What percentage of britain is non white
Executive summary
The simplest, census-backed headline: about 18% of the population of England and Wales identified as non‑White (Black, Asian, Mixed or Other) in the 2021 Census, meaning roughly 82% identified as White (2021 Census / government reporting) [1] [2]. Broader measures for the entire United Kingdom vary by source and definition — for example the House of Commons Library reports 16% of the UK population as from a minority ethnic background in 2024/25 — because Northern Ireland collects ethnicity differently and because “non‑White,” “minority ethnic” and “White British” are distinct categories [3] [4].
1. What the headline numbers mean and why they differ
When media and public agencies state a single percentage for “non‑White Britain” they are compressing multiple, non‑identical measures: the 2021 Census for England and Wales groups people into White and Black/Asian/Mixed/Other categories and reports 82% White versus 18% non‑White [1] [2], whereas UK‑wide calculations must reconcile Northern Ireland’s different ethnicity questions and produce slightly different aggregates — Wikipedia notes a 75.98% figure for White British in one presentation of 2021 data but also warns that “white” versus “White British” and country coverage (Great Britain vs UK) change percentages [4] [5].
2. Recent government and parliamentary framing
Official government reporting and analysis platforms present England and Wales as 82% White and 18% Black/Asian/Mixed/Other using 2021 Census data [1]; the House of Commons Library, using population estimates and broader UK coverage, cites 16% of the UK as from a minority ethnic background for 2024/25, a figure that reflects differing definitions and timing [3].
3. Regional and local variation that the headline masks
Ethnic composition is highly uneven: London and many urban areas are far more diverse than rural regions — government regional data show London local authorities and places like Slough with very high non‑White shares (Slough reported ~64% non‑White outside London examples) while the North East and parts of Wales had single‑digit non‑White shares (North East 4.4%, Wales 5.2% in the referenced breakdown) [6]. England and Wales detail that White British made up 74.4% of that population in 2021 while “White other” rose to 6.2%, underscoring how “white” itself includes subgroups with differing migration histories [2].
4. Trends and projections: more complexity than a straight line
Longer‑term projections and academic work show multiple plausible futures: some scenarios predict the White British share falling steadily over decades while others — depending heavily on migration assumptions — foresee a slower decline; Prospect’s discussion of projections shows a wide range of outcomes with non‑White or ethnic minority shares in mid‑century sensitive to immigration and fertility assumptions [7]. Historical comparisons also show a decline in the white majority since 2011 [5] [8].
5. Why definitions matter and what the data cannot tell
“Non‑White” is a blunt term that masks ethnicity, nationality, religion, generation, and socio‑economic differences; public sources explicitly use different labels — “White,” “White British,” “minority ethnic,” and grouped Black/Asian/Mixed/Other — so any single percentage must be read against the specific category and geography used [4] [1] [3]. Sources also caution that Northern Ireland’s distinct ethnicity question complicates UK‑wide sums and that changes in questionnaire categories (e.g., how “White other” was recorded) affect comparability over time [4] [2].
6. Bottom line for the question asked
Answering “what percentage of Britain is non‑White” depends on the geography and label: for England and Wales, 18% identified as Black, Asian, Mixed or Other in the 2021 Census (i.e., 18% non‑White) [1] [2]; for the whole UK, recent parliamentary summary estimates the minority ethnic share at about 16% in 2024/25, reflecting definitional and coverage differences including Northern Ireland [3]. Sources differ; the numbers above are the best available from the cited official and research reporting [1] [3] [2].