International comparisons
The UK has experienced broadly similar levels of migration compared to other high-income countries, on average, over the past few decades (see Figure 6.2).
Migration levels fluctuate from year to year, but over the long run, the size of the foreign-born population as a percentage of the population is a good indicator of the level of immigration. OECD figures provide useful international comparisons.
The OECD reports that 19% of the UK’s population was foreign-born in 2024:
- similar to Germany (19%), Spain (18%) and Norway (18%);
- smaller than, for example, Sweden (21%), Austria (22%), Canada (22%), Ireland (23%), New Zealand (27%) and Australia (32%);
- greater than, for example, Japan (2%), Hungary (7%), Italy (11%), Denmark (12%), France (14%) and the United States (15%).
Figure 6.2: Foreign-born population as a share of total population
In June 2024, according to ONS, there were, by country of birth, 13.1 million people who were not born in the UK. With a UK population of 69.3 million this was 18.9% of the population. This comprised 9.2 million (70%) non-EU citizens and 3.9 million (30%) EU citizens.
Where are foreign nationals located?
The most reliable regional data on where foreign nationals live comes from the 2021 Census. However, this data is several years out of date.
London is the most popular destination for migrants, home to one-third of the total foreign-born population in the country. Northern Ireland, the North East, and Wales were the least popular destinations for migrants.
Distribution of populations across UK regions
The share of migrants out of the total of each regional population largely mirrors the trends in regional popularity. Migrants constituted just over 40% of London’s population in 2021.
See Table 6.1 for detailed figures.
Size and share of migrants across in UK regional populations
Table 6.1: Foreign nationals living in UK in 2021
How many British migrants live in the EU?
The UN estimated that 1.3 million British migrants were living in EU countries in 2024 (based on country of birth).
The UN also estimated by country, that there were 4.8 million British citizens living overseas in 2024.
- Twenty EU countries accounted for 1.4 million, nearly a third (30%), with half (51%) in Australia (23%), the United States (19%), and Canada (9%).
- In the EU, the top destinations for the 1.4 million were Spain (21%), Ireland (21%), Poland (13%), France (11%), Italy (5%) and Netherlands (4%).
Note that these statistics are not maintained on a consistent basis across destination countries. Please also note that the UN figures by country are incomplete and, for example, exclude Germany and Pakistan.