Last updated: 28 June 2024

Next review: 28 December 2024

This content is part of the Waltham Forest JSNA. To see other JSNA content, visit the JSNA landing page

Waltham Forest is one of the most ethnically diverse local authorities in England. Based on the 2021 Census, around 64% of the population are from ethnic groups other than White British or Irish, compared to 61% in London and 26% across England. This includes 20% of population who are identifying as Asian or Asian British; 15% Black or Black British; 7% from Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups; 19% from Other White and 6% from any other ethnic group.  

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Chart for Population by ethnic group

Source: Office for National Statistics – Census 2021. Date accessed: 09/03/2023.  

Out of the 19 available options for describing their ethnic group, most of Waltham Forest’s population come from the following groups:  White British (34%); Other White (17%); Pakistani (10%); Black African (7%); and Black Caribbean (6%).  

Table 1. Population by ethnic group in Waltham Forest, 2021 Census 

Ethnic group 

Ethnic subgroup

Count 

Percentage

Asian or Asian British Bangladeshi 5,200 2%
  Chinese 2,600 1%
  Indian 9,100 3%
  Pakistani 28,700 10%
  Other Asian 9,900 4%
Black or Black British African 18,800 7%
  Caribbean 17,600 6%
  Other Black 5,300 1%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups White and Asian 3,900 1%
  White and Black African 2,800 1%
  White and Black Caribbean  5,100 2%
  Other Mixed 6,200 2%
White British 94,000 34%
  Irish 4,200 2%
  Gypsy or Irish Traveller 200 0%
  Roma 1,400 1%
  Other White 46,400 17%

Source: Office for National Statistics – Census 2021. Date accessed: 09/03/2023.