Census 2001 - the East Midlands and its people
Growing population and most males

East Midlands consists of four Unitary Authorities and five counties - Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

 Population      Marital status and types of household      Country of birth      Ethnicity      Religion      Health      Economic activity      Occupation    
 Travel to work      Qualifications      Housing      Cars or vans    
 Background Notes

The East Midlands has the highest proportion of males in England. The region has grown steadily over the past ten years and contains 8.5 per cent of the population of England.

Some of the key findings from the census show:

• Just under half (49.1 per cent) the population of the East Midlands is male - the highest proportion across England.
• The region has the highest proportion of cohabiting couples in England - 8.8 per cent compared with 8.3 per cent for England as a whole.
• The region has the lowest percentage of one person households (28.2 per cent compared with 30.1 per cent in England).
• Over 93 per cent of people identified themselves as White compared with 90 per cent in England as a whole.
• The largest minority ethnic group in the region is Indian (2.9 per cent).
• In the region 18.4 per cent of people have a limiting long term illness - a slightly higher proportion than in England as a whole.
• The proportion of people in the region who provide unpaid care is slightly higher than the English average (10.4 per cent compared with 9.9 per cent).
• The East Midlands has the lowest proportion of people working in administrative and secretarial occupations.
• The region has the highest proportion of people who travel to work by car or other motor vehicle (68.8 per cent compared with an English average of 62.7 per cent).
• The East Midlands has the highest proportion of households living in detached houses (32 per cent compared with the English average of 23 per cent).
• Just under one quarter of households in the East Midlands has no access to either a car or van. This is slightly less than England as a whole.

Population

The population of the East Midlands was 4,172,000 at Census Day, April 2001. It grew by four per cent between 1991 and 2001, slightly higher than the population growth of England as a whole.

The age distribution of the East Midlands is very similar to that of England as a whole and has changed only slightly since 1991.

Within the region, the highest proportion of under 16s are found in Corby (22.6 per cent) and the lowest in East Lindsey (17.7 per cent). For over 65s, the highest proportion are found in East Lindsey (22.2 per cent) and the lowest in Daventry (13.4 per cent).

Within the East Midlands, the most densely populated area is Leicester (38.2 people per hectare) while the least populous is West Lindsey (0.7 people per hectare).

Marital status and types of household

Over half (53.5 per cent) of adults in the East Midlands are married or remarried, the second highest proportion after the East of England.

The region has an above average proportion of married couple households (39.0 per cent compared with 36.5 per cent in England as a whole).

The region has the lowest proportion of one person households (28.2 per cent compared with 30.1 per cent in England).

The East Midlands has the highest proportion of male lone parents (11.0 per cent).

Country of birth

In the East Midlands, 90.8 per cent of the population were born in England compared with 87.4 per cent of England as a whole.

Scottish-born people in the region formed a higher proportion than in England as a whole (1.8 per cent compared with 1.6 per cent). Nineteen per cent of people in Corby were born in Scotland.

Twenty-three per cent of Leicester's population and 11 per cent of the population of Oadby and Wigston were born outside the UK.

Ethnicity

A larger proportion of the East Midland's population identify themselves as White British than the proportion for England as a whole (91.3 per cent compared with 87.0 per cent)

The largest minority ethnic group in the region is Indian (2.9 per cent of the population, compared with 2.1 per cent of the population of England as a whole). Leicester has the highest proportion of Indians in the country - 25.7 per cent. Across the region, other minority ethnic groups are present in smaller numbers than in England as a whole.

Religion

Seventy-two per cent of the population of the East Midlands say their religion is Christian, compared with 71.7 per cent of England as a whole.

The region has the second highest proportion of Hindus in England and Wales (1.6 per cent) and in Leicester, 14.7 per cent of people are Hindu, 11.0 per cent Muslim and 4.2 per cent Sikh. Nearly a quarter of people in Nottingham stated that they had no religion.

Health

In the East Midlands 9.1 per cent of people report their health as being 'not good', close to the English average.

A slightly higher proportion of people in the region report having a limiting long-term illness (18.4 per cent) than the average in England. This is the biggest increase among all regions since 1991, when the proportion reporting a limiting long-term illness was 12.9 per cent.

Bolsover has the highest proportions of people with both a limiting long-term illness (25.8 per cent) and whose health is 'not good' (13.7 per cent). South Northamptonshire has the lowest proportions of people within the region with a limiting long-term illness and 'not good health' (12.9 per cent and 5.8 per cent respectively).

The proportion of people who provide unpaid care for family members, friends or neighbours (10.4 per cent) is slightly higher than for England as a whole.

Economic activity

Over two-thirds (67.1 per cent) of people aged 16 - 74 in the region are economically active, compared with 66.9 per cent in England as a whole and 12.6 per cent people aged 16 - 74 work part-time - the third highest regional percentage.

The East Midlands has the third lowest percentage, 6.2 per cent, of people aged 16 - 74 who are looking after home and family.

Occupation

The East Midlands has the lowest proportion of people working in administrative and secretarial occupations.

The region has the highest proportions of people working in elementary occupations (this includes occupations such as labourers, bar staff, window cleaners and traffic wardens) and the wholesale/retail/motor vehicle repair industries.

Travel to work

The region has the highest percentage of workers travelling to work by car or other motor vehicle (68.4 per cent compared with 62.6 per cent in England and Wales as a whole). This does not include taxis.

Eight per cent of people travel to work on public transport - the lowest regional proportion after the South West.

Qualifications

In the 16 to 74 age group, 31.6 per cent of people in the East Midlands have no qualifications compared with a country-wide average of 28.9 per cent and 16.6 per cent of the population have degree level qualifications, slightly lower than the national average (19.9 per cent).

Housing

The East Midlands has the highest regional percentage of detached property households (32.2 per cent compared with 22.5 per cent in England as a whole).

Conversely, it has the lowest percentage of terraced property households (21.3 per cent compared to 25.8 per cent). It also has the lowest regional proportion of households living in a flat or apartment (9.8 per cent compared with 19.7 per cent).

Regionally, 0.1 per cent of households have no central heating and are without sole access to a bath or shower. This is the second lowest regional percentage (the average for England and Wales was 0.2 per cent). Within the region, Derby has the highest proportion of households with no central heating (11.5 per cent) and Corby has the lowest (2.8 per cent).

A higher proportion of households are owned with a mortgage (40.8 per cent compared with 38.9 per cent in England and Wales as a whole).

Cars or vans

Just under one quarter of households in the East Midlands region has no access to either a car or van. This is slightly less than England as a whole. However, nearly 70 per cent of households own or have access to either one or two cars, while 6.1 per cent have three or more.

Background Notes

1. Census day was 29 April 2001. Census data give a snapshot picture of the country at this time. Population counts by age and sex for England and Wales, Wales, regions of England and English and Welsh local authorities were published on 30 September 2002.

2. The Office for National Statistics is responsible for the census in England and Wales. The Census in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is carried out by the General Register Office for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency respectively. Census data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are released separately.

3. Detailed Census results published today are mainly for England and Wales and its regions and local authorities. Individual press releases are available for Wales and each of the nine English Government Office Regions: North West, North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, South East, London and the East. Press releases covering six key Census topic areas are also issued today: Ethnicity and religion, Families, Health, Households, People and places, Work. Census data published today are available free on the National Statistics website: www.statistics.gov.uk/census/

4. Further releases of Census data will take place through Spring and Summer 2003. In March/April there will be cross-tabulated data, followed by data down to small area/ward level. In the summer will begin a series of multi-source topic reports which draw upon other sources in addition to census to provide detailed pictures of specific topics and areas. Census day was on 29 April 2001. All figures refer to that day.

5. Details of the policy governing the release of new data are available from the press office.

6. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference. © Crown copyright 2003.