British Mixed-Race
Encyclopedia
Mixed is an ethnicity category
that has been used by the United Kingdom
's Office for National Statistics
since the 1991 Census
. Colloquially it refers to British citizens or residents whose parents are of two or more different races or ethnic
backgrounds. Mixed-race people are the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK and numbered approximately 1 million in 2009.
estimates suggest that 956,700 mixed race people were resident in England (as opposed to the whole of the UK) as of mid-2009, compared to 654,000 at mid-2001. As of May 2011, this figure surpassed 1 million. It has been estimated that, by 2020, 1.24 million people in the UK will be of mixed race..
Research conducted by the BBC
, however, suggests that the mixed race population could already be twice the official estimate figure - up to 2 million..
3.5 per cent of all births in England and Wales in 2005 were mixed race babies, with 0.9 per cent being Mixed White and Black Caribbean, 0.5 per cent White and Black African, 0.8 per cent White and Asian, and 1.3 per cent any other mixed background.
Mixed-race people are the fastest growing ethnic minority group (defined according to the National Statistics classification
) in the UK and, with all mixed categories counted as one sole group, are predicted to be the largest minority group by 2020 (above British Indian
).
" and "Any other Mixed background", with the latter allowing people to write in their ethnicity. Analysis of census results shows that, in England and Wales only, 237,000 people stated their ethnicity as Mixed White and Black Caribbean, 189,000 as Mixed White and Asian, 156,000 as Other Mixed, and 79,000 Mixed White and Black African.
The estimates for mid-2009 for England only suggest that there are 301,300 people in the Mixed White and Black Caribbean category, 127,500 Mixed White and Black African, 292,400 Mixed White and Asian, and 235,500 Other Mixed. The White and Black African group grew fastest in percentage terms from 2001 to 2009, followed by White and Asian, Other Mixed and then White and Black Caribbean.
The census forms in Scotland
and Northern Ireland
did not include sub-groups, but rather single categories: "Any Mixed Background" in Scotland and simply "Mixed" in Northern Ireland.
Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom
The classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom has attracted controversy in the past: particularly at the time of the 2001 Census where the existence and nature of such a classification, which appeared on the Census form, became more widely known than general.Different classifications, both...
that has been used by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Office for National Statistics
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
since the 1991 Census
United Kingdom Census 1991
A nationwide census, commonly known as Census 1991, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday 21 April 1991. This was the 19th UK census....
. Colloquially it refers to British citizens or residents whose parents are of two or more different races or ethnic
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
backgrounds. Mixed-race people are the fastest growing ethnic group in the UK and numbered approximately 1 million in 2009.
Statistics
In the 2001 census, 677,177 classified themselves as of mixed race, making up 1.2 per cent of the UK population. Office for National StatisticsOffice for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
estimates suggest that 956,700 mixed race people were resident in England (as opposed to the whole of the UK) as of mid-2009, compared to 654,000 at mid-2001. As of May 2011, this figure surpassed 1 million. It has been estimated that, by 2020, 1.24 million people in the UK will be of mixed race..
Research conducted by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, however, suggests that the mixed race population could already be twice the official estimate figure - up to 2 million..
3.5 per cent of all births in England and Wales in 2005 were mixed race babies, with 0.9 per cent being Mixed White and Black Caribbean, 0.5 per cent White and Black African, 0.8 per cent White and Asian, and 1.3 per cent any other mixed background.
Mixed-race people are the fastest growing ethnic minority group (defined according to the National Statistics classification
Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom
The classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom has attracted controversy in the past: particularly at the time of the 2001 Census where the existence and nature of such a classification, which appeared on the Census form, became more widely known than general.Different classifications, both...
) in the UK and, with all mixed categories counted as one sole group, are predicted to be the largest minority group by 2020 (above British Indian
British Indian
The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK...
).
Subgroups
In England and Wales, the 2001 census included four sub-categories of mixed ethnic combinations: "White and Black Caribbean", "Mixed White and Black African", "Mixed White and AsianEurasian (mixed ancestry)
The word Eurasian refers to people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. It was originally coined in 19th-century British India to refer to Anglo-Indians of mixed British and Indian descent....
" and "Any other Mixed background", with the latter allowing people to write in their ethnicity. Analysis of census results shows that, in England and Wales only, 237,000 people stated their ethnicity as Mixed White and Black Caribbean, 189,000 as Mixed White and Asian, 156,000 as Other Mixed, and 79,000 Mixed White and Black African.
The estimates for mid-2009 for England only suggest that there are 301,300 people in the Mixed White and Black Caribbean category, 127,500 Mixed White and Black African, 292,400 Mixed White and Asian, and 235,500 Other Mixed. The White and Black African group grew fastest in percentage terms from 2001 to 2009, followed by White and Asian, Other Mixed and then White and Black Caribbean.
The census forms in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
did not include sub-groups, but rather single categories: "Any Mixed Background" in Scotland and simply "Mixed" in Northern Ireland.