Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)

Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)

Total population
England 956,700 (2009)[1] White and Black Caribbean – 301,300 White and Black African – 127,500 White and Asian – 292,400 Other Mixed – 235,500 Wales 17,661 (2001) Scotland 12,764 (2001) Northern Ireland 3,319 (2001)

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.

Statistics

In the 2001 census, 677,177 classified themselves as of mixed race, making up 1.2 per cent of the UK population.^[2] Office for National Statistics 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.^[1] As of May 2011, this figure surpassed 1 million. ^[3] It has been estimated that, by 2020, 1.24 million people in the UK will be of mixed race.^[4]. Research conducted by the BBC, however, suggests that the mixed race population could already be twice the official estimate figure - up to 2 million.^[5].

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.^[6]

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).^[7]

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 Asian" 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.^[8]

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.^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[9]

Associations

There are several associations in the UK that help promote mixed-race heritage and raise awareness of issues relating to mixed ethnicity.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Multiracial
• Eurasian (mixed ancestry)
• Race of the Future

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group, All Persons June 2009". Office for National Statistics. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?adminCompAndTimeId=25403%3A280&a=7&b=276743&c=london&d=13&r=1&e=13&f=24438&o=254&g=325264&i=1001x1003x1004x1005&l=1809&m=0&s=1254850916322&enc=1. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
2. ^ "Population size: 7.9% from a minority ethnic group". Office for National Statistics. 13 February 2003. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=273. Retrieved 3 October 2009. 
3. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/18/non-white-british-population-ons
4. ^ Smith, Laura (23 January 2007). "Mixed messages". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/jan/23/post975. Retrieved 3 October 2009. 
5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15205803
6. ^ Moser, Kath; Stanfield, Kristina M. and Leon, David A. (2008). "Birthweight and gestational age by ethnic group, England and Wales 2005: Introducing new data on births". Health Statistics Quarterly 39: 22–31. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/hsq/HSQ39Birthwt&Gest_ethnicity.pdf. 
7. ^ Pinnock, Karlene (12 August 2009). "Mixed race 'fastest growing minority'". BBC 1Xtra. http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_10000000/newsid_10000900/10000910.stm. Retrieved 4 October 2009. 
8. ^ Bradford, Ben (May 2006). "Who are the 'Mixed' ethnic group?". Office for National Statistics. pp. 4, 8. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournal/Mixed_ethnic_groups_pdf.pdf. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
9. ^ "Harmonised Concepts and Questions for Social Data Sources: Primary Standards – Ethnic Group". Office for National Statistics. April 2008. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/harmonisation/downloads/P3.pdf. Retrieved 21 August 2010.