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Where do most foreigners live in UK?

The United Kingdom has long been a popular destination for immigrants from around the world. As of 2022, there were around 9.6 million foreign-born residents in the UK, making up around 14% of the total population. But where exactly do most of these foreign-born residents live within the UK?

London has the highest foreign-born population

By far, London has the largest foreign-born population of any region in the UK. In 2022, it was estimated that around 3.8 million foreign-born residents lived in London. This represents over 37% of London’s total population. The enormous global draw of London as an international hub for business, culture, and tourism helps explain its exceptionally high immigrant population.

After London, the West Midlands region has the next largest foreign-born population at around 1 million. Areas surrounding London, like the South East and East of England, also have high foreign-born populations numbering over 1 million each. Immigrants tend to be drawn to large urban centers and their surrounding metro areas for economic opportunities.

The top foreign nationalities living in the UK

Looking at specific nationalities, India was the most common nationality of UK immigrants as of 2020, with an estimated 824,000 Indian-born residents. After India, Poland (743,000) and Pakistan (524,000) were the next most common foreign countries of birth.

Nationality Estimated population in UK
India 824,000
Poland 743,000
Pakistan 524,000
Ireland 518,000
Romania 447,000

Other top foreign nationalities include Ireland, Romania, Italy, Portugal, Lithuania, and Nigeria. This reflects historic migration ties from Commonwealth countries as well as more recent flows from EU accession states in Central and Eastern Europe.

Foreign-born residents by UK nation

Looking within the countries of the UK, England has by far the highest foreign-born population at over 7.6 million. This dwarfs the foreign-born populations of Scotland (368,000), Wales (218,000), and Northern Ireland (121,000).

However, when looked at as a percentage of the total population, the foreign-born make up a higher percentage in Wales (7%), Scotland (6.7%), and Northern Ireland (6.7%) than in England (13.4%).

UK nation Foreign-born population As percentage of total population
England 7,623,000 13.4%
Scotland 368,000 6.7%
Wales 218,000 7%
Northern Ireland 121,000 6.7%

Factors influencing settlement patterns of immigrants

There are a few key factors that influence where immigrants choose to settle within the UK:

Economic opportunities

The promise of jobs and business opportunities, especially in major cities like London and the South East, is a major draw for immigrants to the UK.

Established communities

Immigrants are more likely to move to areas where there are already established communities of people from their home country. This provides social/cultural familiarity and support networks.

Language

A shared language facilitates integration and employment. Many immigrants from India, Pakistan, and Nigeria already speak English.

Proximity

Some immigrants, especially asylum seekers, initially settle in the UK port of entry. For example, many Albanians stayed in Dover after arriving by boat across the English Channel.

Housing availability

Affordable housing and room to grow can draw immigrant groups to smaller urban areas like Birmingham, Bradford, and Leicester.

Conclusion

In summary, London and the broader South East region have the largest foreign-born populations in the UK by a wide margin. Indians, Poles, and Pakistanis form the three largest foreign national groups in the UK. While England has the most total immigrants, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have higher immigrant populations as a percentage of their total populations. Settlement patterns are influenced by economic prospects, immigrant community networks, language, proximity to ports of entry, and availability of housing.

As the UK’s immigrant population continues to grow and evolve, understanding where immigrants are settling provides insight into how immigration is shaping demographics, culture, and economics across Britain.