The meanings of race in the UK have developed in different ways over time and space. From the scientific hierarchies used to justify slavery and exploitation, to the stigmatisation of groups based on national origin, religion, physical appearance, and perceived cultural behaviours. Whilst we can understand the different forms of racism that this engenders through dialogue with those who experience it, the need for evidence of the extent of the issue is seen as necessary to influence policy makers.
Ethnic group classifications offer a mechanism to gather data through the decennial census, surveys and administrative data collection. In this blog I focus on the adequacy of census and survey data.
Ethnic classification was introduced to the census in 1991, and the number of categories has increased every ten years. Prior to this researchers were dependent on ‘country of birth’ which only provided data on first generation migrants and included British expatriates coming to the UK. The census provides the only data available at small geographic scales and provides the opportunity to explore aspects of the lived experiences of minoritised ethnic individuals, but; as with any source of data it is important to understand some of the potential limitations.
- adequacy – do the categories available meet your needs in terms of understanding the population(/s) you are interested in? In the 2021 census around a million people selected the other ethnic group category, three times as many as in 2011.
- reliability – census results are estimates based on assumptions about the characteristics of those who do not respond. Response rates are high (97% on average in 2021) but some neighbourhoods have much lower response rates. The responses may be inconsistent as people change their ethnic category over time or unreliable as some groups are reluctant to disclose their ethnicity because they distrust how it will be used.
Surveys and administrative systems have adopted the census categories, albeit with significant delays. The Gypsy or Irish Traveller was introduced in the 2011 census yet, was not used in the Covid statistics published by NHS England in 2024.
The major national surveys use random selection methods that provide small numbers from ethnic groups. Some surveys such as Understanding Society boost this sample to enable better analysis of ethnic group experiences. Some groups are likely to be under-represented because participation takes time, the language is difficult to understand, or the means of completion are too difficult.
The Evidence for Equality National Survey (EVENS) provides a model that moves beyond the traditional survey recruitment methods. Working with voluntary sector partners, the survey was promoted through local communities and achieved significant responses. The team used advanced statistical techniques to make the sample representative of the population. EVENS provided valuable insights on experiences of racism, the effects of the Covid pandemic on health and well-being, employment, and political attitudes.
Ethnic data held in the census and surveys provides valuable evidence to help understand the experiences of ethnic groups. The census provides data at different geographical scales and is widely used by local public services. The use of survey data is more specialised. On an individual level, the important question to ask when using the data is: How well do they help me answer the question(/s) I have Statistical agencies, government departments and research councils who sponsor the major surveys need to understand the gap between what is available and what is needed to drive improvement in the ethnic data we collect.
Get involved
If you work with or use ethnicity data — whether in health, social care, research, policy, or the voluntary sector these issues will not be new to you. We want to hear from you as part of our programme on Ethnicity Data Gaps.
The Survey will be closing on the 22nd of April. Complete the Survey here.
