How Southampton's population has changed in the past decade

The newly published ONS Census reveals a breakdown of the ethnic groupings in the city. Four in five people are white.

'Diversity is a strength' 

Project and station manager at Unity 101, Southampton’s South Asian and ethnic radio station, Ram Kalyan "Kelly" said: “Over the past 50 years, people from all over the world have decided to make Southampton their home.

Station manager Ram Kalyan Kelly (left) with Ash Rajput (Image: Newsquest)

“With that, they bring their culture, their food, their etiquette, and their languages which enriches our lives, and together make us stronger in co-existing as one.

“After all, diversity is a strength, not a threat.”

READ MORE: One in three Southampton residents are from an ethnic minority, Census shows

The census data revealed:

• Around 10 per cent of people identified as Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh. This included those who identified as Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani and Other Asian.
• Some three per cent identified as Black, Black British Black Welsh, Caribbean or African. This included those who identified as African, Caribbean or Other Black.
• More than three per cent identified as being in Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups.
• More than 80 per cent identified as being white, and this category included 11.56 per cent of people who identified as white - other, plus other white minorities.
• More than two per cent of people identified as being in other ethnic groups.

'Multicultural city'

For Bitterne resident Nagina Kaleem, Southampton is a multicultural city.

The 54-year-old said: “Like other parts of the country, Southampton is a multicultural city and communities from different backgrounds are growing in number.

Nagina Kaleem (Image: Shivalika Puri, Newsquest)

“Coming to a new country is always a big challenge, therefore, people coming to the UK are facing similar challenges of integration and understanding of a new culture and British values.

“It is vital that communities living in a country should understand the host country’s cultural values.

“Overall love and compassion are the dominant values of British culture but still many communities find it hard to integrate into British society.”

READ NEXT: Dozens of drivers face losing jobs as bus company pulls service

St Mary’s in Southampton has the highest population of Asian or Asian British residents, with a total of 7.1 per cent.

St Mary’s also has the highest number of Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African residents.

However, Ocean Village has the highest percentage of mixed or multiple ethnic groups with 1.4 per cent.

'Welcoming city' 

Lifelong Southampton resident and Lord Mayor Cllr Jacqui Rayment said: “Southampton has always been a city that welcomes people from all over the world, right back to the Windrush generation, so I am not surprised at the increasing numbers of different nationalities and faiths that come to the city.

Cllr Jacqui Rayment (Image: Newsquest)

“I think that they all contribute to making Southampton a vibrant, culturally diverse, and welcoming city.”

Research from UK immigration solicitors OTS revealed a top ten list of the most ethnically diverse cities to live in England and Wales.

However, Southampton did not make the cut.

Despite this, the city’s increase in ethnic groups is a “positive sign".

President of Gurdwara Nanaksar on Peterborough Road, Sukhdev Singh Sahota, said: "I moved to Southampton a long time ago with my family.

"Southampton is a multicultural society where people are nice and helpful.

"Here you will find people from different backgrounds and communities.

"I think it's a positive sign to see the increase in ethnic groups in our city."

This is a snapshot of the data available.

You can view the other data for ethnic groups in Southampton on the ONS website.

• Correction: An earlier version of this article, along with a similar article, wrongly counted white minority ethnicities as non-white. This led to an incorrect report that one in three people in Southampton are non-white. The correct figure is one in five. This was due to the story being based in part on third party analysis of ONS data. We apologise for the error and are happy to correct the record.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook