Afro-Caribbean residents in Brixton 2000 to 2022

FOI/2023/5035

You asked

This is a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like to request the following information:

• The population of Afro- Caribbean residents living in Brixton between 2000- 2022  
• Number of young people aged 20-25 years living in Brixton in 2022

We said

Thank you for your freedom of information request on the following:

• The population of Afro- Caribbean residents living in Brixton between 2000- 2022  
• Number of young people aged 20-25 years living in Brixton in 2022

Our main source for population estimates by ethnic group is the Census. We can provide you with data from a particular census year such as 2001, 2011 and 2021. However, it is important to note that these estimates reflect the population on Census Day and will not include changes since then.

We have defined the area of Brixton as falling within the Local Authority of Lambeth and the data would be included within it. However, as shown by the maps in the associated download, named 'Wards within Lambeth Brixton Census 2001, 2011 and 2021.png', we have included data for the wards that encompass Brixton which are Brixton Hill, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Herne Hill and Tulse Hill for the 2001 and 2011 censuses and for Census 2021 Brixton Acre Lane, Brixton North, Brixton Rush Common, Brixton Windrush and Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction.

For the 2011 Census, the ethnic group of Afro-Caribbean is classed as a write-in response. Similar write-ins like this are grouped together and are coded into White and Black Caribbean as shown below. This will be reflected in the census data.

We have provided the following datasets in the associated downloads "Brixton wards residents aged 20-25 years", "Ethnic groups in Brixton area" with a separate colour coded tab for each:

The 2001 Census

• KS006 - Ethnic group for the wards of Brixton Hill, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and the Local Authority of Lambeth.

The 2011 Census

• KS201EW - Ethnic group for the wards of Brixton Hill, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill and the Local Authority of Lambeth.

Census 2021

• TS021 - Ethnic group for the wards of Brixton Acre Lane, Brixton North, Brixton Rush, Brixton Windrush, Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction and the Local Authority of Lambeth.

• TS007 - Age by single year for the wards of Brixton Acre Lane, Brixton North, Brixton Rush, Brixton Windrush, Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction and the Local Authority of Lambeth.

The specific data you require is detailed on rows 35 -- 39 and row 41 and highlighted in yellow. The data we have provided has been produced using the Nomis website. Nomis is maintained by Durham University on behalf of ONS. You have also asked for the number of young people aged 20-25 years living in Brixton in 2022.  The 2022 sub-national population data will be released in the Autumn 2023. The associated download named 'Age by single year - Brixton area' contains the latest 2020 data for the Brixton wards of Brixton Hill, Coldharbour, Ferndale, Herne Hill, Tulse Hill broken down by ages 20-25, males, females total population for your information.

As such, the information you have requested for 2022 is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future.

Furthermore, as a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration, and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.

This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.

The following instructions explain how to use NOMIS to create a query - this will allow you to examine further data variables should you wish to do so.

• Open the NOMIS website
• Go to Query data
• Go to Population Estimates/Projections
• Choose population estimates - small area based single year of age -- England and Wales (2011-2020)
• Choose the geography - 2019 electoral wards
• Choose areas within - Lambeth
• Tick the wards you require as above
• Choose the date
• Tick the year you require -- latest date is 2020
• Untick the all ages arrow
• Click the ages you require
• Choose the sex you require
• Untick the total column (unless you require it)
• Choose summary selections (check your choices)
• Format/Layout  
• Choose Microsoft Excel
• Download data and save the file produced

If you would like to keep up to date with future small area population estimates you can subscribe to the ONS migration and population statistics mailing list.  You can also subscribe separately to our monthly newsletter which provides the latest population and migration news.

If we can be of further assistance with census data, please do contact Census Customer Services at Census.Customer.Services@ons.gov.uk.