Scottish Asian (Asian-Scottish or Asian-Scots) is a term defined within the 2011 Scottish census as including people of Bangladeshi, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani or other Asian ancestry resident in Scotland. Their parents or grandparents are normally Asian immigrants. It can also refer to people who are of dual Scottish and Asian ancestry. It combines Asian ethnic background with Scottish national identity. In traditional British usage, the term Asian did not normally include East Asians, who were referred by their respective national origins (e.g. Chinese,

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

Malaysians Malaysians are nationals and citizens who are identified with the country of Malaysia. Although citizens make up the majority of Malaysians, non-citizen residents and overseas Malaysians may also claim a Malaysian identity. The country is h ...

and others) or collectively as " Oriental", which similar to Scotch can be viewed of as

pejorative A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...

when applied to people. By contrast, in traditional North American usage the term Asian did not normally include

South Asians South Asian ethnic groups are an ethnolinguistic grouping of the diverse populations of South Asia, including the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. While Afghanistan is variously considered to b ...

but focused on East and Southeast Asians, particularly Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese. These frames of reference reflect different migration patterns.

Census

The 2001 and 2011 censuses recorded the following ethnic groups: In addition to ethnicity, the 2011 census asked about national identity. This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under th
Open Government Licence v3.0
© Crown copyright. * 34 per cent of all minority ethnic groups felt they had some Scottish identity either on its own or in combination with another identity. This ranged from 60 per cent for people from a mixed background and 50 per cent for those from a Pakistani ethnic group, to 21 per cent for those from an African ethnic group. This compared to 83 per cent for all people in Scotland. * 62 per cent of the total population stated ‘Scottish identity only’ as their national identity, of which 98 per cent stated their ethnicity as ‘White: Scottish’. * 18 per cent of the total population stated ‘Scottish and British identity only’ as their national identity, of which 97 per cent stated their ethnicity as ‘White: Scottish’. * 8 per cent of the total population stated their national identity as ‘British identity only’. Of these, 49 per cent stated their ethnicity as ‘White: Scottish’, 38 per cent were ‘White: Other British’, and 8 per cent were ‘Asian’. * 4 per cent of the total population stated their national identity as ‘Other identity only’ (i.e. no UK identity), 32 per cent of those were ‘White: Other White’, 22 per cent were ‘Asian’ and 21 per cent were ‘White: Polish’.

South Asian communities

Scotland's South Asian population of more than 80,000 is mostly from Indian and Pakistani background. The majority are adherents of the

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

, Sikh and Islamic faiths and are concentrated around urban areas, such as

Greater Glasgow Greater Glasgow is an urban settlement in Scotland consisting of all localities which are physically attached to the city of Glasgow, forming with it a single contiguous urban area (or conurbation). It does not relate to municipal government ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

and Dundee. However, there are Asian communities in places as small as Stornoway and as far north as

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

. * Dundee - 4,000 Asians (especially the Hilltown and Stobswell) *

- 26,264 Asians *

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

(and surrounding Greater Glasgow area) - 65,000 Asians (especially

Pollokshields Pollokshields ( gd, Buthan Phollaig, Scots: ''Powkshiels'') is an area in the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. Its modern boundaries are largely man-made, being formed by the M77 motorway to the west and northwest with the open land of Pollok ...

Pollokshaws Pollokshaws ( sco, Powkshaws) is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the residential neighbourhoods of Auldhouse to the east, Eastwood and Hillpark to the south and Shawlands to the north, with the Gl ...

Govanhill Govanhill ( gd, Cnoc a' Ghobhainn) is an area of Glasgow, Scotland, situated south of the River Clyde between Pollokshields, the Gorbals, Strathbungo, Crosshill, Glasgow, Crosshill, Polmadie and Queen's Park, Glasgow, Queen's Park. Shires of Sco ...

Newton Mearns Newton Mearns ( sco, The Mearns; gd, Baile Ùr na Maoirne ) is a suburban town and the largest settlement in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It lies southwest of Glasgow City Centre on the main road to Ayrshire, above sea level. It has a popu ...

, Bearsden,

East Kilbride East Kilbride (; gd, Cille Bhrìghde an Ear ) is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. It was also designated Scotland's first new town on 6 May 1947. The area lies on a rais ...

and

Woodlands Woodlands may back refer to: * Woodland, a low-density forest Geography Australia * Woodlands, New South Wales * Woodlands, Ashgrove, Queensland, a heritage-listed house associated with John Henry Pepper * Woodlands, Marburg, Queensland, a her ...

)

Notable Scottish Asians

Arts and entertainment

* Ali Abbasi, media presenter and writer * Danny Bhoy, comedian * Shabana Bakhsh, actress * Hassan Ghani, journalist and broadcaster * Mahtab Hussain, photographer *

Sara Ishaq Sara Ishaq is a Yemeni-Scottish film director. Ishaq directed and produced the critically acclaimed film '' Karama Has No Walls'' (2012). The short film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) and BAFTA Scotland Ne ...

, film maker *

Katie Leung Katie Leung (born 8 August 1987; ) is a Scottish actress. Initially famous for playing Cho Chang, the titular character's first love interest in the ''Harry Potter'' film series, she is also known for her roles as Caitlyn in the animated ser ...

, actress * MC-VA, rapper *

Aasmah Mir Aasmah Saira Mir (; born 7 October 1971) is a Scottish television and radio broadcaster and journalist who currently copresents the Monday-Thursday breakfast show on Times Radio. Early life Mir was born to first-generation Pakistani immigrants ...

, television and radio presenter *

Shereen Nanjiani Shereen Nanjiani (born 4 October 1961) is a Scottish radio presenter with BBC Radio Scotland. Before launching her radio career in 2006, Nanjiani was the chief news anchor at STV Central, having presented the news programme, ''Scotland Today' ...

, television and radio presenter * Kiran Sonia Sawar, actress * Marli Siu, actress * KT Tunstall, musician * Atta Yaqub, actor and model

Business

* Dr Poonam Malik, businesswoman, entrepreneur, investor and academic * Poonam Gupta, businesswoman * Angela Malik, chef and entrepreneur * Tony Singh, chef and entrepreneur

Politics

* Bashir Ahmad - first MSP to be elected from an Asian background. Member of the SNP * Mushtaq Ahmad - Lord Provost of South Lanarkshire * Foysol Choudhury - Labour MSP for Lothian region. First MSP of Bangladeshi descent *

Pam Gosal Pam Gosal (born 25 April 1972) is a Scottish Conservative politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for West Scotland since May 2021. She is one of the first women of colour elected to the Scottish parliament, alongside ...

- Conservative MSP for West Scotland region. First female MSP of Indian descent * Ayesha Hazarika - Labour political advisor * Bashir Maan - former Labour councillor * Hanzala Malik - former Labour MSP for the Glasgow region; the first Scottish Asian MSP from the Scottish Labour Party * Nosheena Mobarik - (

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

member of the House of Lords; former MEP for Scotland) * Claude Moraes - former Labour MEP for London * Anum Qaisar-Javed - SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts * Jainti Dass Saggar - first non-white local authority councillor in Scotland *

Anas Sarwar Anas Sarwar (born 14 March 1983) is a Scottish politician who has served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party since 2021. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region since 2016, having been Member of Parliame ...

- Leader of the Scottish Labour party, first ethnic minority to be leader of a Scottish political party. MSP for Glasgow region (2016–present); former Labour MP for Glasgow Central (2010-2015) * Mohammed Sarwar - former Labour MP for Glasgow Central (1997-2010), father of Anas Sarwar * Kaukab Stewart, SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin. First MSP female of colour elected * Humza Yousaf - SNP MSP for Glasgow Pollok, Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Sport

* Aqeel Ahmed, boxer * Tanveer Ahmed, boxer * Jamie Bhatti, rugby union player * Asim Butt, cricketer * David Changleng, rugby union player and referee * Malcolm Changleng, rugby union player and referee * Ukashir Farooq, boxer *

Majid Haq Rana Majid Haq Khan (born 11 February 1983), better known as Majid Haq, is a Scottish cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman and an off spin bowler. He has represented Scotland at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 23 levels, making his debut for the ...

, cricketer * Omer Hussain, cricketer * Moneeb Iqbal, cricketer * Jazz Juttla, former footballer * Vishal Marwaha, hockey player * Rashid Sarwar, former footballer * Qasim Sheikh, cricketer * Mo Yaqub, footballer

Other

* Roza Salih, activist * Mohammed Atif Siddique, convicted of terrorism offences * Mamta Singhal, winner of the ''Women Engineering Society'' Prize - Young Women Engineer of the Year 2007; finalist for Global MBA student of the Year 2008

Popular culture

* '' Ae Fond Kiss...'' (film on

New Scots New Scots are people of any background who have immigrated to Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with Englan ...

) * Bombay Talkie * ''

Nina's Heavenly Delights ''Nina's Heavenly Delights'' is a 2006 British drama film, drama romance film, romance comedy film, directed by Pratibha Parmar. The film was released on 29 September 2006 in the United Kingdom, and on 21 November 2007 in the United States. Sy ...

References

{{reflist Scottish people of South Asian descent Ethnic groups in Scotland Immigration to Scotland Asian diaspora in the United Kingdom