Last month, 7.6 million people were on universal credit in Great Britain, with the highest numbers seen in Birmingham and Manchester, data visualised by Polimapper shows.
The statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions on Universal Credit claims by ethnicity show that, in March, claims went up by 2% from the previous month.
Out of the 75.9% of claimants who disclosed their ethnicity when responding to the Universal Credit equality questionnaire in March, 4.4 million identified as ‘White’ (76.2%) and 604k identified as ‘Asian/Asian British’ (10.4%). For context, according to Census data, 81.7% of people in England and Wales, and 96% in Scotland, are White, whilst 9.3% in England and Wales and 2.7% in Scotland are from Asian ethnic groups.
Additionally, 346.4k of claimants identified as ‘Black/African/Caribbean/Black British’ (6%), and 169.3k identified as ‘Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups’ (2.9%). In England and Wales, 4% of people identify as ‘Black’ and 2.9% identify as ‘Mixed’. In Scotland, these rates were under 1%.
Universal Credit ethnicity rates remained identical to those from the previous month.
Polimapper has visualised the data from the DWP to reveal cross-country disparities in statistics.
On a local level, the largest number of claims made last month was in Birmingham, at 230k, followed by Manchester (103k), Leeds (101k), and Bradford (98k).
The London areas of Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Newham saw the highest rates of claimants who identified as ‘Asian/Asian British’, at over 45%. Blaenau Gwent, North Ayrshire, Na h-Eileanan Siar, and Torridge registered the highest rates of claimants who identified as ‘White’, over 98%. View statistics in your area below.
About this map
The map below shows Universal Credit statistics by ethnicity and local authority.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page version.
Geodata context
The new data on Universal Credit for March comes amidst April changes to Universal Credit payments, which are set to make claimants better off.
A government spokesperson said: “No-one should be living in poverty, and we know that the best route out of poverty for struggling families is well-paid, secure work.”
“That is why we are reforming our broken welfare system, so it helps people into good jobs, boosting living standards and putting money in people’s pockets.”