Ethnicity Map of UK: South East England
The South East is the third most ethnically diverse of England's nine regions, behind London and the West Midlands. Although its 9% ethnic minority population is a long way behind London's 40%, it has some areas, like Reading, which are highly diverse.
The South East is only the third largest English region in terms of area covered, but it has more people than any of the others – just over 8 million. Its population density at the time of the 2001 census was 419 people per square kilometre.
Craig David is from Southampton
The South East's position next to London is the main reason for its ethnic diversity, although this varies from one end of the region to the other. Towns like Slough, which are closest to London, have the highest concentration of ethnic minority groups. But further away from London, on the south coast for example, there is a much higher proportion of White British people.
The largest ethnic minority group overall in the South East is White non-British. In places like Surrey, within commuting distance of London and where house prices are high, there is a concentration of migrant City workers from affluent foreign regions like America and Europe. University cities in the South East like Oxford also contribute to this group with their intake of students from overseas.
South East in numbers
Out of every 1,000 people:
- 913 are White British
- 38 are White non-British
- 23 are Asian
- 11 are of mixed race
- 7 are Black
- 4 are Chinese
Focus on... Oxford
Oxford is the second most diverse place in the South East after Slough. But where Slough's biggest ethnic minority groups are Asian, Oxford's is White non-British, mostly due to the famous university and its influence. However, the city's Black and Asian populations are also higher than the national average.
Sources: Office for National Statistics, Commission for Racial Equality
