Child population in England

You asked

Please provide me with information on the age and ethnicity of children in England in;

(i) 2011 (based on census data) and; (ii) currently (ie based on projected population statistics)

Our definition of “child” is anyone aged 17 years or younger (in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

We said

Thank you for your query about the age and ethnicity of children in England in 2011 and currently by single year of age (SYOA)

1. We do not hold the information to fulfil your request. We have previously published population estimates by ethnic group as experimental statistics for England and Wales only. These covered the period 2001-2009 and have not been revised in light of the 2011 census. The most recent published data for England and Wales only, covering the period 2001-2009 can be found here:

   http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-50029

   Census estimates published every ten years will give snapshots of the population by ethnicity (for 1991, 2001 and 2011) but will not provide a complete time series.

   The most recent published census data on ethnicity is derived from the 2011 census and can be found here:

   http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/census/analysis/ethnicity--national-identity--language-and-religion/index.html

   Further information can be found on the NOMIS website:

   https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/dc2101ew

2. The mid-2016 population estimates are the latest available and provide single year of age. They can be found here:

   https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland

   For years before 2016 the best source is published here on the ONS website:

   https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland/mid2015/ukandregionalpopulationestimates18382015.zip

   This gives a total population for the UK from 1851 onwards, quinary (5 year) age breakdown from 1953 – 1970. It also gives single year of age breakdown for England from 1971 to the most recent data available (2015). Once you have downloaded the file you will need to scroll to the right until you find the England SYOA worksheet.

3. Data for mid-2017 are available from the population projections. These do not include ethnicity information. The principal population projections for England by single year of age for males and females (you will need to aggregate them for total population) from 2014-2114, can be found here:

   https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/datasets/z3zippedpopulationprojectionsdatafilesengland

Once you have downloaded the zip file you will need to open the file: en_ppp_opendata2014.xml

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us on pop.info@ons.gov.uk.