%
Non-White: Total 740,600 11%
Total: 6,716,700 100% 6,784,458 100% 6,736,700 100% 6,632,900 100% 6,564,940 100% 6,791,030 100% 6,954,487 100% 8,152,323 100% 8,312,552 100% 8,418,013 100% 8,359,455 100%

Languages

The most common main languages spoken in England according to the 2011 census are shown below.

RankLanguageUsual residents
aged 3+		Proportion
1English46,936,78092.02%
2Polish529,1731.04%
3Punjabi271,5800.53%
4Urdu266,3300.52%
5Bengali (with Sylheti and Chatgaya)216,1960.42%
6Gujarati212,2170.42%
7Arabic152,4900.30%
8French145,0260.28%
9Portuguese131,0020.26%
10Spanish118,5540.23%
11Tamil99,7730.20%
12Turkish98,0830.19%
13Italian90,5470.18%
14Somali84,3870.17%
15Lithuanian84,3270.17%
16German75,1900.15%
17Persian/Farsi75,1790.15%
18Tagalog/Filipino67,5930.13%
19Romanian66,4960.13%
20Russian66,2710.13%
–Welsh8,2480.02%
–Cornish5540.00%
–Other1,209,6142.37%
Total population 51,005,610100.00%

Religion

Religious makeup of England in single year age groups in 2021
Religion in England (2021 census)
  1. Christianity (46.3%)
  2. Not religious (36.7%)
  3. Islam (6.70%)
  4. Not stated (6.00%)
  5. Other religions (2.50%)
  6. Hinduism (1.80%)

Respondents to the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses gave their religions as follows:

Religion 2001 2011 2021
Number % Number % Number %
Christian35,251,24471.74%31,479,87659.38% 26,167,899 46.3%
Muslim1,524,8873.10%2,660,1165.02% 3,801,186 6.7%
Hindu546,9821.11%806,1991.52% 1,032,533 1.8%
Sikh327,3430.67%420,1960.79% 520,092 0.9%
Jewish257,6710.52%261,2820.49% 269,283 0.5%
Buddhist139,0460.28%238,6260.45% 262,433 0.5%
Other religion143,8110.29%227,8250.43% 332,410 0.6%
No religion7,171,33214.59%13,114,23224.74% 20,715,664 36.7%
Religion not stated3,776,5157.69%3,804,1047.18% 3,400,548 6.0%
Total population49,138,831100.00%53,012,456100.00% 56,490,048 100.0%

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  2. ↑ "Population and household estimates, England and Wales: Census 2021". GOV.UK.
  3. ↑ "Create a custom dataset - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  4. 1 2 3 "Population and household estimates, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Population estimates - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  6. ↑ "Custom dataset - Office for National Statistics". Office for National Statistics. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "National Statistics Online – Live births". Statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Russell, Josiah Cox (1948). British Medieval Population. University of New Mexico Press. pp. 53–54.
  9. ↑ Pryor, Francis (2004). Britain BC: Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans. London: Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0007126934.
  10. ↑ S. Broadberry et al (2010), "English Medieval Population: Reconciling Time Series and Cross Sectional Evidence", Table 6 (Retrieved from archive.org, p.22); S. Broadberry et al (2010), "British Economic Growth 1270–1870", Table 18 (Preprint, p. 54); see also S. Broadberry et al (2015), British Economic Growth 1270–1870, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 1107070783, Tables 1.06 and 1.10 (cf. Table 5.06 on pg 205)
    See also B. Campbell (1990), "People and Land in the Middle Ages, 1066–1500", in Robert A. Dodgshon and Robin A. Butlin (eds), Historical Geography of England and Wales, 2nd edition. Elsevier. ISBN 1483288412, pp. 69–122 for discussion of drivers and trends underlying the numbers.
  11. 1 2 Wrigley and Schofield, "The Population History of England, 1541–1871. A reconstruction.", Harvard University Press, 1981, Table 7.8, pgs. 208-9,
  12. ↑ At the time of the first census. Census officials estimated that there had been an increase of 77% in the preceding 100 years. In each county women were in the majority. Notes for 1801 taken from Kent 1800–1899 – A Chronicle of the Nineteenth Century Bob Ogley (Froglets Publications 2003) ISBN 1-872337-51-1. Wrigley and Schofield estimate 8,664,000 based on birth and death records.]
  13. ↑ Vision of Britain a population through time England, Retrieved 9 August 2013
  14. ↑ 2011 Census: Population Estimates for the United Kingdom, 27 March 2011 (PDF), ONS, 12 December 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2016, retrieved 9 August 2013
  15. ↑ "2011 Census: Population Estimates for the United Kingdom" (PDF). Office for National Statistics. 27 March 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  16. ↑ "Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "Births in England and Wales: 2024". Office for National Statistics. 1 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "Births in England and Wales: 2025 - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "Quarterly births in England and Wales, provisional". Office for National Statistics - ONS. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Deaths registered monthly in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics - ONS. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  21. ↑ A. H. Halsey (1972). Trends in British Society since 1900. Palgrave MacMillan. ISBN 978-1-349-00780-6.
  22. ↑ Taken from Casweb UK Data Service from the 1971 UK wide Census. SAS08 of Country of Birth of England.
  23. ↑ Taken from Casweb UK Data Service from the 1981 UK wide Census. Table 4 of Country of Birth in England.
  24. ↑ "1991 census - local base statistics". Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics. Retrieved 14 June 2023. Tables L01 to L18: Demographic and economic characteristics > L07 Country of birth
  25. ↑ "UV008:Country of birth". Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  26. ↑ "QS213EW: Country of birth (expanded)". Nomis: Official Census and Labour Market Statistics. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  27. ↑ "TS012: Country of birth (detailed)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  28. ↑ "Table 1.3: Overseas-born population in the United Kingdom, excluding some residents in communal establishments, by sex, by country of birth, January 2014 to December 2014". Office for National Statistics. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2016. Figures given are the central estimates. See the source for 95 per cent confidence intervals.
  29. ↑ "Population by country of birth and nationality. January 2018 to December 2018". ons.gov.uk.
  30. ↑ UK Statistics (27 March 2011). "2011 Census: Usual resident population by five-year age group and sex, United Kingdom and constituent countries". UK Statistics. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  31. ↑ "Median age of population in England". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  32. ↑ Rose, E. J. B. (Eliot Joseph Benn); Institute of Race Relations (1969). Colour and citizenship : a report on British race relations. Internet Archive. London; New York : Published for the Institute of Race Relations by Oxford U.P. ISBN 978-0-19-218182-4.
  33. ↑ Rees, Phil; Butt, Faisal (2004). "Ethnic Change and Diversity in England, 1981-2001". Area. 36 (2): 174–186. Bibcode:2004Area...36..174R. doi:10.1111/j.0004-0894.2004.00213.x. ISSN 0004-0894. JSTOR 20004380.
  34. ↑ Data is taken from United Kingdom Casweb Data services of the United Kingdom 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England Archived 5 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine (Table 6)
  35. ↑ "Key Statistics for local authorities; Ethnic Statistics for England and Wales". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  36. ↑ "Key Statistics for England and Wales: Ethnic statistics". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  37. ↑ "Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  38. ↑ "Ethnic group, England and Wales: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  39. ↑ "Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic Year 2021/22". explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  40. ↑ "School and pupil characteristics". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ↑ "Ethnic Minority Pupils and Pupils for whom English is an Additional Language 1996/97" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2000.
  42. ↑ "View:England". NOMIS. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  43. ↑ "Religion (2001 Census)". data.gov.uk. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  44. ↑ "2011 Census: KS209EW Religion, local authorities in England and Wales". ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  45. ↑ "Religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022.