CLPE Reflecting Realities - Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature (November 2024)

The 7th annual Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature, funded by the Arts Council England, shows that 17% of children’s books published in 2023 feature a racially minoritised character.

While this demonstrates a significant increase from the 4% first reported in 2017, it is the first year that the survey has shown an annual decrease, down from 30% in 2022. This decrease is also echoed in the percentage of racially minoritised main characters, down 7 percentage points from 14% in 2022 to 7% in 2023.

The annual CLPE survey was launched in 2018 and aims to determine the extent and quality of representation of racially minoritised characters featured within picturebooks, fiction and non-fiction for ages 3-11 published in the UK. Taken together, the 7 years of reporting provide an invaluable standard benchmark and guidance for the industry to evaluate output.

Key findings include:

For the first time in its history, the annual CLPE Reflecting Realities survey reports an overall drop in the percentage of racially minoritised characters featured in published children’s books reviewed – from 30% in 2022 to 17% in 2023.
The report shows the number of racially minoritised main characters has dropped by half to 7% in 2023, compared to 14% in 2022.
The 7th CLPE report calls for renewed commitment from the publishing industry in improving the volume and quality of inclusive output, alongside a review of practices and investment.

Download the full report at the bottom of this page.

Farrah Serroukh Executive Director of Research and Development, CLPE said:

"The ethical imperative should go without saying. However, beyond this the principle of inclusion simply makes books better. Through every annual review of the last seven years we have had the privilege of being treated to stories, characters, writing and worlds that have elevated the literary landscape, enriched the culture and transformed reading experiences. This can only be a good thing for the publishing industry and with the appropriate investment can have positive commercial and reputational implications. We encourage the industry to take the lessons learned and remain steadfast in their commitment to reflecting realities and serving their readership."

View our Reflecting Realities blogs

Illustrations © Habiba Nabisubi and reproduced with her kind permission.

Report design: Ben Cotterill