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Ethnic minorities: ethnic classification in the Census

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

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 

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.

Page last updated: 06 October 2025
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