- Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom
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This article is about foreign-born groups in the United Kingdom. For ethnic groups in the United Kingdom regardless of birthplace, see Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom.
The foreign-born population of the United Kingdom includes immigrants from a wide range of countries who are resident in the United Kingdom. In the period January 2010 to December 2010, there were 19 foreign-born groups that consisted of at least 100,000 individuals residing in the UK (people originating from Australia, Bangladesh, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United States and Zimbabwe).[1]
Contents
Size of the foreign-born population
At the time of the most recent UK census, conducted in April 2001, 8.3 per cent of the country's population were foreign-born.[2] This was substantially less than that of major immigration countries such as Australia (23 per cent), Canada (19.3 per cent) and the USA (12.3 per cent).[3] Figures for each census since 1951 are given in the table below. In 2010, the foreign-born population was estimated at 11.6 per cent, compared to a European Union average of 8.6 per cent.[4][5]
In 2010, there were 7.0 million foreign-born residents in the UK, corresponding to 11.3% of the total population. Of these, 4.76 million (7.7%) were born outside the EU and 2.24 million (3.6%) were born in another EU Member State.[6]
Census Foreign-born
populationPercentage increase
over previous decadePercentage of
total population[3]1951 2,118,600 4.2 1961 2,573,500 21.5 4.9 1971 3,190,300 24.0 5.8 1981 3,429,100 7.5 6.2 1991 3,835,400 11.8 6.7 2001 4,896,600 27.7 8.3 2010 (est.) 7,139,000 46.0 11.6[5] Countries of origin
The table below lists the places of birth of UK residents according to the 2001 Census, as reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.[7] The table also lists population estimates of the foreign-born population for the top 60 foreign countries of birth in the period January 2010 to December 2010, published by the Office for National Statistics.[1][8]
In 2001, the five most common foreign countries of birth were the Republic of Ireland, India, Pakistan, Germany and the United States respectively.[7] In 2010, the most common foreign countries of birth were India, Poland (up from 18th in 2001), Pakistan, the Republic of Ireland and Germany respectively. The United States dropped to eighth place behind South Africa and Bangladesh, despite growth in the size of the US-born population.[1]
The period between 2001 and 2010 saw significant change in the UK's foreign-born population. In particular, the 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the European Union have led to mass migration from the likes of Bulgaria, Latvia, Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Lithuania.[1] The number of Polish-born people resident in the UK increased from 60,711 in 2001 to an estimated 532,000 in the year to December 2010, whilst the Lithuanian-born population increased from 4,363 to an estimated 87,000.[1] The most significant decrease in a foreign-born population resident in the UK between 2001 and 2010 is in the number of those originating from the Republic of Ireland. Whereas in 2001, 533,901 people born in the Republic of Ireland were resident in the UK, this is estimated to have declined to 405,000 by 2010.[1]
Country of birth Population (2001 census) Population (2010 ONS estimate)[9] Corresponding article(s) 
United Kingdom53,923,642 54,215,000 British people, English people, Cornish people, Scottish people, Welsh people, Northern Irish people 
Republic of Ireland533,901 405,000 
India467,634 693,000 Indians in the United Kingdom 
Pakistan321,167 431,000 Pakistanis in the United Kingdom 
Germany266,136 296,000 Germans in the United Kingdom 
United States158,434 200,000 Americans in the United Kingdom 
Bangladesh154,362 220,000 Bangladeshis in the United Kingdom 
Jamaica146,401 150,000 Jamaicans in the United Kingdom 
South Africa141,405 236,000 South Africans in the United Kingdom 
Kenya129,633 128,000 Kenyans in the United Kingdom 
Australia107,871 112,000 Australians in the United Kingdom 
Italy107,244 118,000 Italians in the United Kingdom 
Hong Kong96,445 75,000 Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom 
France96,281 111,000 French in the United Kingdom 
Nigeria88,378 151,000 Nigerians in the United Kingdom 
Cyprus77,673 56,000 Cypriots in the United Kingdom 
Canada72,518 81,000 Canadians in the United Kingdom 
Sri Lanka67,938 117,000 Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom 
Poland60,711 532,000 Polish in the United Kingdom 
New Zealand58,286 72,000 New Zealanders in the United Kingdom 
Ghana56,112 84,000 Ghanaians in the United Kingdom 
Uganda55,213 48,000 Ugandans in the United Kingdom 
Spain54,482 68,000 Spaniards in the United Kingdom 
Turkey54,079 72,000 Turks in the United Kingdom 
China, People's Republic of51,078 120,000 Chinese in the United Kingdom 
Malaysia49,886 60,000 Malaysians in the United Kingdom 
Zimbabwe49,524 130,000 Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom 
Somalia43,515 110,000 Somalis in the United Kingdom 
Iran42,494 70,000 Iranians in the United Kingdom 
Singapore40,474 42,000 Singaporeans in the United Kingdom 
Netherlands40,438 55,000 Dutch in the United Kingdom 
Philippines40,118 123,000 Filipinos in the United Kingdom 
Japan37,535 38,000 Japanese in the United Kingdom 
Portugal36,555 83,000 Portuguese in the United Kingdom 
Greece35,169 30,000 Greeks in the United Kingdom 
Tanzania32,630 35,000 Tanzanians in the United Kingdom 
Iraq32,236 69,000 Iraqis in the United Kingdom 
Serbia and Montenegro31,244 (including Kosovo) N/A Serbs in the United Kingdom 
KosovoN/A (included in Serbia and Montenegro entry) N/A Kosovans in the United Kingdom 
Malta30,178 23,000 Maltese in the United Kingdom 
Mauritius27,078 43,000 Mauritians in the United Kingdom 
Egypt24,700 28,000 Egyptians in the United Kingdom 
Vietnam23,347 N/A Vietnamese in the United Kingdom Africa (country not stated) 22,975 N/A 
Sweden22,525 28,000 Swedes in the United Kingdom 
Belgium21,668 22,000 
Barbados21,601 N/A Barbadians in the United Kingdom 
Zambia21,529 29,000 
Trinidad and Tobago21,283 23,000 Trinidadians in the United Kingdom 
Guyana20,872 22,000 Guyanese in the United Kingdom 
Austria19,503 N/A Austrians in the United Kingdom 
Denmark18,695 N/A 
Sierra Leone17,048 N/A Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom 
Thailand16,257 35,000 Thais in the United Kingdom 
Switzerland16,010 N/A 
Brazil15,215 44,000 Brazilians in the United Kingdom 
Russia15,160 40,000 Russians in the United Kingdom 
Afghanistan14,875 54,000 Afghans in the United Kingdom 
Norway13,798 N/A 
Hungary13,159 41,000 Hungarians in the United Kingdom 
Yemen12,508 N/A Yemenis in the United Kingdom 
Morocco12,348 22,000 Moroccans in the United Kingdom 
Malawi12,340 N/A 
Colombia12,331 N/A Colombians in the United Kingdom 
South Korea12,310 21,000 Koreans in the United Kingdom 
Czech Republic12,220 32,000 Czechs in the United Kingdom 
Ukraine11,913 N/A Ukrainians in the United Kingdom 
Israel11,892 N/A Israelis in the United Kingdom 
Gibraltar11,830 N/A Gibraltarians in the United Kingdom 
Finland11,322 N/A 
Sudan10,671 N/A Sudanese in the United Kingdom 
Algeria10,670 21,000 Algerians in the United Kingdom 
Lebanon10,459 N/A Lebanese in the United Kingdom 
Burma (Myanmar)9,924 N/A Burmese in the United Kingdom 
Grenada9,783 N/A 
Libya9,141 25,000 
Saudi Arabia8,789 N/A 
Democratic Republic of the Congo8,569 N/A Congolese in the United Kingdom 
Saint Lucia8,265 N/A 
Montserrat7,983 N/A Montserratians in the United Kingdom 
Ethiopia7,775 N/A Ethiopians in the United Kingdom 
Romania7,631 79,000 Romanians in the United Kingdom 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines7,091 N/A 
Croatia6,992 N/A 
Argentina6,796 N/A 
Dominica6,739 N/A 
Indonesia6,711 N/A 
Bosnia-Herzegovina6,692 N/A 
China, Republic of (Taiwan)6,588 N/A 
Eritrea6,561 N/A 
Saint Kitts and Nevis6,519 N/A 
Nepal5,943 35,000 Nepalis in the United Kingdom 
Angola5,914 N/A 
Kuwait5,882 N/A Asia (country not stated) 5,677 N/A 
United Arab Emirates5,406 N/A Emiratis in the United Kingdom 
Bulgaria5,351 52,000 Bulgarians in the United Kingdom 
Slovakia5,273 48,000 
Chile5,131 N/A Chileans in the United Kingdom 
Mexico5,049 N/A Mexicans in the United Kingdom 
Lithuania4,363 87,000 Lithuanians in the United Kingdom 
Latvia4,275 48,000 
Bahrain4,185 N/A 
Syria4,168 N/A 
Peru4,066 N/A Peruvians in the United Kingdom 
Venezuela3,996 N/A 
Gambia3,924 N/A 
Antigua and Barbuda3,891 N/A Antiguans in the United Kingdom 
Fiji3,464 N/A Fijians in the United Kingdom 
Mozambique3,353 N/A 
Congo3,266 N/A 
Cameroon3,233 N/A 
Jordan3,115 N/A 
Tunisia3,070 N/A 
Ecuador3,035 N/A Ecuadorians in the United Kingdom 
Bermuda2,986 N/A 
Seychelles2,905 N/A 
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)2,794 N/A Ivoirians in the United Kingdom 
Brunei2,782 N/A 
West Bank (Palestinian territories)2,483 N/A 
Rwanda2,373 N/A 
Saint Helena2,355 N/A 
Albania2,314 N/A 
Botswana2,051 N/A 
Oman2,024 N/A 
Burundi2,022 N/A 
Estonia2,005 N/A 
Bahamas1,797 N/A 
Liberia1,583 N/A 
Iceland1,552 N/A 
Macau1,490 N/A South and Central America (country not stated) 1,338 N/A 
Macedonia1,285 N/A 
Belize1,233 N/A 
Namibia1,230 N/A 
Slovenia1,228 N/A 
Luxembourg1,222 N/A 
Belarus1,154 N/A 
Netherlands Antilles1,151 N/A 
Bolivia1,143 N/A Bolivians in the United Kingdom 
Cuba1,083 N/A 
Qatar1,062 N/A 
Papua New Guinea1,057 N/A 
Falkland Islands1,044 N/A 
Uruguay963 N/A 
Kazakhstan871 N/A 
Swaziland863 N/A 
Madagascar789 N/A 
Senegal723 N/A 
Cambodia706 N/A 
El Salvador595 N/A 
Armenia589 N/A Armenians in the United Kingdom 
Azerbaijan561 N/A 
Togo553 N/A 
Georgia551 N/A 
Dominican Republic523 N/A 
Uzbekistan521 N/A 
Guatemala499 N/A 
Anguilla498 N/A 
Paraguay493 N/A 
Panama492 N/A Former USSR (country not stated) 483 N/A 
Laos464 N/A 
Moldova455 N/A 
Honduras420 N/A 
Guinea-Bissau381 N/A 
Costa Rica376 N/A 
Cayman Islands369 N/A 
Lesotho331 N/A 
Cape Verde328 N/A 
Central African Republic312 N/A 
Solomon Islands309 N/A 
Puerto Rico306 N/A 
Mongolia293 N/A Mongolians in the United Kingdom Europe (country not stated) 269 N/A 
Guinea265 N/A 
Suriname264 N/A 
Benin239 N/A 
Djibouti237 N/A 
Monaco225 N/A 
Nicaragua223 N/A 
Maldives200 N/A 
Chad183 N/A 
Kiribati179 N/A 
Haiti164 N/A 
British Virgin Islands163 N/A 
Tonga143 N/A 
Gabon135 N/A 
Vanuatu135 N/A 
Kyrgyzstan133 N/A 
Samoa125 N/A 
United States Virgin Islands124 N/A 
Mali121 N/A Oceania (country not stated) 108 N/A 
São Tomé and Príncipe102 N/A 
Tajikistan101 N/A 
Burkina Faso99 N/A 
Turkmenistan99 N/A 
Niger96 N/A 
Bhutan86 N/A 
Comoros62 N/A 
Guam61 N/A 
Turks and Caicos Islands56 N/A 
Equatorial Guinea51 N/A 
Cook Islands37 N/A 
Andorra35 N/A 
American Samoa30 N/A 
Mauritania28 N/A 
Liechtenstein23 N/A 
North Korea22 N/A 
British Indian Ocean Territory19 N/A 
Nauru14 N/A 
Tuvalu10 N/A 
San Marino9 N/A 
Norfolk Island4 N/A 
Micronesia, Federated States of3 N/A 
Niue3 N/A 
Pitcairn Islands3 N/A 
Palau3 N/A 
East Timor1 N/A 
Aruba0 N/A 
Cocos (Keeling) Islands0 N/A 
Northern Mariana Islands0 N/A 
Tokelau0 N/A 
Vatican City0 N/A Institute for Public Policy Research analysis
In 2005 the Institute for Public Policy Research published an analysis of data from the 2001 Census, revealing the number of people included in the census who were born outside the British Isles, where they lived, and comparing this information against the 1991 Census.[10] The results were made available on the BBC website.[11] Note that this data refers to Great Britain only, rather than the whole of the UK, because of the lack of digital boundaries in the census data for Northern Ireland.[10]
See also
- Immigration to the United Kingdom since 1922
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Table 1.3: Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth, January 2010 to December 2010". Office for National Statistics. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/august-2011/population-by-country-of-birth-and-nationality-jan10-dec10.xls. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
- ^ "Foreign-born: 1 in 12 in UK born overseas". Office for National Statistics. 15 December 2005. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1312. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ a b Rendall, Michael; Salt, John (2005). "The foreign-born population". In Office for National Statistics. Focus on People and Migration: 2005 edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 131–152. ISBN 1403993270. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/08_FOPM_ForeignBorn.pdf.
- ^ Muenz, Rainer (June 2006). "Europe: Population and migration in 2005". Migration Policy Institute. http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=402. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Table 1.1: Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by country of birth, April 2009 to March 2010". Office for National Statistics. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/population-by-birthcountrynationality-apr09-mar10.zip. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ 6.5% of the EU population are foreigners and 9.4% are born abroad, Eurostat, Katya VASILEVA, 34/2011.
- ^ a b "Country-of-birth database". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- ^ Ellis, Amy (2009). "UK resident population by country of birth". Population Trends 135 (135): 20–28. doi:10.1057/pt.2009.5. PMID 19391440. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/population_trends/PT135POPCOBARTICLE.pdf.
- ^ Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95 per cent confidence intervals.
- ^ a b Kyambi, Sarah (2005). Beyond Black and White: Mapping new immigrant communities. London: Institute for Public Policy Research. ISBN 186030284X. http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=308.
- ^ "Introduction and figures for Britain". Born Abroad: An immigration map of Britain. BBC News. 7 September 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/html/overview.stm. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
External links
- Beyond Black and White: Mapping new immigrant communities
- Born Abroad: An immigration map of Britain
Migration to the United Kingdom from the Americas North America American (United States) · Antiguan and Barbudan · Barbadian · Canadian · Grenadian · Jamaican · Mexican · Montserratian1 · Trinidadian and TobagonianSouth America See also British African-Caribbean community · British Indo-Caribbean community · Latin American migration to the United KingdomNotes 1. Montserrat is a British overseas territory and not an independent state
Migration to the United Kingdom from Africa North Africa Algerian · Egyptian · Moroccan · SudaneseHorn of Africa Ethiopian · SomaliEast Africa Southern Africa South African · ZimbabweanCentral Africa West Africa Ivoirian · Ghanaian · Nigerian · Sierra Leonean
Migration to the United Kingdom from Asia East Asia 
South Asia Southeast Asia Burmese · Filipino · Malaysian · Singaporean · Thai · VietnameseWest Asia Migration to the United Kingdom from Europe Central Europe Eastern Europe Belarusian · Russian · UkrainianNorthern Europe Baltic (Lithuanian)· Irish (Irish Travellers) · Scandinavian (Swedish)Southern Europe Western Europe Notes 1. Gibraltar is a British overseas territory and not an independent state
Migration to the United Kingdom from Oceania Australian · Fijian · New ZealanderCategories:- Demographics of the United Kingdom
- Immigration to the United Kingdom
- Immigration to the United Kingdom by country of origin
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