Leicester
East Midlands · England 368,571 Population (2021 Census)
33.2% White British (2021)
14.3% White British (2041 projected)
8.4% White British (2051 projected)
Ethnic composition
Census 2021 observed data with Hamilton-Perry projections to 2061.
white british 33.2%
white other 7.7%
asian 43.4%
black 7.8%
mixed 3.8%
other 4.1%
Projected 2051
white british 8.4%
white other 13.4%
asian 45.1%
black 10.7%
mixed 3.6%
other 18.8%
Diversity index
highly diverse Shannon entropy: 0.77 · Dissimilarity: 41.3
Religion
Census 2021 religious composition with projections.
2021 [object Object]
2031 [object Object]
2041 [object Object]
2051 [object Object]
Muslim population projected: 40.4% by 2051
Country of birth
UK-born (2021) 58.9%
Foreign-born (2021) 41.1%
Foreign-born (2051 projected) 76.4%
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 70.0%
notEnglishPct 60.1%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Service demand pressure
Ethnic change20/20
Asylum19/20
School13/20
Language0/20
Housing18/20
Economic profile
Avg employment rate29%
Avg home ownership21.1%
Avg social rent11.2%
Degree or above13.4%
No qualifications12.7%
Housing demand projection
Census 2021 tenure patterns by ethnicity, projected to 2041 from demographic composition change.
Ownership (2021)21.1%
Social rent (2021)11.2%
Private rent (2021)16.4%
Ownership (2041)15.3%
Social rent (2041)9.2%
Social rent change-2.1pp
High foreign-born population growth will drive additional housing demand, particularly in the private rented sector.
School demographics
DfE School Census 2024/25. 59,741 pupils.
WBI pupils20.5%
Minority pupils79.5%
EAL growth (projected)+12.7pp
WBI gap (school vs population)12.7pp
Schools are 13pp more diverse than the general population — schools show the future.
English proficiency
mainLanguageEnglishPct 70.0%
notEnglishPct 60.1%
cannotSpeakEnglishPct 0.0%
Projected non-English growth+18.9pp
NHS and council services will need increased interpreter/translation provision.
Asylum and immigration data
Asylum seekers on support, hotel costs, grant rates, and the True Cost of Asylum for this area.
View Leicester on Asylum Stats →