Younger but poorer. The latest release of facts and figures from the 2001 census gets beneath the surface of the UK's minority ethnic communities.
While they have deep roots in the British Isles, the census confirms that in many walks of life, their experience is completely at odds to the majority of the population.
In February, the census revealed that almost one in 10 people in the UK are members of an ethnic minority. Two local authority areas, both in London, now have non-white majorities.
What the latest figures give us is a deeper understanding of the shape of these communities.
At the time of the census, there were some two million children (17.6%) in households where there are no working adults.
But among Muslim households (predominantly Pakistani and Bangladeshi families), the proportion was far higher. More than a third of these children are in families dependent on benefits.
Muslim families fair much worse in terms of the size of their homes. Two in five children are in homes classed as overcrowded (homes where there are not enough rooms for all members of the family) -three times more than the national average.
Growing communities
With the exception of the Jewish community, minority communities are growing at a faster rate than the general population.
 The priority has to be dealing with unemployment which would do more than anything else to improve general living conditions  |
Half of all those who described themselves as of mixed race parentage were born in the UK, making it the youngest and fastest-growing minority.
Among other groups, more than half of people who describe themselves as either Caribbean or Pakistani were born in England or Wales.
Just under half of Bangladeshi and Indian people are British-born.
In the Chinese group, more than two-thirds were born in the Far-East. Both the Muslim and Sikh communities have higher proportions of younger people.
Jobs market
There is also a huge disparity of experience in the jobs market. Indian communities tend to have similar employment rates to the average.
But Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups have proportionally higher unemployment among men and more women who look after the home.
Unless we are very careful children will be locked into a cycle of poverty - where families can't afford decent housing you get kids who do poorly at school. |
Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups have higher levels of poor health among the elderly, a long-established problem.
Professor Muhammad Anwar of Warwick University's Centre for Research into Ethnic Relations, said overcrowded homes was a serious issue that emerged from both of the previous census results.
"In 1991 the figure for overcrowding was about 32% for Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities," he said.
"The figure for 2001 is much higher. I had thought this may have gone down because it appeared to be the trend.
"What we see is that unemployment is linked to bad housing. Bad housing leads to poorer health, and all these things are connected and have implications for each other."
Professor Anwar said the census supported all other research which showed that unemployment rates among minorities remained higher than the average.
"Some of these things are easy to tackle, some will take a long time," he said.
"The priority has to be dealing with unemployment which would do more than anything else to improve general living conditions.
"People may say that a lot is already being done in this field but that may not necessarily be enough."
Housing and education
Adam Sampson, director of housing charity Shelter, said : "The figures show a clear link between poverty and poor housing.
And when you get poor housing you get reduced life chances."
Poorer communities, including ethnic minorities, were facing two pressures, said Mr Sampson.
Firstly outside of London many were living in areas of dismal housing with poor employment prospects.
Secondly, in London and the south-east the problems of unemployment were exacerbated by the enormous competition for quality affordable housing.
Inevitably the poorest in all ethnic groups were losing out in and living in worse conditions, he warned. This, in turn, influenced how well children did at school - for instance having space to properly complete homework.
"Over the past 10 years we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of children living in poverty," said Mr Sampson.
"Unless we are very careful they will be locked into a cycle of poverty. Where families can't afford decent housing you get kids who do poorly at school.
"And kids who don't have a good education have reduced life chances."
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