Editing Swindon (section)

== Demographics ==
The 2011 census recorded a population of 209,156 people in the Swindon unitary authority area (including the town's urban area, [[Highworth]], and other nearby parishes), with a 50/50 balance of males and females.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Swindon population estimate by equality groups (from 2011 census) |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/religion/religion-tb/no-religion?lad=E06000030 |website=Swindon Borough Council}}</ref> By mid-2019, the estimated population of the unitary authority area was 222,193.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population Estimates and Projections |url=http://www.swindonjsna.co.uk/dna/population-estimates-projections |website=Swindon's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment |publisher=Swindon Borough Council |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2011, 57.5% of Swindonians identified themselves as [[Christians]], a reduction from 70% in 2001. This was followed by those of [[Irreligion|no religion]] (31%), [[Muslims]] (1.7%), [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (0.6%), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (1.2%), other (0.5%) and [[Judaism]] (0.1%).<ref name="auto"/>

As of 2021, 46.6% of Swindonians identify themselves as Christians. This is followed by those of no religion (40.5%), Muslims (2.7%), Sikhs (0.6%), Hindus (2.5%), other (0.6%) and Judaism (0.1%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion - Census Maps, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/religion/religion-tb/no-religion |access-date=17 April 2024 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Public Health England]] found that 70.4% of the population was either overweight or obese with a [[Body mass index|BMI]] greater than 25.<ref name=bbc_4Feb2014>{{cite news |title=Revealed: the fattest towns and cities in England |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10617126/Revealed-the-fattest-towns-and-cities-in-England.html |access-date=16 September 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026075252/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10617126/Revealed-the-fattest-towns-and-cities-in-England.html |archive-date=26 October 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, the area of the town was {{convert|46.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |title=South West England (United Kingdom): Counties and Unitary Districts & Settlements - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |access-date=13 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514141414/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |archive-date=14 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and there were {{convert|3949|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic Groups !! Swindon Town 2011 !! Borough of Swindon 2011
!Borough of Swindon 2021
|-
| White British || 83.3% || 84.6%
|74.2%
|-
| Asian || 7.0% || 6.4%
|11.6%
|-
| Black || 1.5% || 1.4%
|2.6%
|}

In 2011, 16.7% of the population of Swindon were non-White British compared with 15.4% in the surrounding borough. There was also little difference between the percentages of Black and Asian residents. Swindon is one of the most ethnically diverse towns in [[South West England]]: 4.6% of the population registered themselves as 'Other White' and 2.5% of the population was either mixed race or of another ethnicity.

There are several definitions of the town for statistical purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Population – Site Search |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/search.html?q=Swindon+%22maps%22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427235129/https://www.citypopulation.de/search.html?q=Swindon+%22maps%22 |archive-date=27 April 2018 |website=City Population}}</ref> The smallest extent is the former [[unparished area]], now covered by the parishes of [[West Swindon]], [[Central Swindon North]], [[South Swindon parish|South Swindon]], and [[Nythe, Eldene and Liden]]; thus it omits suburbs to the east and north, namely the parishes of [[Covingham]], [[Stratton St Margaret]] and [[Haydon Wick]]. At the 2011 census, the population of the unparished area was 122,642.<ref>{{cite web |title=E43000245: Swindon (Unparished Area, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-parishes-southwestengland.php?adm2id=E43000245 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173522/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-parishes-southwestengland.php?adm2id=E43000245 |archive-date=24 February 2018 |website=City Population}}</ref> The 2011 census also recognised a Built Up Area Subdivision with a population of 182,441.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=E35001437: Built-up Area Subdivision: Swindon |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810212016/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southwestengland.php?cityid=E35001437 |archive-date=10 August 2017 |website=City Population |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

At the 2021 census, the only area covering most of the town was the Built Up Area, which had a population of 183,638.<ref>{{Cite web |title=E63004848: Swindon Built Up Area |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/southwestengland/swindon/E63004848__swindon/ |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=City Population}}</ref> Excluded from this were the parts of [[Wichelstowe]] lying in [[Wroughton]] parish, the whole of [[Stratton St Margaret]] parish, and northern parts of [[St Andrews, Swindon|St Andrews]] parish.

===St Helena community===
By 2018, Swindon had a concentration of people originating from [[Saint Helena]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Angelini, Daniel |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/16597150.st-helena-expats-from-swindolena-to-gather-for-sports-day-this-weekend/ |title=St Helena expats from 'Swindolena' to gather for sports day this weekend |work=[[Swindon Advertiser]] |date=24 August 2018 |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref>

===Polish community===
After the end of World War II, Polish refugees were temporarily housed in barracks at [[RAF Fairford]], about {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the north. Around 1950, some settled in Scotland and others in Swindon<ref>[http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/31/244211.html/  ''Community celebrates its golden anniversary'', Swindon Advertiser, 31 May 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015523/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2000/5/31/244211.html/ |date=30 September 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref> rather than stay in the barracks or hostels they were offered.<ref name=":1">[http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/search/display.var.1300645.0.polish_club_closes_doors_for_last_time.php/ ''Polish club closes doors for last time'' – Swindon Advertiser, 1 April 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012215/http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/search/display.var.1300645.0.polish_club_closes_doors_for_last_time.php/ |date=27 September 2007 }}. Retrieved on 24 July 2007</ref>

The 2001 UK Census found that most of the Polish-born people had stayed or returned after serving with British forces during World War II. Swindon and Nottingham were parts of this settlement.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/poland.stm/  ''Born Abroad'', BBC News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217084012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/poland.stm |date=17 February 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007.</ref> Data from that census showed that 566 Swindonians were Polish-born.<ref>[http://www.multicultural-matters.com/polish_community.htm/ – ''Polish Community Focus'' Multicultural Matters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711162236/http://www.multicultural-matters.com/polish_community.htm |date=11 July 2007 }}.Retrieved on 23 July 2007</ref> Notes to those data read: "The [[Polish Resettlement Act 1947|Polish Resettlement Act of 1947]], which was designed to provide help and support to people who wished to settle here, covered about 190,000 people ... at the time Britain did not recognise many of the professional [qualifications] gained overseas ... [but] many did find work after the war; some went down the mines, some worked on the land or in steelworks. Housing was more of a problem and many Poles were forced to live in barracks previously used for [[Prisoner of War|POW]]s ... The first generation took pains to ensure that their children grew up with a strong sense of Polish identity".

[[National Health Service|NHS]] planners devising services for senior citizens estimated in 1994 that 5% of Swindon's population were not 'ethnically British',<ref>[http://www.agwsha.nhs.uk/board/july04/Agenda_Item_6.1_Vic_SOC_Final_10_June_20041.pdf/ ''Modernising Services for Older People in Swindon''– Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Swindon Primary Care Trust and Swindon Borough Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006212155/http://www.agwsha.nhs.uk/board/july04/Agenda_Item_6.1_Vic_SOC_Final_10_June_20041.pdf |date=6 October 2007 }}.Retrieved on 24 July 2007.</ref> and most of those were culturally Polish.

The town's Polish ex-servicemen's club, which had run a football team for 45 years, closed in 2012. Barman Jerzy Trojan blamed the decline of both club and team on the children and grandchildren of the original refugees losing their Polish identity.<ref name=":1" />

===Goan community===
Swindon has a large community of [[Goans|Goan]] people. Estimates for the total number of Goans in Swindon range from 8,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/SwindonGoans.htm|title=From Siridao to Swindon|first=Selma|last= Carvalho|publisher=Goan Voice|access-date=17 January 2025}}</ref> to 25,000;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goa-swindon-association-uniting-supporting-goans-in-swindon/92708.html|title=Goa Swindon Association: Uniting, supporting Goans in Swindon|website=The Goan EveryDay}}</ref> in 1999 there were estimated to be only 40 Goan people in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7312648.queueing-up-for-a-new-life/|title=Queueing up for a new life|date=15 July 2003|website=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald}}</ref> In 2013, Swindon was reported to have the highest concentration of Goans anywhere in the world outside of [[Goa]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Carvalho |first=Selma |date=4 May 2013 |title=Siridao to Swindon |url=http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/SwindonGoans.htm |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=Goan Voice UK}}</ref>

The Goan population is concentrated in Swindon's New Town area, around Manchester Road.<ref name=":7" /> Most of the Goan community are [[Goan Catholics]] and have Portuguese nationality due to their ancestry in [[Portuguese Goa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-12 |title=Adding more of a Goan touch to Swindon |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/GOA-ALLEGRETTO/Adding-more-of-a-Goan-touch-to-Swindon-/146078 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-11-27 |title=Goans help put life back into London’s churches |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goans-help-put-life-back-into-londons-churches/articleshow/66818111.cms |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The Catholic community is served by [[Holy Rood Church, Swindon|Holy Rood Catholic Church]] in the town centre and St Peter's Church in [[West Swindon]], and supported by the Goan Chaplaincy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Godinho |first=Lui |date=10 February 2023 |title=Tiatr fraternity comes together in UK |url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/tiatr-fraternity-comes-together-in-uk/95087.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref> Services are regularly carried out in Konkani.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goanchaplaincyswindon.com/mass-center-2/|title=Mass Centers - Goan Chaplaincy Swindon|date=27 November 2024}}</ref> The [[Anglican]] St Luke's Church also carries out Mass in Konkani, believed to be the only Mass regularly carried out in this language in the [[Church of England]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Robert |date=10 January 2022 |title=New regular bilingual Mass in Swindon |url=https://seeofoswestry.org.uk/news/new-regular-bilingual-mass-in-swindon/ |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=See of Oswestry}}</ref>

The Goa Swindon Association supports members of the community. It is involved in promoting and introducing [[Goan culture]], such as ''[[tiatr]]s'' ([[Konkani language|Konkani]] theatre), the annual Goan Summer Festival, and Konkani musical shows, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Godinho |first=Lui |date=16 December 2022 |title=Goa Swindon Association: Uniting, supporting Goans in Swindon |url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goa-swindon-association-uniting-supporting-goans-in-swindon/92708.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref>

Among the notable Goans based in Swindon is Imtiyaz Shaikh, who has served as Mayor of Swindon since 2024. He is a two-term [[Eastcott (ward)|Eastcott]] councillor on [[Swindon Borough Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-06-28 |title=Vasco man Imtiyaz Shaikh is Mayor of Swindon |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/goa/vasco-man-imtiyaz-shaikh-is-mayor-of-swindon/222967 |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Herald Goa |language=en}}</ref>