Ethnic groups in London

London is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world. A 2000 survey of school children reported there were over 300 languages spoken at home.[1]

Crowd along Ladbroke Grove during the Notting Hill Carnival, 2006

At the 2011 census, London had a population of 8,173,941. Of this number 44.9% were White British. 37% of the population were born outside the UK, including 24.5% born outside of Europe.[2]

Ethnic breakdown

2011 Census
Number Percentage of
total population[3]
White: English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British3,669,28444.9
White: Irish175,9742.2
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller8,1960.1
White: Other White1,033,98112.6
White: Total4,887,43559.8
Mixed/multiple ethnic group: White and Black Caribbean119,4251.5
Mixed/multiple ethnic group: White and Black African65,4790.8
Mixed/multiple ethnic group: White and Asian101,5001.2
Mixed/multiple ethnic group: Other Mixed118,8751.5
Mixed/multiple ethnic group: Total405,2795.0
Asian/Asian British: Indian542,8576.6
Asian/Asian British: Pakistani223,7972.7
Asian/Asian British: Bangladeshi222,1272.7
Asian/Asian British: Chinese124,2501.5
Asian/Asian British: Other Asian398,5154.9
Asian/Asian British: Total1,511,54618.4
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: African573,9317.0
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: Caribbean344,5974.2
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: Other Black170,1122.1
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: Total1,088,64013.3
Other ethnic group: Arab106,0201.3
Other ethnic group: Any other ethnic group175,0212.1
Other ethnic group: Total281,0413.4
Total8,173,941100
Distribution of ethnic groups in Greater London according to the 2011 census.
  • White
  • Asian
  • Black
  • White-British
  • White-Irish
  • White-Other
  • Asian-Indian
  • Asian-Pakistani
  • Asian-Bangladeshi
  • Asian-Chinese
  • Black-African
  • Black-Caribbean
  • Other-Arab

Black population of London

At the 2011 census, the total Black population of London stood at 1,101,688.[4] This is a rise of 39% from the 2001 census, when the population stood at 781,751.

Inner London and Outer London have a near-equal black population. The 2011 census is the first time that the black population in Outer London has overtaken that of Inner London:

Black African Population Black Caribbean Population Other Black Population Total Black Population
Inner London 291,331 186,256 95,350 572,937
Outer London 288,892 163,826 76,033 528,751
London 580,223 350,082 171,383 1,101,688

The black population of London is noticeably concentrated in South London, with the four boroughs with the highest black populations overall all south of the river, and Greenwich also featuring inside the top 10. Southwark has the highest Black African population, Croydon has the highest Black Caribbean population, and Lambeth has the highest total black population in London. The twenty London boroughs with the highest total Black population (Black African, Black Caribbean and Other Black) are listed below:

Rank London Borough Black African Population Black Caribbean Population Other Black Population Total Black Population
1Lambeth35,18728,88614,46978,542
2Southwark47,41317,97412,12477,511
3Lewisham32,02530,85412,06374,942
4Croydon28,98131,32012,95573,256
5Newham37,81115,0507,39560,256
6Brent24,39123,72310,51858,632
7Hackney27,97619,1689,71456,858
8Enfield28,22217,3348,13153,687
9Greenwich35,1648,0515,44048,655
10Haringey23,03718,0876,70647,830
11Waltham Forest18,81518,8417,13544,791
12Barking and Dagenham28,6855,2273,22837,140
13Ealing17,29913,1926,36936,860
14Wandsworth14,81812,2975,64132,756
15Barnet19,3924,4683,57127,431
16Islington12,6227,9435,72926,294
17Redbridge12,3579,0643,42424,845
18Hammersmith and Fulham10,5527,1113,84221,505
19Merton10,4428,1262,24320,811
20Hillingdon11,2754,6154,19220,082

Asian population of London

At the 2011 census, the total Asian population of London stood at 1,511,546.[4] This is a rise of 60% from the 2001 census, when the population stood at 947,425.

Outer London has a greater Asian population than Inner London:

Indian Population Pakistani Population Bangladeshi Population Chinese Population Other Asian Population Total Asian Population
Inner London 109,933 59,890 163,838 65,983 115,549 515,193
Outer London 432,924 163,907 58,289 58,267 282,966 996,353
London 542,857 223,797 222,127 124,250 398,515 1,511,546

The Asian population of London is noticeably concentrated in East and West London. Harrow has the highest Indian population, Redbridge has the highest Pakistani population and Tower Hamlets has the highest Bangladeshi and Chinese population. Newham has the highest total Asian population in London. The twenty London boroughs with the highest total Asian population (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese and Other Asian) are listed below.

Rank London Borough Indian Population Pakistani Population Bangladeshi Population Chinese Population Other Asian Population Total Asian Population
1Newham42,48430,30737,2623,93019,912133,895
2Redbridge45,66031,05116,0113,00020,781116,503
3Brent58,01714,3811,7493,25028,589105,986
4Tower Hamlets6,7872,44281,3778,1095,786104,501
5Harrow63,0517,7971,3782,62926,953101,808
6Ealing48,24014,7111,7864,13231,570100,439
7Hounslow48,16113,6762,1892,40520,82687,257
8Hillingdon36,7959,2002,6392,88917,73069,253
9Barnet27,9205,3442,2158,25922,18065,918
10Croydon24,66010,8652,5703,92517,60759,627
11Waltham Forest9,13426,3474,6322,57911,69754,389
12Merton8,1067,3372,2162,61815,86636,143
13Camden6,0831,48912,5036,4938,87835,446
14Enfield11,6482,5945,5992,58812,46434,893
15Wandsworth8,6429,7181,4933,7159,77033,338
16Westminster7,2132,3286,2995,91710,10531,862
17Greenwich7,8362,5941,6455,06112,75829,894
18Barking and Dagenham7,4368,0077,7011,3155,13529,594
19Southwark5,8191,6233,9128,0747,76427,192
20Kingston Upon Thames6,3253,0098922,88313,043 26,152

Foreign-born population

At the 2011 census, 36.7% of London's population was foreign born (including 24.5% born outside of Europe),[5] with 3,082,000 residents born abroad in 2014.[6] London has the largest population number (not percentage) of foreign-born residents of any UK city.[6]

Population born in the UK Population Foreign-Born
Inner London 2,012,000 1,325,000
Outer London 3,348,000 1,757,000
London 5,359,000 3,082,000
% born in the UK % Foreign-Born
Inner London 57.8 42.2
Outer London 66.9 33.1
London 63.3 36.7

Significant ethnic minority communities

Arabs
Halal Restaurant in the district of Whitechapel
See also: British Arabs

Significant migration from Arab countries to the UK began in the 1940s, mostly by Egyptians. Other waves followed, such as Lebanese fleeing the civil war. The centre of London has a thriving Arab community, centred around Edgware Road.[7]

Bangladeshis
A Bengali sign in Brick Lane in London, which is home to a large Bengali diaspora.

A major wave of immigration began in the 1970s, as people from the Sylhet Division arrived in London, fleeing poverty and the Bangladesh Liberation War. Many settled around Brick Lane (Banglatown), where they entered the textile trade. This trade has declined causing unemployment, but the community has moved into other businesses, including restaurants and banking. The level of immigration peaked in 1986 and has since entered a decline with the introduction of stricter immigration laws.

The community remains concentrated around Bethnal Green and Whitechapel and has spread into other east London boroughs. London as a city is home to the single largest number of people of Bangladeshi origin outside of Bangladesh, with close to 200,000 individuals being of full Bangladeshi origin in 2007.

The community also annually hosts Europe's largest outdoor Asian event known as the Boishakhi Mela as part of the Bengali New Year celebrations.

Chinese
Main article: Chinese community in London
Further information: British Chinese and Chinatown, London

Chinese people constitute the fourth largest Asian group in London (behind the Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis respectively); numbering 114,800 in 2007, they are spread more or less across the entire city and have become successful in British life, especially when it comes to cuisine. The history of the Chinese in London is long and complex, with the first Chinese people arriving in the city in the 19th century as sailors.

Germans
See also: Germans in the United Kingdom
Douglas House in Petersham, which houses the German School London

Fiona Moore, author of "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?", wrote that the London German community "relies on subtle network connections rather than the displaying of obvious membership traits", since London Germans attended the same churches, joined the same clubs, and sent their children to the same schools.[8] According to Moore this aspect was likely influenced by the outcomes of World War I and World War II, resulting in encouragement for UK-based Germans "to try to blend in to a greater degree than elsewhere."[8]

The German business and expatriate community is centred on the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, which houses the German School London (DSL) and most German expatriates residing in London. Moore wrote that the borough "does not immediately show signs of hosting a German community" due to a lack of obvious German businesses and storefronts,[8] but that most residents know of the location of the DSL and that there are "more subtle signs of German presence."[9]

German expatriates are located throughout London. Some of them do not go to the Borough of Richmond upon Thames even though the centre of the German community is located there.[8]

Ghanaians

Besides Nigerians, Ghanaians are one of the largest Black African groups in London, with the majority living in the boroughs of Southwark, Lambeth, Newham, Hackney, Haringey, Lewisham, Merton, Waltham Forest, Croydon, Enfield and Brent.[10]

Greeks

According to the "History of London's Greek community" by Jonathan Harris,[11] the Greek population of London numbered several thousand by 1870 AD whereas in 1850 AD it was just a few hundred. The 2001 Census recorded 12,360 Greek-born people living in London, with particular concentrations in the Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Chelsea and Kensington Census tracts.[12]

The Census tracts with the highest number of Cypriot-born people in 2001 were Palmers Green, Upper Edmonton, Cockfosters, Lower Edmonton, Tottenham North and Tottenham South.[13] Many Greek-Cypriots reside in Wood Green, Harringay and Palmers Green, the latter harbouring the largest community of Greek-Cypriots outside Cyprus, resulting in these areas bearing local nicknames whereby the Green is replaced by Greek – as in Greek Lanes and Palmers Greek.[14][15][16]

According to a City of London Corporation sponsored report,[17] there are between 280,600 and 310,000 Greek speakers in Greater London.

The Greek Primary School of London and the Greek Secondary School of London both serve the community.

Indians
Main articles: British Indian and Indian community of London

British Indians have long been one of London's largest ethnic minority groups and in 2007 over 500,000 Indians were residing in London (this excludes people of half or less Indian origin). Around 7% of London's population is of Indian origin. Indians have been in the British capital for generations and come from all walks of life. They are influential in the city's culture and are major contributors to London's workforce and economy.

Irish
See also: Irish migration to Great Britain

Irish migration to Great Britain has a lengthy history due to the close proximity of, and complex relationship between, the islands of Ireland and Great Britain and the various political entities that have ruled them. Today, millions of residents of Great Britain are either from the island of Ireland or have Irish ancestry. Around six million Britons have an Irish grandfather or grandmother (approximately 10% of the UK population).[18] 900,000 ethnic Irish people live in the capital (12% of the city's population); despite this, some sources put the population of people of Irish descent in London at 77% (some five and a half million people), although the White British and White Irish populations combined are less than this.[19][20]

Jamaicans

There are records that show black people, predominantly from Jamaica, living in London during the 17th and 18th centuries; but it was not until the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, on 22 June 1948, that significant numbers of Caribbeans, in particular Jamaicans, arrived in the capital. This has since become an important landmark in the history of modern multicultural Britain. During the post World War II era, the presence of these immigrants was requested to help reconstruct the British economy. Employers such as British Rail, the NHS and London transport recruited almost exclusively from Jamaica. Some 250,000 Londoners are of Jamaican origin.[21]

Japanese
Main article: Japanese community of London
Japanese School in London

Junko Sakai, author of Japanese Bankers in the City of London: Language, Culture and Identity in the Japanese Diaspora, stated that there is no particular location for the Japanese community in London, but that the families of Japanese "company men" have a tendency of living in North London and West London. Japanese restaurants and shops are located around these groups of Japanese people.[22]

Koreans
See also: Koreans in the United Kingdom
Kmart, a Korean supermarket in New Malden

As of 2014 there were about 10,000 ethnic Koreans in New Malden proper,[23] and as of the same year the Korean population in the area around New Malden is around 20,000, including about 600 originating from North Korea, giving it the largest group of North Koreans in Europe.[24] Many of the Koreans living in New Malden work for Korean companies, and they are either permanently settled and formerly expatriate, or they are still expatriates.[25] In 2015 Paul Fischer of The Independent wrote that the North Koreans were insular, and that there were tensions between the South Korean majority and the North Koreans in New Malden.[23]

The New Malden area has Korean-language churches and nursery schools as well as restaurants and shops with Korean clientele.[26] The area has Korean supermarkets, about 20 Korean restaurants and cafes,[23] including those serving bulgogi.[23] It also has a noraebang (Karaoke bar).[24] The Korean language is visible on several shop signs. The original Embassy of South Korea to the United Kingdom is in Malden.[23]

Some factors cited in The Telegraph as reasons why the Korean community formed in New Malden included a 1950s joint venture partnership between a chaebol and Racal Avionics (formerly Dacca), Lord Chancellor's Walk in Coombe Lane West previously serving as the residence of the Ambassador of South Korea to the United Kingdom, and Samsung Electronics having its UK offices in New Malden until they moved to their current location in Chertsey, Surrey in 2005. Many Koreans settled in New Malden in the 1970s due to the ambassador's location.[24]

There is a newspaper published in New Malden, Free NK, which is opposed to the government of North Korea.[24]

Lithuanians
See also: Lithuanians in the United Kingdom
St Casimir's Lithuanian Church in Bethnal Green

London houses the largest ethnic Lithuanian population outside Lithuania, numbering 40,000 – 80,000. The Lithuanian community in London, however, goes back to at least the early 20th century. Most of the community came in a wave of Eastern European immigration in the 2000s, after Lithuania joined the European Union.[27]

Most of London's Lithuanians live in the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, with smaller numbers elsewhere. The main Lithuanian-speaking Roman Catholic church, St Casimir's, however, lies in Bethnal Green.[27]

Nigerians

London (in particular the southern boroughs) is home to the largest Nigerian community in the UK, and possibly the largest overseas Nigerian community in the world. The first recorded Nigerian in London was Olaudah Equiano who came to Britain after escaping from slavery over 200 years ago, becoming a member of the abolitionist Sons of Africa group.

In the mid-20th century a wave of Nigerian immigrants came to London after hearing of the need for more skilled workers. Civil and political unrest in the country contributed to numerous refugees arriving in England.[28] The vast majority of famous and notable British people of Nigerian origin were either born in or now live in London.

Peckham (also known as Little Lagos and Yorubatown) is home to one of the largest overseas Nigerian communities in the world; many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned. Nigerian churches and mosques can be found in the area. As immigrants become assimilated, English is becoming the predominant language of the local Nigerian British population. The Yoruba language is declining in use in the Peckham area despite the increasing Nigerian population.[29] In 2001, about 7% of Peckham's population was born in Nigeria.[30] A much larger proportion of the ward's 60% Black population is of Nigerian descent, as 40% are of other African descent.[31]

Pakistanis
Main article: Pakistani community of London
Asian Afro-Caribbean Food Store in London

Pakistanis in London form the largest concentrated community of British Pakistanis; immigration from regions which now form Pakistan predate Pakistan's independence.[32] The main concentrations of Pakistani settlement in London are found in Outer London with the boroughs of Redbridge, Newham and Waltham Forest accounting for nearly a third of Londoners of Pakistani descent.

Polish
See also: Poles in the United Kingdom
Sign in English and Polish outside St Andrew Bobola's Church in Shepherd's Bush

London has had a notable Polish community since the Second World War. Many of the migrants from Poland in the 1940s were soldiers and their families. The Polish Government in Exile was based in London until it was dissolved in 1991 following the restoration of democracy in Poland. In the 2000s a wave of Polish immigrants came to Britain, including London, after Poland joined the European Union. As of 2016, Poles now account for about 4.5 per cent of London's foreign-born population.[33]

The boroughs of Ealing, Enfield, Kensington and Chelsea, Haringey, Lambeth, Lewisham and Wandsworth have significant numbers of Poles living there. The Church of the Evangelist in Putney is one of several Polish-speaking Roman Catholic churches in London, and the Polish Social and Cultural Association in Hammersmith is the community's main centre. Polish-style shops, with their distinctive red and white signs accompanied by words in the Polish language, can be found in many parts of London.[34]

Thai
See also: Thais in the United Kingdom

Turkish
Main articles: Turkish community of London and British Turks

Previous census
Ethnic Group 1991[35] 2001[36] 2011[37] Change 2001-2011
Number % Number % Number % %
White: British[Note 1]4,287,86159.79%3,669,28444.89%
14.43%
White: Irish256,4703.83%220,4883.07%175,9742.15%
20.19%
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller[Note 2]8,1960.10%
n/a
White: Other[Note 3]594,8548.29%1,033,98112.65%
73.82%
White: Total5,333,58079.80%5,103,20371.15%4,887,43559.79%
4.23%
Asian or Asian British: Indian347,0915.19%436,9936.09%542,8576.64%
24.24%
Asian or Asian British: Pakistani87,8161.31%142,7491.99%223,7972.74%
56.78%
Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi85,7381.28%153,8932.15%222,1272.72%
44.34%
Asian or Asian British: Chinese[Note 4]56,5790.84%80,2011.12%124,2501.52%
54.92%
Asian or Asian British: Other Asian112,8071.68%133,0581.86%398,5154.88%
199.51%
Asian or Asian British: Total690,03110.33%946,89413.20%1,511,54618.49%
59.63%
Black or Black British: African163,6352.44%378,9335.28%573,9317.02%
51.46%
Black or Black British: Caribbean290,9684.35%343,5674.79%344,5974.22%
0.3%
Black or Black British: Other Black80,6131.20%60,3490.84%170,1122.08%
181.88%
Black or Black British: Total535,2168.01%782,84910.92%1,088,64013.32%
39.06%
Mixed: White and Black Caribbean70,9280.99%119,4251.46%
68.38%
Mixed: White and Black African34,1820.48%65,4790.80%
91.56%
Mixed: White and Asian59,9440.84%101,5001.24%
69.33%
Mixed: Other Mixed61,0570.85%118,8751.45%
94.70%
Mixed: Total[Note 5]226,1113.15%405,2794.96%
79.24%
Other: Arab[Note 6]106,0201.30%
n/a
Other: Any other ethnic group113,0341.58%175,0212.14%
54.84%
Other: Total120,8721.81%113,0341.58%281,0413.44%
148.63%
Total6,679,699100.00%7,172,091100.00%8,173,941100.00%
13.97%
  1. New category created for the 2001 census
  2. New category created for the 2011 census
  3. New category created for the 2001 census
  4. In 2001, listed under the 'Other ethnic group' heading.
  5. New category created for the 2001 census
  6. New category created for the 2011 census
gollark: ... wait, those are on CN only, sadness.
gollark: Engaging laser arrays
gollark: Is someone using ILLEGAL NUMBERS?
gollark: Between 6 and 6.0004 exclusive, I should mention.
gollark: National security reasons.

See also

References
  • Moore, Fiona. "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?" (Chapter 4). In: Coles, Anne and Anne-Meike Fechter. Gender and Family Among Transnational Professionals (Routledge International Studies of Women and Place). Routledge, 6 August 2012. ISBN 1134156200, 9781134156207.

Reference notes
  1. "Languages in London - Multilingual Capital". Multilingual Capital. Queen Mary University of London. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  2. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4bd95562-4379-11e2-a48c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2EmHkrZcr
  3. "2011 Census: Ethnic group, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. "Ethnic Groups in London". Census Update. Office for National Statistics. 2011: 1. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. "A summary of countries of birth in London". Census Update. Office for National Statistics. 2011: 1. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  6. "Population of the United Kingdom by Country of Birth and Nationality".
  7. "Arabic London". BBC. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. Moore, Google Books PT89 (actual page number unstated).
  9. Moore, Google Books PT90 (actual page number unstated).
  10. Ghanaian London. Books.google.co.uk. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7546-4841-3. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  12. "Born abroad: Greece". BBC. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  13. "Born abroad: Cyprus". BBC. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  14. "Things you didn't know about... Palmers Green", Archived 26 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Yellow Pages
  15. "Greek in Palmers Green", UKTV
  16. "Palmers Green Archived 29 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Trusted Places
  17. Philip Baker & John Eversley, Multilingual Capital, commissioned by City of London Corporation, published by Battlebridge 2000.
  18. Bowcott, Owen (13 September 2006). "Six million Britons are entitled to Irish citizenship". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  19. "Irish in London". Merseyreporter.com. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  20. "Irish in London 2". BBC News. 16 March 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  21. "Jamaica Mapping Exercise" (PDF). International Organization for Migration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  22. Sakai, Page unstated (PT67). "Although the Japanese have no precise geographical location for their community, they are connected with each other personally, and one of their geographical centres is the Japanese school in London, previously in North London and now in West Acton."
  23. Fischer, Paul. "The Korean Republic of New Malden: How Surrey became home to the 70 year-old conflict." The Independent. Monday 23 February 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  24. Parrish, Charlie. "Why is New Malden home to more North Koreans than any other place in Europe?" The Daily Telegraph. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  25. Moore, Fiona. "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?" (Chapter 4). In: Coles, Anne and Anne-Meike Fechter. Gender and Family Among Transnational Professionals (Routledge International Studies of Women and Place). Routledge, 6 August 2012. ISBN 1134156200, 9781134156207. CITED: Google Books PT90.
  26. Moore, Fiona. "The German School in London, UK: Fostering the Next Generation of National Cosmopolitans?" (Chapter 4). In: Coles, Anne and Anne-Meike Fechter. Gender and Family Among Transnational Professionals (Routledge International Studies of Women and Place). Routledge, 6 August 2012. ISBN 1134156200, 9781134156207. CITED: Google Books PT89-PT90.
  27. "London, England". Global True Lithuania. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  28. Nigerian London (20 August 2008). "Nigerian London". BBC. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  29. "Little Lagos in south London". BBC News. 25 January 2005. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  30. "UK statistics on Nigerian-born people in Britain". BBC News. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  31. Neighbourhood Statistics. "Pecham Ethnicity, 2001". Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  32. "Pakistani London". BBC. 26 May 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  33. "What do London's Poles feel about Brexit?". Londonist. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  34. "Opinion: will Brexit spell the demise of Polish shops in London?". Calvert Journal. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  35. "1991 census – theme tables". NOMIS. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  36. "2001 census – theme tables". NOMIS. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  37. "Ethnic Group by measures". NOMIS. Retrieved 2 September 2014.

Further reading
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