Congolese (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Congolese in the United Kingdom are immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC) living in the United Kingdom
as well as their British-born descendants. The demonym
Congolese can also refer to people from the Republic of Congo, of whom there are fewer living in the UK.
Despite the DRC being the fourth most populated nation in Africa, people born in the DRC are only the 18th largest group of Africans living in the UK. According to the 2001 UK Census 8,569 Congolese-born people were residing in the UK. The majority of Congolese in the United Kingdom have come as political refugees from the poverty and war stricken nation. Congolese migration to the UK is a recent phenomenon, starting in the late 1980s. Significant numbers of Congolese have been coming to the UK as refugees since the early 1990s
. According to official data, larger Congolese populations are found in Belgium
and France
.
There are currently thought to be more than the 8,569 Congolese people recorded in the 2001 census in the UK. Some 11,000 Congolese people are estimated to reside in London
, with large numbers being found in Hackney
, Victoria
and Tottenham
, where a community of 3,000 Congolese individuals reside. In 2006, community leaders suggested that there might be 30,000 to 40,000 Congolese in the UK, though the International Organization for Migration
considers these to be unreliable estimates.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC) living in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as well as their British-born descendants. The demonym
Demonym
A demonym , also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality. A demonym is usually – though not always – derived from the name of the locality; thus, the demonym for the people of England is English, and the demonym for the people of Italy is Italian, yet, in english, the one...
Congolese can also refer to people from the Republic of Congo, of whom there are fewer living in the UK.
Despite the DRC being the fourth most populated nation in Africa, people born in the DRC are only the 18th largest group of Africans living in the UK. According to the 2001 UK Census 8,569 Congolese-born people were residing in the UK. The majority of Congolese in the United Kingdom have come as political refugees from the poverty and war stricken nation. Congolese migration to the UK is a recent phenomenon, starting in the late 1980s. Significant numbers of Congolese have been coming to the UK as refugees since the early 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
. According to official data, larger Congolese populations are found in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
There are currently thought to be more than the 8,569 Congolese people recorded in the 2001 census in the UK. Some 11,000 Congolese people are estimated to reside in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with large numbers being found in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, Victoria
Victoria, London
Victoria is a commercial and residential area of inner city London, lying wholly within the City of Westminster, and named after Queen Victoria....
and Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
, where a community of 3,000 Congolese individuals reside. In 2006, community leaders suggested that there might be 30,000 to 40,000 Congolese in the UK, though the International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration to help resettle people displaced by World War II....
considers these to be unreliable estimates.