Introduction

Scotland’s Census 2022 Data on Roma people in Scotland

This report presents analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022 data on Roma demographics. Scotland’s Census provides statistics representing the total population, providing a snapshot of the nation across a wide range of topics. This allows data users to look at the associations between different characteristics. 

New Availability of Roma Statistics and creating a better Understanding of Scotland’s Roma Population 

The Roma ethnic group has been recorded for the first time in Scotland’s Census in 2022. NRS’ comprehensive user engagement for developing Census 2022 ethnic group questions revealed strong user requirements to capture information about the Roma population in Scotland in order to improve services for this group and to support policy development and monitoring. Topics users were interested in included health, qualification levels, employment, housing, and tenure. 

When referring to “Roma people” in Scotland, we take this to mean minority ethnic communities who have usually migrated from EU member states (e.g. Central and Eastern European countries such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Poland). The Office for National Statistics provide the following definition: “The term ‘Roma’ refers to an ethnic group which is believed to have originated in Northern India and migrated through Europe over many centuries. In the UK today, the majority of Roma migrated from Europe after the EU accessions of 2004 and 2007.”

This is a distinct ethnic group and stakeholder engagement conducted by the NRS found that Roma respondents preferred a standalone “Roma” tick box in the Census, as opposed to the response options available in Scotland’s Census 2011. The analysis of Scotland’s Census 2022 data will enable a better understanding of Roma people as a racialised minority group in Scotland separate from the umbrella term ‘Gypsy/Traveller’. 

Considerations for Roma Census 2022 Data and Analysis

Quality assurance issues 

During quality assurance processes, NRS found a higher proportion of individuals born in Italy that identified as Roma than expected. NRS explained: “Around 36.5% of the Roma population reported their county of birth as Italy, compared with only 19.1% born in Romania, the second most common country of birth. In total, this amounts to 1,200 people born in Italy out of the total 3,200 Roma population.” They also explained that they “believe the box may have been ticked in error by individuals born in Rome, Italy but cannot conclusively determine what proportion of individuals may have inadvertently ticked the wrong ethnicity, as some are likely to be people who would be considered part of the Roma ethnic group. We have decided to publish this data despite this quality issue, but we recommend that users consider this when interpreting results for the Roma population.” 

For this reason, analysis included in this report has excluded responses from individuals who selected the Roma ethnic group and Italy as their country of birth. Since it is not possible to determine how many individuals ticked the Roma category in error, there is a risk that some Roma people born in Italy will be undercounted in this approach. Despite this, given the detail of analysis in this report, this approach will still reduce uncertainty when interpreting results. This report is accompanied by an Excel document, which contains data tables for the Roma estimates excluding those born in Italy.

Small sample size and non-disclosure controls 

Analysing the outcomes associated with a small population group needs caution when interpreting percentages based on small breakdowns. This is because a small change in responses might result in a large apparent effect on the calculated proportions. 

In order to protect against disclosure of personal information, Statistical Disclosure Control has been applied to the data/outputs. Cells might not sum to sub-totals and totals due to these Statistical Disclosure Controls. To find out more on this visit Scotland's Census statistical disclosure control.  

Descriptive statistics and causation 

The statistical analysis in this report is based on descriptive statistics methods. This means the report will describe the characteristics associated with Roma people as recorded in the Census 2022 results, however is unable to uncover what causal factors have influenced any these demographic characteristics or outcomes. 

Comparative analysis

This report includes a chapter that draws high level comparisons between the Roma population, the ‘all of Scotland’ population, the Gypsy/Traveller population, and the Showpeople population.

While Roma, Gypsy/Traveller, and Showpeople may sometimes be grouped under the umbrella term “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller,” policymakers and analysts in Scotland are keen to recognise and understand the distinct experiences and outcomes of these different communities.

The Scotland Census 2022 included additional text-boxes for ‘Roma’ and ‘Showman/Showwoman’ for the first time, following stakeholder engagement. Due to these changes, NRS quality assurance reporting has highlighted that the ‘Gypsy/Traveller’ category is no longer fully comparable to the Census 2011, since some people in the Showman/Showwoman or Roma groups may have ticked the Gypsy/Traveller category at that time.

Official Statistics

These statistics are official statistics. Official statistics are statistics that are produced by crown bodies, those acting on behalf of crown bodies, or those specified in statutory orders, as defined in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Scottish Government statistics are regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

More information about Scottish Government statistics is available on the Scottish Government website.