London Demographics

The name 'England' is itself derived from the Anglo-Saxon tribes that, along with the Jutes, began migrating to Great Britain during the 5th Century AD. Initially based in the southeast corner of the island, these Germanic groups began to displace established Celtic societies that, having been ruled by Rome for nearly four centuries, had adopted many aspects of Mediterranean culture. The following centuries saw the Anglo-Saxons gradually expand across most of the interior of Great Britain, though resistance from the Picts in what is today Scotland and various other Celtic groups in Wales preserved many of the customs of those cultures. The Anglo-Saxons, however, continued to reinforce their strategic position and so were free to develop unique political, artistic, and literary traditions. Their language evolved into an early form of the English that is spoken today and, after several centuries of internecine warfare, a unified kingdom was established. Though experiencing a period of relative peace and prosperity under Alfred the Great, this kingdom eventually came under the influence of Danish power brokers in the east and, eventually, saw its aristocratic class largely displaced by Norman elites after 1066. Indeed, many of the kingdom's oldest surviving structures, both public and privately held, were constructed by the Norman conquerors.

Today, however, there are many researchers who believe, based on recent advances in genetics and anthropology, that most Britons are actually not the descendants of the various groups, like the Celts, Anglo-Saxons, or even Norse, that invaded the island during the historical period. Contrary to popular belief, they argue that the bulk of the populace is actually descended from the prehistoric inhabitants of the British Isles. It should be noted, though, that genetics is still a developing science and that more is sure to be learned about populations in the future.

Currently, approximately 82% of the inhabitants of England identify themselves as 'White British', with another 1% listing Irish and further 3-4% listing 'White: Other' as their ethnicity. The remaining population is largely composed of either individuals who migrated directly from former British overseas territories, like Pakistan, or their children. Indeed, Pakistani-British account for nearly 2% of the entire populace, with nearly another 3% identifying as Indian-British. Bangladeshis and other individuals with Southeast Asian origins compose 1.4% of English society. A further 3% of England's inhabitants trace their families back to Africa or the Caribbean.

Though the Church of England has lost a significant number of regular attendees in recent decades, roughly 71% of England's inhabitants identify themselves as Christians. This number includes members of the Church of Scotland, other Protestant denominations, and Roman Catholics as well as participants in the Anglican Union. A further 15% do not identify their faith in regular surveys and census programs and a similar number reports having no religion. Because of the influx of migrants from Africa and Southeast Asia in recent decades, the number of Muslim inhabitants is increasing. Composing about 3% of the population, the followers of the Islamic faith have largely settled in large urban areas like London. Sikhs and Hindus, many of whom can trace their ancestors' arrival in England to the days of the British Empire, form slightly less than another 2% of the population. English Jews, whose community has historical origins in the British Isles that stretch back for centuries, account for approximately .5% of England's inhabitants.