Ethnic minorities: ethnic classification in the Census

The table below shows different Census classifications used in Scotland in 2001, 2011 and 2022.

Please note: If you require the most up-to-date data available, please check the data sources directly as new data may have been published since these data pages were last updated. Although we endeavour to ensure that the data pages are kept up-to-date, there may be a time lag between new data being published and the relevant ScotPHO web pages being updated.

Scotland 2001	Northern Ireland 2001	Scotland 2011	Scotland 2022
White Scottish	White	White: Scottish	White: Scottish
Other White British		White: Other British	White: Other British
White Irish		White: Irish	White: Irish
Other White	Irish Traveller	White: Gypsy Traveller, White: Polish, White: Other	White: Gypsy Traveller, White: Polish, White: Roma, White: Showperson, White: Other
Any Mixed Background	Mixed	Mixed or multiple
			Mixed or multiple ethnic group


Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Indian	Indian	Asian: Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British	Asian: Indian, Indian Scottish or Indian British
Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Pakistani	Pakistani	Asian: Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British	Asian: Pakistani, Pakistani Scottish or Pakistani British
Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Bangladeshi	Bangladeshi	Asian: Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Scottish or Bangladeshi British	Asian: Bangladeshi, Bangladeshi Scottish or Bangladeshi British
Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Any other Asian background	Other Asian	Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Other	Asian: Other Asian
Black, Black Scottish or Black British: Caribbean	Black Caribbean	Caribbean or Black: Caribbean, Caribbean Scottish or Caribbean British	Caribbean, Caribbean Scottish or Caribbean British,
Black, Black Scottish or Black British: African	Black African	African: African Scottish or African British	African: African Scottish or African British
Black, Black Scottish or Black British: Other Black	Other Black	African: Other, Caribbean or Black: Black, Black Scottish or Black British, Other	African: Other Caribbean or Black, Black, Black Scottish or Black British, Other African
Asian, Asian Scottish or Asian British: Chinese	Chinese	Asian: Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British	Asian: Chinese, Chinese Scottish or Chinese British,
Other ethnic Background	Other ethnic group	Other: Arab Other	Other: Arab, Arab Scottish or Arab British, Other Ethnic Group