In 2000, 7% of people described themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority group.

For the combined years 1996, 1998 and 2000, 50% of people in all ethnic groups were born in the UK compared with 96% of those describing themselves as White. The differences in the age distributions within the ethnic groups reflects the patterns of immigration in Britain.

Among people aged 25 or over, 34% of those describing themselves as Black were born in the UK compared with 14% of those describing themselves as Indian and 13% of those describing themselves as Pakistani or Bangladeshi.

Among those aged under 25, 81% of those describing themselves as Black were born in the UK compared with 91% of those describing themselves as Indian and 78% of those describing themselves as Pakistani or Bangladeshi.

As has been seen in previous years, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi population had the highest proportion of children aged under 16, 38% compared with 30% of the Black population, 27% of the Indian population and 20% of the White population.

At the upper end of the age range the most marked difference was between the White population and each of the ethnic groups. Sixteen per cent of the White population was aged 65 and over, compared with 6% of the Indian population, 5% of the Black population and 3% of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi population. Age variation between minority ethnic groups was evident when taking into account all those aged 45 and over; around 14% of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi population were in this age group compared with 24% of the Indian population and 22% of the Black population.

Of the three main ethnic minority groups, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi population was the most widely dispersed through the regions of England with 26% in London, 21% in the West Midlands, 18% in the North West and 15% in Yorkshire and the Humber. In contrast, 69% of the Black population lived in London.

The average (mean) size of households in the combined years 1996, 1998 and 2000 varied according to the ethnic group of the head of household.

The average household size for Pakistani or Bangladeshi households was the highest at 4.2 persons. For households headed by an Indian householder the average household size was 3.3 persons. Black households averaged 2.5 persons and those headed by a White householder, 2.3 persons.