You asked
Please could you provide the latest estimate of the ethnic breakdown of the UK population at Local Authority level. I would like information based on the 2018 APS at the lastest, please.
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request for ethnicity statistics at local authority level.
On 4 December 2019 we published this research report on population estimates by ethnicity and religion setting out our latest findings about these estimates. This report builds on previous ones and while it contains some experimental data, the report points to the 2011 Census as the latest available National Statistics for ethnic group at local authority level.
The report mentions work carried out since the 2017 reports about using the Annual Population Survey (APS) and states (section 2, second paragraph): 'One of the main findings of that work, reinforced by subsequent feedback, was that a large number of local and unitary authorities (LAs and UAs) did not have a sufficient number of APS survey contacts to produce robust estimates for all ethnic groups and therefore, the method would require further development to address user needs.'
While the report does include 2016-based population estimates by ethnicity at local authority level you should note the findings of the report; these data are experimental in nature and do not carry National Statistics accreditation.
You may also be interested in Population denominators by broad ethnic group and for White British: local authorities in England and Wales, 2011 to 2017
These are estimates for local authority denominators for England and Wales for 2011 to 2017; using the standard five way ethnicity classification with an additional split for White British, and including single year of age and sex. These estimates are consistent with the mid-year population estimates released March 2018.
These denominators are neither National Statistics nor standard published experimental statistics and have not been produced using methods which have undergone formal Quality Assurance. They have been produced specifically for use as part of the Race Disparity Audit, following discussion with the Race Disparity Unit of their specific requirements and time-frame.
More recent statistics are not currently available; they may be available upon request but they will be subject to a prioritisation process and may be subject to the charge rates available on the website as per the ONS charging policy.
Therefore the most reliable data at the geography level you have requested (local authority) and the latest available National Statistics for ethnic group are from the 2011 Census. Table KS201UK on the Nomis website is the relevant one or you can specify your own data query to extract the statistics you want.
When accessing any of our files please read the 'notes, terms and conditions' contained within them.
Please do not hesitate to contact us directly on pop.info@ons.gov.uk if you require anything further.