The CRE launched the findings of a YouGov survey today showing that the UK's white majority population is integrating less with other communities than the non-white population.

Most white people (94%) have few or no ethnic minority friends, while nearly half (47%) of non-white people, say most or all of their close friends are white.

Commenting on the findings, Trevor Phillips, CRE chair said:

'It surprised me the extent to which the majority community still does not really know minority communities. When it comes to race and religion this clearly shows that we are dealing with a difference of which most people in this country have no first-hand experience.

'Therefore it is not surprising that they can be misled about blacks, Gypsies and Muslims, and it's not surprising that for no apparent reason they can become hostile and racist.'

The findings also show that older people from ethnic minorities are far more likely to integrate than younger people from ethnic minorities, with 58% of over 50s having mainly or entirely white friends, compared to only 36% among the under 30s. The reverse is true of younger white people (43%) who mix more than the older population, that are more likely to have white-only friends (60%).

The pattern is repeated in terms of contact with those who practice major faiths. Most white people (83%) have no friends who are practicing Muslims, while nearly half (48%) of non-white people do. Only around 10% of white people have friends who are practicing Hindus or Sikhs whereas non-white people have at least one friend who is either Sikh (30%) or Hindu (45%).

The findings suggest that racial barriers have to some extent come down, but integration is far from complete. 70% of white people and almost as many non-white people (65%) agree that ethnic minority Britons too often live apart from the rest of society.

Big majorities of both white and non-white people support specified measures to bring communities closer together.

Key findings

The CRE commissioned YouGov to conduct a survey among white and non-white Britons to test a number of current issues concerned with ethnic and religious differences.

YouGov questioned a total of 2,871 electors throughout Britain between 21 and 25 June, 2004. Of these, 2065 were people who had previously described themselves to YouGov as "white" and 806 who had described themselves as non-white. The data was combined (with the non-white sample downweighted to reflect its numbers within Britain as a whole) The white and non-white samples were themselves weighted to ensure that each group within each group reflected its numbers in the electorate as a whole.

Thirty-one per cent of non-white people, but only 1% of white people, say most or all of their close friends are non-white. This is one of the few areas where there are clear differences among ethnic minority groups. Black and, especially, mixed race Britons are more likely to have a significant number of white friends that Asian Britons.

Just over half of all white people (54%) say all their close friends are white; 46% say at least one is non-white. Older white respondents are more likely to have white-only friends: for this group the proportion is 60%, compared with 43% among under 30s.

Among non-white people, only 19% of over 50s have friends who are mainly or entirely from ethnic minorities; the proportion rises to 39% among under 30s. And whereas 58% of over 50s have mainly or entirely white friends, the proportion falls to 36% among under 30s.

Most people, both white and non-white, have friends who are practicing Christians; only 23% of whites and 20% of non-whites do not.
For further information contact the CRE press office on 020 7939 0072/0106 or 07876 453 779.
About the CRE

The Race Relations Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against anyone on grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. The Commission for Racial Equality was established under the Act to work for the elimination of discrimination, the promotion of equality of opportunity and good race relations generally.

The Commission can advise or assist people with cases before courts and employment tribunals and can conduct its own investigations when it has grounds to believe discrimination may be taking place.

Public bodies have a duty to eliminate discrimination in the way they work and to promote equality of opportunity and good race relations. The Commission is working to help them deliver this duty.