Rhode Island’s population is not usually reported as a single “British descent” percentage in standard census tables, but the closest commonly cited ancestry share is English ancestry , which is about 19% of the state’s population in ancestry breakdowns.

Notes

  • “British descent” can mean different things, including English, Scottish, Welsh, or broader British ancestry.
  • If you want the broader British total, it usually has to be estimated by combining several ancestry categories rather than reading one official number.
  • The exact share depends on the source and whether people reported one ancestry or multiple ancestries.

Context

Rhode Island has a long English colonial history, so English ancestry remains one of the larger reported ancestry groups in the state. Census-style ancestry data often reflects self-reported identity, so it is best treated as an estimate rather than a precise ethnic count.

[1]
Measure Approximate share Source
English ancestry About 19%
Would you like the broader “British” estimate broken down into English, Scottish, and Welsh ancestry?