DescriptionOfficial definition of Black British identity: Census 2021 categories, terminology, historical context, and self-identification patterns in the UK. ONS ethnicity classifications.

What is Black British? Definition, Identity & Census Categories 2021

Black British people or Black Britons are a multi-ethnic group of British people who have ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa.

The term black has historically had a number of applications as a racial and political label. It may also be used in a wider sociopolitical context to encompass a broader range of non-European ethnic minority populations in Britain, though this usage has become less common over time. Black British is one of several self-designation entries used in official UK ethnicity classifications.

The ONS Census 2021 uses three tick-box categories under the "Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African" heading. Respondents can select one of these options or write in a more specific identity.

African

People with heritage from sub-Saharan African countries. The largest groups are Nigerian, Ghanaian, Somali, Zimbabwean, and South African. This category includes both first-generation migrants and UK-born descendants.

Caribbean

People with heritage from Caribbean countries, primarily Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and other former British colonies. Many Caribbean families have been in the UK for three or four generations, with roots in the Windrush generation of the 1940s–1960s.

Any other Black background

A write-in category for people who identify as Black but do not fit the African or Caribbean categories. This includes people of mixed Black heritage, Black British people who do not identify with a specific heritage group, and people from other Black diaspora communities.

"Black British" emphasises UK citizenship and belonging. "Black" is a broader racial category that may or may not include national identity. Many people use both terms interchangeably, but "Black British" is more common in official contexts and among UK-born generations.

These are heritage categories, not identities. A person born in the UK to Nigerian parents may identify as Black British, British Nigerian, African, or simply Black — all are valid. The Census categories are administrative tools, not prescriptive labels.

BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) and BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) are umbrella terms used in policy and research. Many Black British people reject these terms as they erase specific experiences and lump together groups with very different histories. "People of Colour" is an American term rarely used in the UK.

"Black" is capitalised when referring to people or identity (e.g., "Black British", "Black communities") but not when used as a colour descriptor. This follows the convention used by the ONS, major UK news organisations, and style guides.

In the 1970s and 1980s, "Black" was used as a political identity encompassing all non-white people facing racism in Britain — including South Asian, Arab, and other communities. This usage has declined significantly, and "Black" now primarily refers to people of African and Caribbean heritage.

The 1991 Census was the first to include "Black Caribbean" and "Black African" as separate categories. Before this, Black British people were grouped under "Other" or not counted separately at all. The 2001 Census added "Black Other", and 2021 updated the wording to "Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African" to reflect devolved identities.

The Windrush generation (1948–1971) brought Caribbean migrants to the UK, forming the foundation of the Black British Caribbean community. From the 1980s onwards, migration from sub-Saharan Africa — particularly Nigeria, Ghana, and Somalia — grew significantly, making Black African the larger of the two groups by 2011.

How people identify varies by generation, heritage, and context. Census data shows clear patterns, but individual identity is more complex than tick-box categories.

First-generation migrants

More likely to identify with their country of origin (e.g., "Nigerian", "Jamaican") than with "Black British". Many use hyphenated identities like "British Nigerian" or "British Jamaican".

Second and third generation

More likely to identify as "Black British" or simply "British". Heritage remains important, but UK identity is primary. Many feel a disconnect from their parents' or grandparents' country of origin.

Mixed heritage

People with one Black parent and one non-Black parent may identify as "Mixed", "Black", or both, depending on context. The Census has separate Mixed categories, but many people with Black heritage identify as Black regardless of the other parent's ethnicity.

Regional variation

In London, where Black British people make up 13.5% of the population, "Black British" is a widely understood and used identity. Outside London, where Black communities are smaller and more dispersed, people may emphasise their heritage more strongly.

"Black British" is a self-identification category. If someone ticks a Black category on the Census or describes themselves as Black British, they are included in the data. This means:

Yes:

People born in the UK to Black parents, first-generation migrants from Africa or the Caribbean, people with one Black parent who identify as Black, and people from other Black diaspora communities (e.g., Black American, Black Brazilian) living in the UK.

No:

People who identify as Mixed but not Black, people from North African or Middle Eastern countries (who are counted under "Arab" or "Other ethnic group"), and people who identify with other ethnic categories.

Ambiguous:

People with one Black grandparent, people from North African countries with sub-Saharan heritage, and people who identify as "Other Black" without specifying further. Census categories cannot capture every nuance of identity.

Ethnicity data is used to monitor inequality, allocate resources, and hold institutions accountable. Without accurate data, disparities in health, education, employment, and criminal justice cannot be measured or addressed.

Policy and resource allocation

Government departments use Census data to plan services, allocate funding, and design interventions. For example, maternal mortality data by ethnicity led to targeted NHS programmes for Black women.

Accountability and transparency

Ethnicity pay gap reporting, workforce diversity data, and stop-and-search statistics all rely on consistent ethnicity categories. Without them, institutions cannot be held accountable for discrimination.

Research and understanding

Academic research on health, education, and social outcomes depends on ethnicity data. Longitudinal studies tracking outcomes over time require consistent categories across Census waves.

Census categories are administrative tools, not perfect reflections of identity. They have known limitations:

Homogenisation:

"Black African" includes people from 54 countries with vastly different cultures, languages, and histories. Nigerian and Somali experiences in the UK are not the same.

Mixed heritage erasure:

People with one Black parent may identify as Black, Mixed, or both, but must choose one category on the Census. This undercounts mixed-heritage people and distorts data.

Generational differences:

Third-generation Black British people may have no connection to their grandparents' country of origin, but are still categorised by heritage rather than lived experience.

Intersectionality:

Ethnicity categories do not capture class, religion, disability, sexuality, or other identities that shape experience. A wealthy Black British lawyer and a Black British person on Universal Credit face different barriers.

Sources:

Full methodology →

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What is Black British? Definition, Identity & Census Categories

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Official definition of Black British identity: Census 2021 categories, terminology, historical context, and self-identification patterns in the UK.

UK Black Demographics

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Official definition of Black British identity: Census 2021 categories, terminology, historical context. ONS ethnicity classifications.

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Definition & Identity

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Official definition of Black British identity, Census 2021 categories, terminology, and self-identification patterns in the UK.

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Black British definition

Black British identity

Census 2021 ethnicity

Black African UK

Black Caribbean UK

UK ethnicity classifications

author

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Black British

dateModified

2021

What does 'Black British' mean?

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Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African

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Black

People of Colour

Black communities

Black Caribbean

Black African

Other

Black Other

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Nigerian

Jamaican

British Nigerian

British Jamaican

British

or grandparents

Mixed

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Arab

Other ethnic group

Other Black

/methodology

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