List of ethnic groups

If you’re in a government service team, there’s a design pattern for asking users for their ethnic group

In England and Wales, there are 18 ethnic groups recommended for use by government when they
ask for someone’s ethnicity. These are grouped into 5 broad ethnic groups, each with an ‘Any other’ option where
respondents can write in their ethnicity using their own words.

The recommended ethnic groups are:

White

• English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British
• Irish
• Gypsy or Irish Traveller
• Any other White background

Mixed / Multiple ethnic groups

• White and Black Caribbean
• White and Black African
• White and Asian
• Any other Mixed / Multiple ethnic background

Asian / Asian British

• Indian
• Pakistani
• Bangladeshi
• Chinese
• Any other Asian background

Black / African / Caribbean / Black British

• African
• Caribbean
• Any other Black / African / Caribbean background

Other ethnic group

• Arab
• Any other ethnic group

In Wales, the first option in the White broad category is changed so that Welsh appears first
in the list, followed by English, Scottish, Northern Irish and British.

See statistics on the population
of England and Wales broken down by ethnicity.