MigrantoImmigrants in the UK
8.7M foreign-born residents — the #5 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 30% of all immigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 1044779 |
| Poland | 902193 |
| Romania | 713578 |
| Pakistan | 703309 |
| Ireland | 360446 |
| Italy | 342143 |
| Nigeria | 324007 |
| Bangladesh | 298666 |
| Germany | 287772 |
| Ukraine | 274187 |
| South Africa | 245446 |
| USA | 243570 |
| Spain | 211894 |
| Lithuania | 206668 |
| Portugal | 193901 |
| China | 179337 |
| Philippines | 176515 |
| France | 174571 |
| Sri Lanka | 160178 |
| Ghana | 154782 |
| Jamaica | 146646 |
| Turkey | 145391 |
| Hong Kong | 142011 |
| Kenya | 137817 |
| Zimbabwe | 132869 |
| Australia | 124319 |
| Iran | 124200 |
| Somalia | 119728 |
| Afghanistan | 99398 |
| Iraq | 99203 |
| Canada | 81845 |
| Malaysia | 66932 |
| New Zealand | 50762 |
| Singapore | 45936 |
| Croatia | 15398 |
By region of origin
Europe is the leading region of origin at 42%
3.7M
3M
1.1M
325.4K
244.6K
175.1K
146.6K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in the UK.
Romania is the fastest-growing major source
Immigration from Romania has increased by 277% since 2015, rising from 189.4K to 713.6K in 9 years.
United Kingdom is a primary destination for emigrants from Ireland
United Kingdom attracts 51% of all emigrants from Ireland, making it the leading destination for those leaving the country.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
49% of the population growth of the UK since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
Top source countries have shifted significantly since 1990
7 new countries have entered the top 20: Romania, Ukraine, Lithuania — Romania rose from outside the top 20 to rank #3.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2891396 |
| 1995 | 3200636 |
| 2000 | 3662231 |
| 2005 | 4434670 |
| 2010 | 5845649 |
| 2015 | 6722572 |
| 2020 | 7749166 |
| 2024 | 8730397 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | India | Poland | Romania | Pakistan | Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 405445 | 74813 | 3697 | 227526 | 635576 |
| 1995 | 433162 | 67979 | 5200 | 267139 | 586223 |
| 2000 | 462269 | 61534 | 7201 | 312751 | 540309 |
| 2005 | 561720 | 165337 | 20888 | 387949 | 504766 |
| 2010 | 700150 | 558210 | 69898 | 486938 | 472667 |
| 2015 | 817881 | 728332 | 189427 | 562645 | 431716 |
| 2020 | 946151 | 826408 | 502169 | 642044 | 392620 |
| 2024 | 1044779 | 902193 | 713578 | 703309 | 360446 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
United Kingdom as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in the UK
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in the UK?
Around 8.7M foreign-born residents live in the UK, making it the #5-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in the UK come from?
Most immigrants in the UK come from India, Poland and Romania — these three countries account for about 30% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of the UK are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 13% of the population of the UK — that's 8.7M out of a total population of 69.2M.
How has immigration to the UK changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in the UK has grown from 6.7M to 8.7M people, a growth of about 30%.
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