/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000237/

The population passed 100,000

Between the last two censuses (held in 2011 and 2021), the population of Worcester increased by 5.2%, from just under 98,800 in 2011 to around 103,900 in 2021.

The population here increased by a smaller percentage than the overall population of the West Midlands (6.2%), and by a smaller percentage than the overall population of England (up 6.6% since the 2011 Census).

In 2021, Worcester was home to around 22.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land, compared with 21.2 in 2011. This area was among the top 20% most densely populated English local authority areas at the last census.

This article generally uses percentages to enable comparisons over time and between areas. The percentage point change is also used to show the difference between the 2011 and 2021 percentages.

Population growth was lower in Worcester than across the West Midlands

Percentage population change, Worcester and surrounding areas, 2011 Census to Census 2021
England ▲6.6% West Midlands ▲6.2% Worcester ▲5.2%
-2-0.50.5+2+8+16%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Median age increased

Between the last two censuses, the average (median) age of Worcester increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years of age.

This area had a slightly lower average (median) age than the West Midlands as a whole in 2021 (40 years) and a slightly lower average (median) age than England (40 years).

The median age is the age of the person in the middle of the group, meaning that one half of the group is younger than that person and the other half is older.

The number of people aged 50 to 64 years rose by around 3,100 (an increase of 18.2%), while the number of residents between 35 and 49 years fell by around 1,700 (7.8% decrease).

The share of residents aged between 50 and 64 years increased by 2.1 percentage points between 2011 and 2021

Percentage of usual residents by age group,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
85 years and over 2.0 2.3 2.2 2.5 2.2 2.4 2.0%
2.3%
75 to 84 years 5.0 5.8 5.7 6.4 5.5 6.1 5.0%
5.8%
65 to 74 years 7.8 9.5 9.0 9.9 8.6 9.8 7.8%
9.5%
50 to 64 years 17.2 19.4 18.0 19.3 18.1 19.4 17.2%
19.4%
35 to 49 years 22.0 19.3 20.9 18.7 21.3 19.4 22.0%
19.3%
25 to 34 years 14.2 14.0 12.6 13.0 13.5 13.6 14.2%
14.0%
20 to 24 years 7.5 7.2 6.8 6.1 6.8 6.0 7.5%
7.2%
16 to 19 years 5.5 4.9 5.3 4.8 5.1 4.6 5.5%
4.9%
10 to 15 years 6.6 6.9 7.4 7.5 7.0 7.2 6.6%
6.9%
5 to 9 years 5.6 5.6 5.8 6.2 5.6 5.9 5.6%
5.6%
4 years and under 6.4 5.1 6.3 5.6 6.3 5.4 6.4%
5.1%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Worcester stood out from other areas for housing

The percentage of households in the social rented sector increased in Worcester, but fell across the West Midlands.

In Worcester, the percentage of households in the social rented sector rose from 15.3% in 2011 to 16.3% in 2021. During the same period, the regional percentage fell from 19.0% to 18.2%.

Private renting in Worcester increased from 18.2% to 21.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 64.4% to 61.4%.

The rate of social renting in Worcester increased by 0.9 percentage points

Percentage of households by housing tenure,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Owns outright or with a mortgage or loan 64.4 61.4 64.9 62.8 63.3 61.3 64.4%
61.4%
Shared ownership 1.0 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.0%
1.1%
Social rented 15.3 16.3 19.0 18.2 17.7 17.1 15.3%
16.3%
Private rented 18.2 21.2 14.0 17.9 16.8 20.5 18.2%
21.2%
Lives rent free 1.1 0.1 1.5 0.2 1.3 0.1 1.1%
0.1%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Disability in Worcester

Worcester saw the West Midlands' second-largest percentage-point rise in the proportion of residents who were identified as disabled and limited a little (from 10.2% in 2011 to 11.0% in 2021). These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

Across the region, only Malvern Hills saw a greater rise in the proportion of residents who were identified as disabled and limited a little (from 9.6% to 10.5%).

Across the West Midlands, the proportion of residents who were identified as disabled and limited a little fell from 10.6% to 10.4%, while the proportion in nearby Malvern Hills increased from 9.6% to 10.5%.

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived their health status and activity limitations, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of people who were identified as being disabled and limited a little in Worcester increased by 0.8 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents by long-term health condition or illness,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Disabled and limited a lot 8.4 7.0 9.9 8.0 9.1 7.5 8.4%
7.0%
Disabled and limited a little 10.2 11.0 10.6 10.4 10.2 10.2 10.2%
11.0%
Not disabled 81.3 82.0 79.4 81.5 80.7 82.3 81.3%
82.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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National identity in Worcester

The increase in the percentage of people who did not identify with any national identity associated with the UK was greater in Worcester (3.3 percentage points) than in nearby Malvern Hills (0.6 percentage points).

In Worcester, the percentage of people who did not identify with at least one UK national identity increased from 5.1% in 2011 to 8.4% in 2021. During the same period, the percentage in nearby Malvern Hills increased from 2.6% to 3.2%.

The percentage of people who identified with a UK and non-UK national identity in Worcester increased from 0.6% to 1.6%, while the percentage of people who identified as "British only" increased from 16.3% to 54.8%.

In Census 2021, “British” was moved to the top response option and this may have influenced how people described their national identity. For further information, please see our quality report.

The percentage of people who did not identify with at least one UK national identity in Worcester increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents by national identity,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
British only identity 16.3 54.8 19.2 56.9 19.2 56.8 16.3%
54.8%
Welsh only identity 1.2 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.3 1.2%
0.8%
Welsh and British only identity 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2%
0.3%
English only identity 64.9 16.7 63.2 16.9 60.4 15.3 64.9%
16.7%
English and British only identity 10.5 16.4 8.7 14.6 9.1 14.3 10.5%
16.4%
Any other combination of only UK identities 1.3 0.9 1.1 0.7 1.6 1.1 1.3%
0.9%
Non-UK identity only 5.1 8.4 6.2 8.7 8.2 10.0 5.1%
8.4%
UK identity and non-UK identity 0.6 1.6 0.6 1.5 0.9 2.0 0.6%
1.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Fewer adults working long hours

In 2021, 9.4% of Worcester residents aged 16 years and over and in employment said they worked over 49 hours per week. This figure decreased from 12.0% in 2011.

In 2021, just under 1 in 10 people (9.9%) said they worked 15 hours or less per week, compared with 10.3% in 2011. The percentage of adults in employment working 31 to 48 hours per week increased from 58.0% to 60.6%.

The decrease in the percentage of people aged 16 years and over and in employment who said they usually worked over 49 hours per week was greater in Worcester (2.5 percentage points) than across the West Midlands (2.0 percentage points, from 12.1% to 10.1%). Across England, the percentage fell by 2.2 percentage points, from 13.3% to 11.1%.

Working hours may have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The percentage of adults in employment who worked 49 hours or more in Worcester decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over and in employment by the number of hours worked per week,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
15 hours or less worked 10.3 9.9 9.6 9.9 9.7 10.3 10.3%
9.9%
16 to 30 hours worked 19.7 20.1 20.2 20.0 19.5 19.5 19.7%
20.1%
31 to 48 hours worked 58.0 60.6 58.1 60.1 57.5 59.1 58.0%
60.6%
49 or more hours worked 12.0 9.4 12.1 10.1 13.3 11.1 12.0%
9.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Unpaid care in Worcester

In 2021, 4.3% of Worcester residents (aged five years and over) reported providing up to 19 hours of unpaid care each week. This figure decreased from 7.2% in 2011. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

The decrease in the proportion of people (aged five years and over) providing up to 19 hours of weekly unpaid care in Worcester (2.9 percentage points) was similar to the decrease across the West Midlands (2.9 percentage points, from 7.4% to 4.5%). Across England, the proportion fell by 2.8 percentage points, from 7.2% to 4.4%.

Census 2021 was undertaken during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and managed their provision of unpaid care, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

Caution should be taken when making comparisons between 2011 and 2021 because of changes in question wording and response options.

The percentage of people (aged five years and over) providing up to 19 hours of weekly unpaid care in Worcester decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents (aged five years and over) by hours per week of unpaid care provision,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Does not provide weekly unpaid care 88.9 91.6 87.8 90.5 88.7 91.1 88.9%
91.6%
Up to 19 hours of unpaid care 7.2 4.3 7.4 4.5 7.2 4.4 7.2%
4.3%
20 to 49 hours of unpaid care 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 1.5 1.8 1.4%
1.6%
50 or more hours of unpaid care 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 2.7 2.7 2.5%
2.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Religion in Worcester

In 2021, 39.6% of Worcester residents reported having "No religion", up from 25.7% in 2011. The rise of 13.8 percentage points was the largest increase of all broad religious groups in Worcester. Because the census question about religious affiliation is voluntary and has varying response rates, caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of residents who described themselves as having "No religion" increased from 22.0% to 32.9%, while across England the percentage increased from 24.8% to 36.7%.

In 2021, 48.9% of people in Worcester described themselves as Christian (down from 63.7%), while 6.1% did not state their religion (down from 6.6% the decade before).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as a changing age structure or residents relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses. Religious affiliation is the religion with which someone connects or identifies, rather than their beliefs or religious practice.

Read the bulletin Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021.

In 2021, 39.6% of usual residents in Worcester reported having "No religion"

Percentage of usual residents by religion,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
No religion 25.7 39.6 22.0 32.9 24.8 36.7 25.7%
39.6%
Christian 63.7 48.9 60.2 46.6 59.4 46.3 63.7%
48.9%
Buddhist 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.3%
0.4%
Hindu 0.3 0.4 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.8 0.3%
0.4%
Jewish 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.0%
0.0%
Muslim 2.9 4.1 6.7 9.6 5.0 6.7 2.9%
4.1%
Sikh 0.1 0.2 2.4 2.9 0.8 0.9 0.1%
0.2%
Other 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.3%
0.4%
Not answered 6.6 6.1 6.6 5.7 7.1 6.0 6.6%
6.1%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

| |

Worcester residents' country of birth

In the latest census, around 87,500 Worcester residents said they were born in England. This represented 84.2% of the local population. The figure has risen from around 87,400 in 2011, which at the time represented 88.5% of Worcester's population.

Poland was the next most represented, with just over 1,900 Worcester residents reporting this country of birth (1.9%). This figure was up from around 1,300 in 2011, which at the time represented 1.3% of the population of Worcester.

The number of Worcester residents born in Wales fell from just under 2,000 in 2011 (2.0% of the local population) to around 1,800 in 2021 (1.7%).

In 2021, 84.2% of Worcester residents reported their country of birth as England

Percentage of usual residents by country of birth,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
England 88.5 84.2 86.1 82.6 83.5 80.3 88.5%
84.2%
Poland 1.3 1.9 0.9 1.2 1.1 1.3 1.3%
1.9%
Wales 2.0 1.7 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 2.0%
1.7%
Romania 0.1 1.6 0.1 0.9 0.1 0.9 0.1%
1.6%
Pakistan 0.9 1.0 1.6 1.9 0.9 1.1 0.9%
1.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021
Notes:
  1. This chart shows the five most common countries of birth in Worcester in 2021
  2. Please see the data dictionary for further detail on country of birth groupings

| |

Family in Worcester

In 2021, 5.9% of Worcester households included a couple with only non-dependent children. This figure increased from 5.4% in 2011.

In 2021, just over one in six households (18.3%) included a couple with dependent children, compared with 19.6% in 2011. The percentage of single-family households including a couple without children decreased from 19.1% to 18.4%.

Worcester saw the West Midlands' joint largest rise (alongside Rugby, Malvern Hills and Wolverhampton) in the percentage of households including a couple with only non-dependent children. This area had the region’s third lowest percentage of households including a couple with only non-dependent children.

The percentage of households including a couple with only non-dependent children in Worcester increased by 0.5 percentage points

Percentage of households by household composition,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
One-person household: Aged 66 years and over (Aged 65 years and over in 2011) 11.6 12.4 12.6 13.1 12.4 12.8 11.6%
12.4%
One-person household: Other 19.6 19.2 16.9 16.8 17.9 17.3 19.6%
19.2%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: No children 19.1 18.4 16.9 15.9 17.6 16.8 19.1%
18.4%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: With dependent children 19.6 18.3 19.7 19.0 19.3 18.9 19.6%
18.3%
Single-family household: Cohabiting-couple family: All children non-dependent 5.4 5.9 6.7 6.9 6.1 6.3 5.4%
5.9%
Single-family household: Lone-parent household 10.2 10.1 11.3 11.8 10.6 11.1 10.2%
10.1%
Other household types 14.4 15.6 15.9 16.6 16.1 16.9 14.4%
15.6%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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People looking after their family or home in Worcester

In 2021, 3.8% of Worcester residents (aged 16 years and over) said they were economically inactive because they were looking after their family or home. This figure increased from 3.4% in 2011.

In 2021, just under 6 in 10 people (57.9%) said they were employed (excluding full-time students), compared with 59.5% in 2011. The percentage of Worcester residents who were unemployed (excluding full-time students) decreased from 3.8% to 2.7%.

The increase in the percentage of people who were economically inactive because they were looking after their family or home was greater across the West Midlands (1.2 percentage points, from 4.1% to 5.4%) than in Worcester (0.4 percentage points). Across England, the percentage increased by 0.8 percentage points, from 4.0% to 4.8%.

Census 2021 took place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a period of rapid and unparalleled change; the national lockdown, associated guidance and furlough measures will have affected the labour market and our ability to measure it.

The percentage of people aged 16 years and over who were looking after their family or home (economically inactive) in Worcester increased by 0.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over by economic activity status,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Economically active (excluding full-time students): In employment 59.5 57.9 54.4 53.3 56.5 55.7 59.5%
57.9%
Economically active (excluding full-time students): Unemployed 3.8 2.7 4.6 3.2 4.0 2.9 3.8%
2.7%
Economically active and a full-time student: In employment 3.2 2.4 2.2 1.7 2.4 1.7 3.2%
2.4%
Economically active and a full-time student: Unemployed 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 1.0%
0.8%
Economically inactive: Retired 19.1 20.6 22.0 22.1 21.2 21.5 19.1%
20.6%
Economically inactive: Student 5.1 5.7 5.4 5.8 5.3 5.6 5.1%
5.7%
Economically inactive: Looking after home or family 3.4 3.8 4.1 5.4 4.0 4.8 3.4%
3.8%
Economically inactive: Long-term sick or disabled 3.2 3.6 4.1 4.5 3.8 4.1 3.2%
3.6%
Economically inactive: Other 1.7 2.5 2.3 3.4 2.2 3.1 1.7%
2.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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More adults never married or in a civil partnership

Of Worcester residents aged 16 years and over, 40.0% said they had never been married or in a civil partnership in 2021, up from 36.6% in 2011.

In 2021, just over 4 in 10 people (42.2%) said they were married or in a registered civil partnership, compared with 44.7% in 2011. The percentage of adults in Worcester that had divorced or dissolved a civil partnership decreased from 10.1% to 10.0%.

This area had the region’s joint third highest percentage of people aged 16 years and over who had never been married or in a civil partnership (alongside Stoke-on-Trent). Across the region, only Birmingham (44.9%) and Coventry (44.0%) had a higher percentage of people aged 16 years and over who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

These figures include same-sex marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships in 2021, neither of which were legally recognised in England and Wales in 2011. Same-sex marriages have been legally recognised in England and Wales since 2014 and opposite-sex civil partnerships have been recognised since 2019.

The percentage of adults who had never married or registered a civil partnership in Worcester increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 years and over by legal partnership status,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Never married and never registered a civil partnership 36.6 40.0 33.7 37.1 34.6 37.9 36.6%
40.0%
Married or in a registered civil partnership 44.7 42.2 47.7 45.3 46.8 44.7 44.7%
42.2%
Separated, but still legally married or still legally in a civil partnership 2.4 2.1 2.6 2.3 2.7 2.2 2.4%
2.1%
Divorced or civil partnership dissolved 10.1 10.0 8.7 8.8 9.0 9.1 10.1%
10.0%
Widowed or surviving civil partnership partner 6.3 5.8 7.3 6.5 6.9 6.1 6.3%
5.8%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Health in Worcester

In 2021, 46.2% of Worcester residents described their health as "very good", increasing from 44.4% in 2011. Those describing their health as "good" remained at 35.5%. These are age-standardised proportions.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout this section. They enable comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure.

The proportion of Worcester residents describing their health as "very bad" was 1.1% (similar to 2011), while those describing their health as "bad" fell from 4.4% to 3.9%.

These data reflect people’s own opinions in describing their overall health on a five point scale, from very good to very bad.

Census 2021 was conducted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This may have influenced how people perceived and rated their health, and therefore may have affected how people chose to respond.

The percentage of people in very good health in Worcester increased by 1.8 percentage points

Age-standardised proportion of usual residents by self-reported health,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Very good health 44.4 46.2 42.8 45.2 45.0 47.5 44.4%
46.2%
Good health 35.5 35.5 35.4 35.0 34.8 34.2 35.5%
35.5%
Fair health 14.5 13.2 15.1 13.9 14.2 13.0 14.5%
13.2%
Bad health 4.4 3.9 5.1 4.5 4.6 4.1 4.4%
3.9%
Very bad health 1.2 1.1 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.2%
1.1%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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Ethnic groups in Worcester

In 2021, 5.6% of Worcester residents identified their ethnic group within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category, up from 4.4% in 2011. The 1.2 percentage-point change was the largest increase among high-level ethnic groups in this area.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" ethnic group increased from 10.8% to 13.3%, while across England the percentage increased from 7.8% to 9.6%.

In 2021, 90.0% of people in Worcester identified their ethnic group within the "White" category (compared with 93.4% in 2011), while 2.2% identified their ethnic group within the "Mixed or Multiple" category (compared with 1.4% the previous decade).

The percentage of people who identified their ethnic group within the "Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African" category increased from 0.5% in 2011 to 1.2% in 2021.

There are many factors that may be contributing to the changing ethnic composition of England and Wales, such as differing patterns of ageing, fertility, mortality, and migration. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals chose to self-identify between censuses.

Read the bulletin Ethnic group, England and Wales: Census 2021.

In 2021, 5.6% of usual residents in Worcester identified their ethnic group within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category

Percentage of usual residents by ethnic group,
0%
2011
2021


comparisons
Classification 2011_Worcester_% 2021_Worcester_% 2011_West Midlands_% 2021_West Midlands_% 2011_England_%2021_England_% Percentage in Worcester Percentage in undefined
Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh 4.4 5.6 10.8 13.3 7.8 9.6 4.4%
5.6%
Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African 0.5 1.2 3.3 4.5 3.5 4.2 0.5%
1.2%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups 1.4 2.2 2.4 3.0 2.3 3.0 1.4%
2.2%
White 93.4 90.0 82.7 77.0 85.4 81.0 93.4%
90.0%
Other ethnic groups 0.2 1.0 0.9 2.1 1.0 2.2 0.2%
1.0%

Source: Office for National Statistics – 2011 Census and Census 2021

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About the data

Census data are adjusted to reflect estimated non-response so that the published results relate to the entire usually resident population as it was on Census Day (21 March 2021).

Those respondents who were on furlough because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were asked to classify themselves as "temporarily away from work" to ensure they remained in the economically active population.

Students are counted as usually resident at their term-time address even if they were not physically present there on Census Day.

The questions relating to disability differed slightly between 2011 and 2021 to ensure that data were more closely aligned with the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010). There was also a change to question wording for unpaid care, for more information read the health, disability and unpaid care quality information.

Age-standardised proportions are used throughout the health, disability and unpaid care sections. They allow for fairer comparisons between populations over time and across geographies, as they account for differences in the population size and age structure. The 2013 European Standard Population is used to standardise proportions.

Percentages and percentage point changes have been individually rounded to one decimal place. This means they may not sum exactly.

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Download the data used in this article

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About these articles

There is an article like this for every local authority district in England and Wales. The articles have been written and semi-automated by our data journalists and are a new publishing format for the Office for National Statistics.

Topics are chosen and ordered automatically based on how relevant they are for each area, however all data are checked before publishing.

We have not included topics that were new for Census 2021 or where there is no comparability with the 2011 Census. Read about how we developed and tested the questions for Census 2021.

These articles were first published on 8 December 2022 covering topics such as demography, country of birth, ethnic groups, religion, national identity and economic activity status. They were updated on 19 January 2023 following the release of more data from Census 2021 and now include housing tenure, general health, disability and unpaid care.

All versions of this article

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Census 2021 topic summaries

Supporting information | Released 2 November 2022

What topic summary data for Census 2021 will be available and how to view them.

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Contact

census.customerservices@ons.gov.uk

Telephone: +44 1329 44 4972

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