Civil Service workforce

Published 27 March 2023

There is a new version of this page. View the latest version.

Contents

1. Main facts and figures

• there were around 510,080 people working for the UK civil service at the end of March 2022

• ethnicity was known for around 417,380 of all civil servants (81.8%)

• 85.0% of civil servants with known ethnicity were from the white ethnic group, compared with 80.7% of the working age population in the 2021 Census

• 8.1% of civil servants were Asian, 4.1% were black, 2.2% had mixed ethnicity, and 0.6% were from the 'other' ethnic group

• out of all regions in the UK, London had the highest percentage of staff from each of the ethnic minority groups (36.1%)

• 85.8% of men and 84.3% of women working in the Civil Service were white

• in general, the younger staff were, the more likely they were to be from ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities)

2. Things you need to know

What the data measures

The data shows the number and percentage of civil servants, by ethnicity.

Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect values for civil servants whose employment status was ‘In Post’ as at 31 March each year.

The data includes everyone with a Civil Service employment contract. Employees can be permanent, on a fixed-term contract or employed on a casual basis. It shows the total number of full and part-time civil servants.

Total staff numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. This means some figures may not add up to the totals shown.

Not included in the data

The data does not include people working for:

• the NHS
• non-departmental public bodies
• the Northern Ireland Civil Service
• central government in security posts

It also does not include people who were:

• not on the payroll, such as contractors
• not paid during the period covered, such as staff taking unpaid leave

Percentages based on fewer than 5 people are not shown. This is to protect people’s confidentiality, and because the numbers are too small to make reliable generalisations.

The ethnic groups used in the data

Figures are shown for the following 5 ethnic groups:

• Asian
• black
• mixed
• white
• 'other'

This is because the number of people surveyed was too small to make any reliable conclusions about any of the 19 ethnic groups used in the 2021 Census.

Ethnicity was not known or refused for 18.2% of civil servants in 2022.

The total headcounts only include civil servants whose ethnicity was known. The percentages are also based only on staff whose ethnicity was known.

Before 2022, civil servants who identified as Chinese were grouped under a separate Chinese ethnic group. As of 2022, they are now grouped under the Asian ethnic group, which may affect comparisons with previous years.

Methodology

Read the detailed methodology document for the data on this page.

Comparisons to the working-age population (people aged 16 to 64 years) in England and Wales are from the 2021 Census. This is a different geographic area to the data on civil servants (UK and abroad), so these comparisons are indicative only.

In the data file

See Download the data for:

• the headcount and percentages for civil servants by gender

• data on those with unknown ethnicity, and for those that refused to provide their ethnicity

3. By ethnicity

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and headcounts of civil service workforce in 2022, by ethnicity

Ethnicity	%	Headcount
All	100.0	417,380
Asian	8.1	33,650
Black	4.1	17,080
Mixed	2.2	9,170
White	85.0	354,830
Other	0.6	2,650
Unknown	N/A*	92,700

^* Not applicable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity Summary

The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:

• 85.0% of civil servants were white

• 8.1% of civil servants were Asian, 4.1% were black, 2.2% had mixed ethnicity, 0.6% were from the 'other' ethnic group

4. By ethnicity over time

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2015 to 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and number of civil servants by ethnicity over time

	All		Asian		Black		Chinese		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Year	All %	All Headcount	Asian %	Asian Headcount	Black %	Black Headcount	Chinese %	Chinese Headcount	Mixed %	Mixed Headcount	White %	White Headcount	Other %	Other Headcount	Unknown %	Unknown Headcount
2015	100.0	341,660	5.4	18,560	3.0	10,210	0.3	890	1.3	4,410	89.4	305,550	0.6	2,040	N/A*	97,670
2016	100.0	319,830	5.8	18,690	3.1	9,950	0.3	880	1.4	4,460	88.8	284,140	0.5	1,710	N/A*	98,510
2017	100.0	321,150	6.2	19,780	3.2	10,230	0.3	910	1.5	4,740	88.4	283,740	0.5	1,750	N/A*	98,250
2018	100.0	321,770	6.4	20,470	3.2	10,350	0.3	960	1.5	4,950	88.0	283,300	0.5	1,740	N/A*	108,310
2019	100.0	349,230	6.6	23,190	3.4	11,990	0.3	1,080	1.8	6,140	87.3	304,850	0.6	1,980	N/A*	96,260
2020	100.0	369,390	7.0	25,870	3.5	12,800	0.3	1,110	1.8	6,800	86.8	320,580	0.6	2,230	N/A*	87,020
2021	100.0	397,260	7.3	29,160	3.9	15,600	0.3	1,250	2.1	8,260	85.7	340,400	0.7	2,590	N/A*	87,630
2022	100.0	417,380	8.1	33,650	4.1	17,080	N/A*	N/A*	2.2	9,170	85.0	354,830	0.6	2,650	N/A*	92,700

^* Not applicable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity over time Summary

The data shows that, between 2015 and 2022:

• the total number of civil servants increased from 439,330 to 510,080

• the number of civil servants with known ethnicity went up from 341,660 to 417,380

• for civil servants whose ethnicity was known, the total percentage from ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) went up from 10.6% to 15.0%

• the number of white civil servants increased by 49,280, but their percentage of the overall workforce went down from 89.4% to 85.0%

• the percentage of Asian civil servants went up from 5.4% to 6.6% – an increase of around 15,090 staff

• the number of civil servants in the ‘other’ ethnic group went up the least (around 600 staff) and the percentage of the overall workforce stayed at 0.6%

5. By ethnicity and grade

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and number of civil servants by ethnicity and grade

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Grade	All %	All Headcount	Asian %	Asian Headcount	Black %	Black Headcount	Mixed %	Mixed Headcount	White %	White Headcount	Other %	Other Headcount	Unknown %	Unknown Headcount
All	100.0	417,380	8.1	33,650	4.1	17,080	2.2	9,170	85.0	354,830	0.6	2,650	N/A*	92,700
Senior Civil Service	100.0	6,090	5.4	330	1.6	100	2.5	150	89.7	5,460	0.8	50	N/A*	1,140
Grades 6 & 7	100.0	57,450	6.7	3,830	2.6	1,480	2.6	1,480	87.4	50,220	0.8	440	N/A*	12,010
Senior and higher executive officer	100.0	117,140	8.0	9,320	3.8	4,500	2.3	2,650	85.3	99,900	0.7	770	N/A*	24,390
Executive officers	100.0	109,720	9.9	10,820	5.2	5,660	2.1	2,320	82.2	90,190	0.7	730	N/A*	21,550
Administrative officers and assistants	100.0	109,730	7.8	8,510	3.8	4,150	1.8	2,010	86.1	94,500	0.5	560	N/A*	27,440
Unknown grade	100.0	17,280	4.9	840	6.9	1,200	3.2	560	84.3	14,570	0.6	110	N/A*	6,180

^* Not applicable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and grade Summary

The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:

• Asian people made up 5.4% of civil servants at 'SCS Level' (the highest grade), and 7.8% of administrative officers and assistants (the most junior grade)

• black people made up 1.6% of civil servants at SCS Level, and 3.8% of administrative officers and assistants

• people with mixed ethnic backgrounds made up 2.5% of civil servants at SCS Level, and 1.8% of administrative officers and assistants

• white people made up 89.7% of civil servants at SCS Level, and 86.1% of administrative officers and assistants

• out of all grades, executive officers (the second most junior grade) had the highest percentage of Asian (9.9%) and black (5.2%) civil servants

6. By ethnicity and area

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and number of civil servants by ethnicity and area

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Geography	All %	All Headcount	Asian %	Asian Headcount	Black %	Black Headcount	Mixed %	Mixed Headcount	White %	White Headcount	Other %	Other Headcount	Unknown %	Unknown Headcount
All	100.0	417,380	8.1	33,650	4.1	17,080	2.2	9,170	85.0	354,830	0.6	2,650	N/A*	92,700
East Midlands	100.0	19,200	10.1	1,940	3.2	610	2.2	420	84.1	16,150	0.4	80	N/A*	3,800
East of England	100.0	19,570	6.0	1,180	3.3	640	2.2	440	87.8	17,190	0.6	120	N/A*	3,360
London	100.0	83,630	17.7	14,800	12.6	10,500	4.3	3,600	63.9	53,420	1.6	1,310	N/A*	21,210
North East	100.0	27,450	2.1	590	0.6	170	0.9	260	96.1	26,370	0.2	60	N/A*	5,660
North West	100.0	53,530	6.1	3,240	1.8	940	1.7	890	90.2	48,280	0.3	180	N/A*	10,780
South East	100.0	35,880	4.3	1,540	2.6	920	2.1	760	90.5	32,470	0.5	190	N/A*	6,750
South West	100.0	39,980	2.3	900	1.5	580	1.7	670	94.2	37,670	0.4	160	N/A*	6,740
West Midlands	100.0	27,730	17.5	4,860	5.2	1,430	2.3	650	74.4	20,620	0.6	170	N/A*	5,440
Yorkshire and the Humber	100.0	32,310	9.1	2,930	1.9	620	1.7	560	86.9	28,080	0.4	120	N/A*	6,920
Scotland	100.0	38,680	1.9	730	0.8	310	0.8	320	96.2	37,210	0.3	110	N/A*	12,350
Wales	100.0	32,110	1.8	590	0.7	230	1.3	430	95.8	30,750	0.3	110	N/A*	5,770
Northern Ireland	100.0	3,310							100.0	3,310			N/A*	900
Overseas	100.0	2,930	5.8	170	2.4	70	4.1	120	86.3	2,530	1.4	40	N/A*	760
Unknown	100.0	1,040	16.3	170	5.8	60	2.9	30	75.0	780			N/A*	2,260

^* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and area Summary

The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:

• out of all regions, London had the highest percentage of civil servants from the Asian (17.7%), black (12.6%), mixed (4.3%), and 'other' ethnic groups (1.6%)

• by comparison, 20.8% of working-age people in London described themselves as Asian, 13.5% black, 4.8% mixed, 1.9% Chinese and 6.6% from the 'other' ethnic group in the 2021 Census

• in Scotland, 3.8% of civil servants were from the Asian, black, mixed and 'other' ethnic groups combined (the lowest percentage out of all regions), compared with 4.3% of the Scottish working-age population in 2011

• 3.9% of civil servants in the North East, and 4.2% in Wales were from the Asian, black, mixed and 'other' ethnic groups combined, compared with 7.5% of the North East and 6.7% of the Welsh working-age populations

• after London, the areas with the highest percentage of Asian civil servants were , the West Midlands (17.5%) and the East Midlands (10.1%)

• after London, the West Midlands had the highest percentage of black civil servants (5.2%)

7. By ethnicity and age group

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and number of civil servants by ethnicity and age group

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Ethnicity	All %	All Headcount	Asian %	Asian Headcount	Black %	Black Headcount	Mixed %	Mixed Headcount	White %	White Headcount	Other %	Other Headcount	Unknown %	Unknown Headcount
All	100.0	417,380	8.1	33,650	4.1	17,080	2.2	9,170	85.0	354,830	0.6	2,650	N/A*	92,700
16-19	100.0	730	13.7	100					86.3	630			N/A*	500
20-29	100.0	61,960	11.2	6,910	3.8	2,370	3.9	2,430	80.3	49,730	0.8	520	N/A*	22,610
30-39	100.0	88,930	10.4	9,220	4.0	3,530	2.9	2,610	82.0	72,950	0.7	620	N/A*	22,610
40-49	100.0	98,010	9.2	8,990	3.9	3,850	2.0	1,920	84.3	82,610	0.7	640	N/A*	18,490
50-59	100.0	122,130	5.0	6,060	4.5	5,500	1.4	1,650	88.7	108,300	0.5	620	N/A*	20,910
60-64	100.0	34,840	4.6	1,610	4.1	1,420	1.1	400	89.6	31,220	0.5	190	N/A*	5,730
65+	100.0	10,730	7.1	760	3.7	400	1.2	130	87.3	9,370	0.7	70	N/A*	1,860

^* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and age group Summary

The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:

• 89.6% of civil servants aged 60 to 64 years were white – the highest percentage of white staff in any age group

• the percentage of white civil servants got larger with most older age groups, from 80.3% of 20 to 29 year olds to 89.6% of 60-64 year olds

• the exception was among 16 to 19 year olds, where 86.3% of civil servants were white

• the age groups with the highest percentages of Asian civil servants were 16 to 19 year olds (13.7%), and 20 to 29 year olds (11.2%)

• the age groups with the highest percentages of black civil servants were 50 to 59 year olds (4.5%), and 60 to 64 year olds (4.1%)

8. Leavers and joiners by ethnicity

• Location: UK and overseas
• Time period: 2022
• Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Percentage and number of civil servants by job status and ethnicity

	In Post		Joining Civil Service		Leaving Current Department		Leaving Civil Service
Ethnicity	In Post Value	In Post Headcount	Joining Civil Service Value	Joining Civil Service Headcount	Leaving Current Department Value	Leaving Current Department Headcount	Leaving Civil Service Value	Leaving Civil Service Headcount
All	100.0	417,380	100.0	46,800	100.0	18,280	100.0	33,150
Asian	8.1	33,650	10.9	5,110	13.3	2,430	7.3	2,410
Black	4.1	17,080	5.8	2,720	6.8	1,240	4.4	1,460
Mixed	2.2	9,170	3.5	1,630	3.5	640	2.7	880
White	85.0	354,830	78.9	36,920	75.3	13,770	84.8	28,120
Other	0.6	2,650	0.9	420	1.1	200	0.8	280
Unknown	N/A*	92,700	N/A*	22,590	N/A*	5,390	N/A*	11,080

^* Not applicable

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Civil Service workforce Leavers and joiners by ethnicity Summary

The data shows that, for the year ending 31 March 2022:

• 15.2% of people leaving the Civil Service were from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding white minorities)

• 21.1% of people joining the Civil Service were from ethnic minority backgrounds (excluding white minorities)

• Asian people made up the largest percentage of people from ethnic minority backgrounds leaving (7.3%) and joining (10.9%) the Civil Service

• ethnicity details were not given or available for 32.5% of all people joining the Civil Service

9. Data sources

Source

Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022

Type of data

Administrative data

Type of statistic

National Statistics

Publisher

Cabinet Office

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) measures the number of civil servants and diversity across the workforce.

10. Download the data

Civil Service Workforce Data 2022 - Spreadsheet (csv) 467 KB

This file contains the following: measure, year, ethnicity, geography, gender, grade, age group, value (%), headcount, denominator

Publication release date: 27 March 2023

full page history

1. 27 March 2023 Updated with the latest available data.

From: Cabinet Office

Previous editions:

1. 27 July 2020
2. 14 May 2019
3. 1 June 2018

---

Share this page

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn