THE "Face of Britain" is more than 90% white, 5% Asian and almost 2% black, according to an image created by The Economist.
It has been developed to show what the average man might look like if he had characteristics that represented the proportional ethnic make-up of Britain today.
The face reflects the probable features of a white male with two Asian great great grandparents and one black great great grandparent.
A second picture, created to reflect Britain's ethnic mix in 1961, demonstrates how the country has changed.
In 1961 the image of the average British male would be 96% White, 1.7% Black, 1.6% Asian, 0.18% Chinese and 0.4% Other.
Grandparent
This white male is assumed to have had one black great great grandparent, and one Asian.
As the percentages of the ethnic groups are so small, it is unlikely to show in this face. The impact of the black and Asian influence in 1961 can only be indicated through brown coloured eyes.
In contrast, the 2001 UK male reflects the growing numbers of various ethnic groups. He has a visibly darker hair colour and a more olive skin tone.
He is 92.4% White, 1.8% Black, 5% Asian, 0.32% Chinese and 0.41% Other.
Technology
The images, which were created using E-Fit technology, were calculated using population age data and ethnic origins data from the 2001 census.
They have been created as part of The Economist's special report on Britain.
Merril Stevenson, author of the report said: "These faces show something that may surprise people. At a time when concern about social segregation and racial tension dominates the headlines, the proportion of ethnic minorities in Britain is actually relatively small.
"Although their share is growing, it is still far less than in many countries. And we can also see that the Face of Britain hasn't changed all that much in 40 years.
"This suggests that the hysteria about immigration that often surfaces is overdone. In fact, immigrants have boosted economic output and filled many skill gaps.
'Neglected'
"But it should also make us think about a group that is often neglected: those who are poor, white and British-born. These are the people who are increasingly being left behind in schools, housing and the job market. Many of them feel dispossessed by newer arrivals and unrepresented by mainstream political parties."
The new report looks at the impact of globalisation and how Britain is faring.
It concludes the British are currently among the world's winners, with an economy ahead of its continental rivals, and a financial sector that is going from strength to strength.
It looks at future prospects and the social implications of globalisation, criticising increasing taxes, continuing problems with productivity and innovation.
The report also identifies Britain's education system as the weakest link if the country's success is to be maintained.
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The indiginous peoples of this country are being walked all over by the establishment & governerment, we are becoming the REAL second class citizens, this is set to continue in the foreseable future..no wonder more people are turning to the so called "far right"....Being British is in the blood, not whether you hold a british passport
So Mr Average, 1961 is George out of Desperate Housewives? Hmmmm....
The report says "we can also see that the Face of Britain hasn't changed all that much in 40 years."
One in five children born in England today is born to an immigrant. Whatever your thoughts on that, it's disingenuous to pretend the pace of change isn't rapidly increasing.
I think we all look lovely whatever the skin tone, the rest of the country will no doubt disagree, mores the pity.
Christine- so you have an issue with people's skin tones? What does it matter what people look like? Surely you're not that shallow?
Bear in mind this report still stays the face is 90% white- an overwhelming majority....although many will go abroad or sit on a sun bed to become a bit more like the giy in the picture....
Christine, mars you are so right its time we had control back in britain even today i read that in a school all the meat was halal meat and the school said that it was because the majority of pupils were muslims that is why they all had halal meat ?well if that is how democracy works for us all .why havnt the government listened to the indigenous people of britain "The majority of people want hanging back and for us to stop immigration?) i just wonder why democracy works one way but not the other???
A newspaper story this week described how Tower Hamlets Council have spent a great deal of money giving after-school lessons to 5000 Asian children. This is to teach them their parents' language. What does expenditure like that do for integration?
I do not mean to be flippant about either story, but the face is the same (excluding the hairstyle) as the e fit face for the attacker of females in an earlier article!
I love Justin Timberlake and am pleased to see he now represents the face of Britain.
I am "an indegenous person of Britain", in fact I am blonde haired and blue eyed, but I can assure you i DO NOT "want hanging back and for us to stop immigration"
I knew this story would bring out the xenophobes. You all sicken me.
I am no xenophobe thank you very much, in fact I love Greek philosophers, although not as much as I love Justin Timberlake!
Victoria, a definition of xenophobia is "an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange". Are you saying that British people born of multi racial backgrounds are either foreign, or strange, or both? Because last time I looked they were British and normal. Even if they don't have blond hair and blue eyes like you.
There was a documentary recently in which numerous xenophobic people who claimed you had to be 100 per cent Anglo Saxon to be British were DNA-tested. ALL of them were found to have some non-British, and indeed non-European, ancestry. So next time Christine, Mars wants to rant about 'indigenous' British people being wiped out, she might be interested to know that she's probably not 100 per cent 'indigenous' herself. People have been migrating to (and from) Britain for thousands of years and we're still thriving. More to the point, the graphic is only intended to show the ethnic make-up of the UK, not actually to demonstrate what we're all about to start looking like. Getting upset about it is a bit like getting upset about a pie-chart. Blimey, there's so many knee-jerk reactions out there I can practically hear them clicking.
Well said, Jo.
I refuse to speak asian languages,I refuse to follow their religeon,I refuse to go by their laws and customs,I refuse to integrate with them and I will NEVER share with them! British all the way!
And my point Victoria wasn't xenophobic, as it expresses a genuine concern about integration. Integration lessens xenophobia, but if certain sections want to remain alienated, then they can't be integrated.
Divided countries tend to be characterised by, at best, mutual suspicion and instability, at worst by intercommunal violence. Britain has to a great extent lost its previous shared national culture. The natives are emigrating in numbers not seen since the 19th century and having fewer babies.
Immigration is at unprecedented levels - the Observer has reported that natives would be a minority by the end of this century. All the stats point to the increasing 'diversity' of the UK, aka increasing ethnic division.
The native Brits are normal humans. The people coming in are normal humans. I see nothing so exceptional about the natives or the incomers as to suggest that political division will not occur.
As 'diversity' grows, so will ethnic politics.
It's not the colour that's the problem it's the religion that brings all the wrong doings.
It is not religion which causes problems it is peoples attitudes, whether they be religious or not.
I give up
Victoria, Salford
Zenophobes were on channel 4 last week in a mosque calling "us indigenous people" KUFFARS.or dont they count in your world ??
All the Guardian-reading 5th form politics from some people on here does my head in.If you people can't see what's going on in your own country then that's your problem,but don't try and make out that people who are concerned about uncontrolled mass-migration are somehow of inferior intellect!I'm glad that the Economist knows the exact ethnic make-up of the UK because the government certainly doesn't!
Please see comments below from "Bo" who wants to bring back hanging and "Margaret" who was said she was an indigenous britain. I was paraphrasing what they had said and I do not agree with any of the offensive remarks on this story. Please read all of the comments submitted before you start to criticise one response.
More like "The Farce of multi-racial Britain" in my opinion!
I'm a young white male with jewish ancestory, if anything I am proud to say I look nothing like the Average male. Silly bigots, hell, Hitler wasn't even a member of his favoured racial make-up, so I guess it doesnt really matter who you are, racism and stupidity seems to be an available ideology for anyone.