The 2023 Morris Census was the 4th collected and analysed by Jack Worth since its inception in in 2014. The results are now in.
Morris Census 2023 main findings
- In 2023, there are 12,600 members of morris dancing sides in the UK, down by 1,000 compared to 2020. The main reason for the fall is that the number of active UK sides has fallen, several having disbanded during or after the Covid-19 pandemic.
- In 2023, for the first time in history, there are more women morris dancers in the UK than men. Just over half are women and 48.6 per cent are men. 40% of Morris Ring sides are now mixed.
- More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of UK morris dancers are aged 50 or over and just over half (52 per cent) are aged 60 or over. In contrast, just 9 per cent of UK morris dancers are aged under 30. The average age of morris dancers in the UK is 56.
- The number of sides dancing border morris has grown over time, from 34 per cent of sides in the UK in 2014 to 39 per cent in 2023. The number of rapper, longsword and mumming sides dropped significantly between 2020 and 2023.
- May Day is the most popular date for dancing and performing, when 43 per cent of sides regularly perform. A quarter of sides performed at events for the King’s Coronation in 2023.
Thank you very much to all the sides who took the time to respond to the survey, which gives a detailed picture of morris, sword and step dancing in 2023 - and a very big than you to Jack Worth.
The Morris Census is supported by the Morris Federation, Morris Ring and Open Morris through the Joint Morris Organisation and all member and non-member sides are encouraged to take part. Many thanks to the group of contributors who have helped over the years to design the survey and ensure it was sent to as many sides as possible.
This is only a summary of the key findings - much more information and findings are available on the website: https://www.morriscensus.uk/