Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
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
).
average of 8.6 per cent.
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.
. 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
.
In 2001, the five most common foreign countries of birth were the Republic of Ireland
, India
, Pakistan
, Germany
and the United States
respectively. 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.
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
. 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. 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.
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. The results were made available on the BBC
website. 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
.
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...
. 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
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, 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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
).
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. 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). 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 UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
average of 8.6 per cent.
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.
| Census | Foreign-born population |
Percentage increase over previous decade |
Percentage of total population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 DevelopmentOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
. 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
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
.
In 2001, the five most common foreign countries of birth were the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
respectively. In 2010, the most common foreign countries of birth were India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(up from 18th in 2001), Pakistan, the Republic of Ireland and Germany respectively. The United States dropped to eighth place behind South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, despite growth in the size of the US-born population.
The period between 2001 and 2010 saw significant change in the UK's foreign-born population. In particular, the 2004
2004 enlargement of the European Union
The 2004 enlargement of the European Union was the largest single expansion of the European Union , both in terms of territory, number of states and population, however not in terms of gross domestic product...
and 2007 enlargements of the European Union
2007 enlargement of the European Union
The 2007 enlargement of the European Union saw Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union on 1 January 2007. It was the latest expansion of the EU, though considered by the European Commission as part of the same wave as the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.-Negotiations:Romania was the...
have led to mass migration from the likes of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. 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. 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
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. 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.
| Country of birth | Population (2001 census) | Population (2010 ONS estimate) | Corresponding article(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
53,923,642 | 54,215,000 | British people British people The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants... , English people English people The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens... , Cornish people Cornish people The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe... , Scottish people Scottish people The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,... , Welsh people Welsh people The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have... , Northern Irish people |
 Republic of Ireland |
533,901 | 405,000 | |
 India |
467,634 | 693,000 | Indians in the United Kingdom British Indian The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK... |
 Pakistan |
321,167 | 431,000 | Pakistanis in the United Kingdom |
 Germany |
266,136 | 296,000 | Germans in the United Kingdom German migration to the United Kingdom German migration to the United Kingdom has been taking place for hundreds of years. Today, there are many Germans living in the United Kingdom, and many Britons have German ancestry, including the British royal family... |
 United States |
158,434 | 200,000 | Americans in the United Kingdom Americans in the United Kingdom Americans in the United Kingdom includes Britons born to American parents or parents with American citizenship, people from the United States who are or have become residents or citizens of the United Kingdom as well as Britons granted American citizenship.... |
 Bangladesh |
154,362 | 220,000 | Bangladeshis in the United Kingdom British Bangladeshi A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis... |
 Jamaica |
146,401 | 150,000 | Jamaicans in the United Kingdom |
 South Africa |
141,405 | 236,000 | South Africans in the United Kingdom |
 Kenya |
129,633 | 128,000 | Kenyans in the United Kingdom Kenyan migration to the United Kingdom Kenyan migration to the United Kingdom has been occurring for many decades. As a result, many people in the UK were born in Kenya, or have Kenyan ancestry.-Background:... |
 Australia |
107,871 | 112,000 | Australians in the United Kingdom |
 Italy |
107,244 | 118,000 | Italians in the United Kingdom |
 Hong Kong |
96,445 | 75,000 | Hong Kongers in the United Kingdom |
 Early Modern France |
96,281 | 111,000 | French in the United Kingdom French migration to the United Kingdom French migration to the United Kingdom is a phenomenon that has occurred at various points in history. Today, many British people have French ancestry... |
 Nigeria |
88,378 | 151,000 | Nigerians in the United Kingdom British Nigerian British Nigerian is a term sometimes used to describe British people of Nigerian descent. Many Nigerians and their British-born descendents live in South London.- History :... |
 Cyprus |
77,673 | 56,000 | Cypriots in the United Kingdom |
 Canada |
72,518 | 81,000 | Canadians in the United Kingdom Canadians in the United Kingdom Canadians in the United Kingdom include people from Canada living in the United Kingdom and their descendents. In 2001, some 72,518 people born in Canada were living in the UK according to the UK census. Of the ten census tracts with the highest Canadian-born populations, nine were in London, with... |
 Sri Lanka |
67,938 | 117,000 | Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom |
 Poland |
60,711 | 532,000 | Polish in the United Kingdom Polish British Polish migration to the United Kingdom describes the temporary or permanent migration of Poles to the United Kingdom . Most Polish migrants to the UK emigrated after two major events, the Polish Resettlement Act 1947 and the 2004 enlargement of the European Union... |
 New Zealand |
58,286 | 72,000 | New Zealanders in the United Kingdom New Zealanders in the United Kingdom New Zealanders in the United Kingdom are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom who originate from New Zealand.-Population:According to the 2001 UK Census, 58,286 New Zealand-born people were residing in the United Kingdom. The Office for National Statistics estimates that, in 2009, the New... |
 Ghana |
56,112 | 84,000 | Ghanaians in the United Kingdom |
 Uganda |
55,213 | 48,000 | Ugandans in the United Kingdom |
 Spain |
54,482 | 68,000 | Spaniards in the United Kingdom |
 Turkey |
54,079 | 72,000 | Turks in the United Kingdom |
 People's Republic of China |
51,078 | 120,000 | Chinese in the United Kingdom British Chinese British Chinese , including British-born Chinese are people of Chinese ancestry who were born in, or have migrated to, the United Kingdom. They are part of the Chinese diaspora, or overseas Chinese... |
 Malaysia |
49,886 | 60,000 | Malaysians in the United Kingdom |
 Zimbabwe |
49,524 | 130,000 | Zimbabweans in the United Kingdom |
 Somalia |
43,515 | 110,000 | Somalis in the United Kingdom |
 Iran |
42,494 | 70,000 | Iranians in the United Kingdom |
 Singapore |
40,474 | 42,000 | Singaporeans in the United Kingdom |
 Netherlands |
40,438 | 55,000 | Dutch in the United Kingdom |
 Philippines |
40,118 | 123,000 | Filipinos in the United Kingdom Filipinos in the United Kingdom Filipinos in the United Kingdom are British citizens or immigrants who are of Filipino ancestry.-History:The United Kingdom only had a small population of Filipinos until the late 20th century. The number started to grow in the 1970s when immigration restrictions on Commonwealth citizens meant that... |
 Japan |
37,535 | 38,000 | Japanese in the United Kingdom |
 Portugal |
36,555 | 83,000 | Portuguese in the United Kingdom |
 Greece |
35,169 | 30,000 | Greeks in the United Kingdom |
 Tanzania |
32,630 | 35,000 | Tanzanians in the United Kingdom |
 Iraq |
32,236 | 69,000 | Iraqis in the United Kingdom British Iraqis British Iraqis are people of Iraqi ancestry who were born in or who reside in the United Kingdom.-History:The UK has had a significant Iraqi population since the late 1940s. Refugees including liberal and radical intellectuals dissatisfied with the monarchist regime moved to the UK at this time.... |
 Serbia and Montenegro |
31,244 (including Kosovo) | N/A | Serbs in the United Kingdom |
 Republic of Kosovo |
N/A (included in Serbia and Montenegro entry) | N/A | Kosovans in the United Kingdom |
 Malta |
30,178 | 23,000 | Maltese in the United Kingdom |
 Mauritius |
27,078 | 43,000 | Mauritians in the United Kingdom |
 Egypt |
24,700 | 28,000 | Egyptians in the United Kingdom |
 Vietnam |
23,347 | N/A | Vietnamese in the United Kingdom Vietnamese people in the United Kingdom Vietnamese British people are either citizens or non citizen immigrants in the United Kingdom of Vietnamese descent, they are part of the Việt Kiều.-History and settlement:... |
| Africa Africa Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area... (country not stated) |
22,975 | N/A | |
 Sweden |
22,525 | 28,000 | Swedes in the United Kingdom Swedes in the United Kingdom Swedes in the United Kingdom are immigrants from Sweden living in the United Kingdom as well as their British-born descendants. Although only around 25,000 Swedish-born people live in the UK, millions of Britons have some degree of Scandinavian ancestry that dates back over 1,000 years to the... |
 Belgium |
21,668 | 22,000 | |
 Barbados |
21,601 | N/A | Barbadians in the United Kingdom Barbadian British Barbadian British people, or Bajan-Brits are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the Caribbean island of Barbados... |
 Zambia |
21,529 | 29,000 | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
21,283 | 23,000 | Trinidadians in the United Kingdom |
 Guyana |
20,872 | 22,000 | Guyanese in the United Kingdom |
 Austria |
19,503 | N/A | Austrians in the United Kingdom |
 Denmark |
18,695 | N/A | |
 Sierra Leone |
17,048 | N/A | Sierra Leoneans in the United Kingdom |
 Thailand |
16,257 | 35,000 | Thais in the United Kingdom |
 Switzerland |
16,010 | N/A | |
 Brazil |
15,215 | 44,000 | Brazilians in the United Kingdom |
 Russia |
15,160 | 40,000 | Russians in the United Kingdom Russians in the United Kingdom -Settlement and population numbers:The 2001 UK Census recorded 15,160 Russian-born residents. Estimates published by the Office for National Statistics suggest that the resident Russian-born population of the UK was 32,000 in 2009.... |
 Afghanistan |
14,875 | 54,000 | Afghans in the United Kingdom |
 Norway |
13,798 | N/A | |
 Hungary |
13,159 | 41,000 | Hungarians in the United Kingdom |
 Yemen |
12,508 | N/A | Yemenis in the United Kingdom |
 Morocco |
12,348 | 22,000 | Moroccans in the United Kingdom |
 Malawi |
12,340 | N/A | |
 Colombia |
12,331 | N/A | Colombians in the United Kingdom |
 South Korea |
12,310 | 21,000 | Koreans in the United Kingdom Koreans in the United Kingdom Koreans in the United Kingdom include Korean-born migrants to the United Kingdom and their British-born descendants.-Population size:The 2001 UK Census recorded 12,310 British residents born in South Korea... |
 Czech Republic |
12,220 | 32,000 | Czechs in the United Kingdom Czech migration to the United Kingdom Czech migration to the United Kingdom refers to the phenomenon of Czech people migrating to the United Kingdom from the Czech Republic or from the political entities that preceded it, such as Czechoslovakia... |
 Ukraine |
11,913 | N/A | Ukrainians in the United Kingdom |
 Israel |
11,892 | N/A | Israelis in the United Kingdom Israelis in the United Kingdom Israelis in the United Kingdom refers to citizens or residents of the United Kingdom who were originally from Israel.-Demographics:In 2001 Israel was the 68th most common birthplace for British residents; some 11,892 Israeli natives called the UK home... |
 Gibraltar |
11,830 | N/A | Gibraltarians in the United Kingdom Gibraltarians in the United Kingdom Gibraltarians in the United Kingdom is a term referring to Gibraltarian-born immigrants to the United Kingdom and their British-born descendents. Gibraltar is a British overseas territory therefore it allows individuals born there the right of abode in the United Kingdom... |
 Finland |
11,322 | N/A | |
 Sudan |
10,671 | N/A | Sudanese in the United Kingdom Sudanese in the United Kingdom Sudanese in the United Kingdom including Sudanese-born immigrants to the UK and their British-born descendants are an extremely diverse national group, especially in terms of political and religious views. It is thought that the UK is home to the oldest Sudanese diaspora in the Western World, as... |
 Algeria |
10,670 | 21,000 | Algerians in the United Kingdom Algerians in the United Kingdom Algerians in the United Kingdom include Algerian born immigrants and asylum seekers to the UK and their British-born descendants.-Background:According to the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees , the UK's Algerian population is not well known or understood by the wider community... |
 Lebanon |
10,459 | N/A | Lebanese in the United Kingdom |
 Myanmar (Myanmar) |
9,924 | N/A | Burmese in the United Kingdom |
 Grenada |
9,783 | N/A | |
 Libya |
9,141 | 25,000 | |
 Saudi Arabia |
8,789 | N/A | |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
8,569 | N/A | Congolese in the United Kingdom Congolese (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the United Kingdom Congolese in the United Kingdom are immigrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo living in the United Kingdom as well as their British-born descendants... |
 Saint Lucia |
8,265 | N/A | |
 Montserrat |
7,983 | N/A | Montserratians in the United Kingdom |
 Ethiopia |
7,775 | N/A | Ethiopians in the United Kingdom Ethiopians in the United Kingdom Ethiopians in the United Kingdom are an ethnic group that consist of Ethiopian immigrants to the United Kingdom as well as their descendants. Overall, it is one of the smaller subgroups of immigrants to the UK from Africa.-History:... |
 Kingdom of Romania |
7,631 | 79,000 | Romanians in the United Kingdom Romanian migration to the United Kingdom Romanian migration to the United Kingdom refers to the phenomenon of Romanian people moving to the United Kingdom as citizens or non-citizen immigrants.-History, population and settlement:... |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
7,091 | N/A | |
 Independent State of Croatia |
6,992 | N/A | |
 Argentina |
6,796 | N/A | |
 Dominica |
6,739 | N/A | |
 Indonesia |
6,711 | N/A | |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
6,692 | N/A | |
 Republic of China (Taiwan) |
6,588 | N/A | |
 Eritrea |
6,561 | N/A | |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
6,519 | N/A | |
 Nepal |
5,943 | 35,000 | Nepalis in the United Kingdom Nepalis in the United Kingdom Nepalese in the United Kingdom are British citizens or full time residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the South Asian nation of Nepal.-History:... |
 Angola |
5,914 | N/A | |
 Kuwait |
5,882 | N/A | |
| Asia Asia Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... (country not stated) |
5,677 | N/A | |
 United Arab Emirates |
5,406 | N/A | Emiratis in the United Kingdom Emiratis in the United Kingdom Emiratis in the United Kingdom are Emirati immigrants in the United Kingdom. They number several thousand and include many students pursuing higher education.-Demographics:... |
 Kingdom of Bulgaria |
5,351 | 52,000 | Bulgarians in the United Kingdom Bulgarian migration to the United Kingdom Bulgarians in the United Kingdom include people from Bulgaria who have migrated to the United Kingdom and their descendents. The number of Bulgarian-born people resident in the UK has risen from 5,351 at the time of the 2001 Census to an estimated 35,000 in 2009.-History:A true Bulgarian community... |
 Slovakia |
5,273 | 48,000 | |
 Chile |
5,131 | N/A | Chileans in the United Kingdom |
 Mexico |
5,049 | N/A | Mexicans in the United Kingdom Mexicans in the United Kingdom Mexicans in the United Kingdom include Mexican-born immigrants to the United Kingdom and their British-born descendants. Although a large percentage of Mexican-born people in the UK are international students, many are also permanently settled and work in the UK as the community expands into its... |
 Lithuania |
4,363 | 87,000 | Lithuanians in the United Kingdom Lithuanians in the United Kingdom Lithuanians in the United Kingdom including individuals born in Lithuania who have migrated to the UK as well as their British-born descendants form a subgroup of Baltic people in the United Kingdom... |
 Latvia |
4,275 | 48,000 | |
 Bahrain |
4,185 | N/A | |
 Syria |
4,168 | N/A | |
 Peru |
4,066 | N/A | Peruvians in the United Kingdom |
 Venezuela |
3,996 | N/A | |
 The Gambia |
3,924 | N/A | |
 Antigua and Barbuda |
3,891 | N/A | Antiguans in the United Kingdom |
 Fiji |
3,464 | N/A | Fijians in the United Kingdom Fijians in the United Kingdom Fijians in the United Kingdom include Fijian-born immigrants to the United Kingdom as well as their British-born descendants. With around 3,500 Fijian born residents alone in the UK in 2001, it is the world's fifth largest overseas Fijian community.... |
 Mozambique |
3,353 | N/A | |
 Republic of the Congo |
3,266 | N/A | |
 Cameroon |
3,233 | N/A | |
 Jordan |
3,115 | N/A | |
 Tunisia |
3,070 | N/A | |
 Ecuador |
3,035 | N/A | Ecuadorians in the United Kingdom |
 Bermuda |
2,986 | N/A | |
 Seychelles |
2,905 | N/A | |
 Côte d'Ivoire (Côte d'Ivoire) |
2,794 | N/A | Ivoirians in the United Kingdom Ivoirians in the United Kingdom Ivoirians in the United Kingdom are one of the country's smallest African immigrant groups, consisting of no more than 10,000 individuals. The group includes people born in Côte d'Ivoire who have migrated to the United Kingdom, as well as their British-born descendants... |
 Brunei |
2,782 | N/A | |
 West Bank (Palestinian territories) |
2,483 | N/A | |
 Rwanda |
2,373 | N/A | |
 Saint Helena |
2,355 | N/A | |
 Albania |
2,314 | N/A | |
 Botswana |
2,051 | N/A | |
 Oman |
2,024 | N/A | |
 Burundi |
2,022 | N/A | |
 Estonia |
2,005 | N/A | |
 The Bahamas |
1,797 | N/A | |
 Liberia |
1,583 | N/A | |
 Iceland |
1,552 | N/A | |
 Macau |
1,490 | N/A | |
| South South America South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east... and Central America Central America Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent... (country not stated) |
1,338 | N/A | |
 Republic of Macedonia |
1,285 | N/A | |
 Belize |
1,233 | N/A | |
 Namibia |
1,230 | N/A | |
 Slovenia |
1,228 | N/A | |
 Luxembourg |
1,222 | N/A | |
 Belarus |
1,154 | N/A | |
 Netherlands Antilles |
1,151 | N/A | |
 Bolivia |
1,143 | N/A | Bolivians in the United Kingdom Bolivians in the United Kingdom Bolivians in the United Kingdom form a fairly small group, with 1,143 Bolivian-born people living in the UK according to the 2001 Census. However, recent estimates suggest that as many as 15,000-25,000 Bolivians now call the UK home.-Settlement:... |
 Cuba |
1,083 | N/A | |
 Qatar |
1,062 | N/A | |
 Papua New Guinea |
1,057 | N/A | |
 Falkland Islands |
1,044 | N/A | |
 Uruguay |
963 | N/A | |
 Kazakhstan |
871 | N/A | |
 Swaziland |
863 | N/A | |
 Madagascar |
789 | N/A | |
 Senegal |
723 | N/A | |
 Cambodia |
706 | N/A | |
 El Salvador |
595 | N/A | |
 Armenia |
589 | N/A | Armenians in the United Kingdom Armenians in the United Kingdom There has been sporadic emigration from Armenia to the UK since the 18th century, with the biggest influx coming after the Second World War. The majority are based in the major cities of London and Manchester... |
 Azerbaijan |
561 | N/A | |
 Togo |
553 | N/A | |
 Georgia (country) |
551 | N/A | |
 Dominican Republic |
523 | N/A | |
 Uzbekistan |
521 | N/A | |
 Guatemala |
499 | N/A | |
 Anguilla |
498 | N/A | |
 Paraguay |
493 | N/A | |
 Panama |
492 | N/A | |
| Former USSR (country not stated) | 483 | N/A | |
 Laos |
464 | N/A | |
 Moldova |
455 | N/A | |
 Honduras |
420 | N/A | |
 Guinea-Bissau |
381 | N/A | |
 Costa Rica |
376 | N/A | |
 Cayman Islands |
369 | N/A | |
 Lesotho |
331 | N/A | |
 Cape Verde |
328 | N/A | |
 Central African Republic |
312 | N/A | |
 Solomon Islands |
309 | N/A | |
 Puerto Rico |
306 | N/A | |
 Mongolia |
293 | N/A | Mongolians in the United Kingdom Mongolians in the United Kingdom Mongolians in the United Kingdom are a relatively small but fast emerging ethnic group, including both Mongolian-born people in the UK alongside their British-born descendants.-History and settlement:... |
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... (country not stated) |
269 | N/A | |
 Guinea |
265 | N/A | |
 Suriname |
264 | N/A | |
 Benin |
239 | N/A | |
 Djibouti |
237 | N/A | |
 Monaco |
225 | N/A | |
 Nicaragua |
223 | N/A | |
 Maldives |
200 | N/A | |
 Chad |
183 | N/A | |
 Kiribati |
179 | N/A | |
 Haiti |
164 | N/A | |
 British Virgin Islands |
163 | N/A | |
 Tonga |
143 | N/A | |
 Gabon |
135 | N/A | |
 Vanuatu |
135 | N/A | |
 Kyrgyzstan |
133 | N/A | |
 Samoa |
125 | N/A | |
 United States Virgin Islands |
124 | N/A | |
 Mali |
121 | N/A | |
| Oceania Oceania Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago... (country not stated) |
108 | N/A | |
 São Tomé and Príncipe |
102 | N/A | |
 Tajikistan |
101 | N/A | |
 Burkina Faso |
99 | N/A | |
 Turkmenistan |
99 | N/A | |
 Niger |
96 | N/A | |
 Bhutan |
86 | N/A | |
 Comoros |
62 | N/A | |
 Guam |
61 | N/A | |
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
56 | N/A | |
 Equatorial Guinea |
51 | N/A | |
 Cook Islands |
37 | N/A | |
 Andorra |
35 | N/A | |
 American Samoa |
30 | N/A | |
 Mauritania |
28 | N/A | |
 Liechtenstein |
23 | N/A | |
 North Korea |
22 | N/A | |
 British Indian Ocean Territory |
19 | N/A | |
 Nauru |
14 | N/A | |
 Tuvalu |
10 | N/A | |
 San Marino |
9 | N/A | |
 Norfolk Island |
4 | N/A | |
| 3 | N/A | ||
 Niue |
3 | N/A | |
 Pitcairn Islands |
3 | N/A | |
 Palau |
3 | N/A | |
 East Timor |
1 | N/A | |
 Aruba |
0 | N/A | |
 Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
0 | N/A | |
 Northern Mariana Islands |
0 | N/A | |
 Tokelau |
0 | N/A | |
 Vatican City |
0 | N/A |
Institute for Public Policy Research analysis
In 2005 the Institute for Public Policy ResearchInstitute for Public Policy Research
The IPPR is the leading progressive think-tank in the UK. It produces research and policy ideas committed to upholding values of social justice, democratic reform and environmental sustainability. IPPR is based in London and IPPR North has branches in Newcastle and Manchester.It was founded in...
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. The results were made available on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
website. Note that this data refers to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
only, rather than the whole of the UK, because of the lack of digital boundaries in the census data for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.