White British people are a minority in London: census

For the first time in history, white British people are now in a minority in London. They have been overtaken by the immigrant population from countries like India, the latest census revealed.

For the first time in history, white British people are now in a minority in London. They have been overtaken by the immigrant population from countries like India, the latest census revealed.

Just 3.7 million Londoners described their ethnicity as 'White British' in 2011 - down from 4.3 million in 2001, and making up 44.9% of the city's population.

It is believed to be the first time that British whites have become a minority in any region of the UK.

Another major change came in the decreasing number of Christians - 4 million fewer people claimed to belong to the faith as a quarter of Britons said they had no religion.

In 2011, 7.5 million residents were foreign-born, making up 13%, or one in eight of the population - up from 4.6 million people in 2001.

The total population of England and Wales was 56.1 million, a 7% increase on 2001 - and 55% of the increase is due to migration.

48.2 million people described themselves as being white, making up 86.0% of the population of England and Wales, down from 91.3% a decade earlier.

Within this ethnic group, the 'White British' category was the largest at 45.1 million, or 80.5% of the population, a fall compared to 87% in 2001.

7.5% of the population is Asian, while 3.4% described themselves as black. Unsurprisingly, London was found to be the most ethnically diverse region, while Wales was the least.

London is also home to the most immigrants, as 37% of its residents were born abroad and 24% are not citizens of the UK.

Apart from Poland, the other leading countries of origin for British immigrants were India, Pakistan, Ireland and Germany.