Overseas-born population as a percentage of total UK population
In 2001, 8.3 per cent (4.9 million) of the total population of the UK were born overseas. This is almost double the proportion in 1951 (4.2 per cent).
The overseas-born population increased more between 1991 and 2001 than it did in any of the preceding post-war decades. There was a 1.6 percentage point increase over the decade to 2001. This compares with previous decade-to-decade increases between 1951 and 1991 that were all less than one percentage point.
Almost half of overseas-born migrants to the UK in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s emigrated within five years. There were large variations by country of birth. Between half and two thirds of the migrants born in the European Union, North America and Oceania emigrated within five years compared with 15 per cent of those born in the Indian subcontinent.
Overseas-born population by ethnic group, UK, April 2001
Compared with the UK-born population, the overseas-born population has a much more diverse mix of ethnic groups. While 96 per cent of the UK-born population was White in 2001, only just over half (53 per cent, or 2.6 million) of the overseas-born population was White. The next largest ethnic groups for people born overseas were Indian (570,000), Pakistani (336,000), Black African (322,000) and Black Caribbean (238,000). Other ethnic groups with significant representation among the UK overseas-born population are Chinese (176,000 were born overseas) and Bangladeshi (152,000).
Among the overseas-born population, country of birth does not always correspond closely with ethnic origin. Overseas-born people from the White ethnic group are the most diverse in regard to their countries and continents of birth. One in five (21 per cent) were born in the Republic of Ireland and a further two in five (41 per cent) were born elsewhere in Europe. Substantial proportions of overseas-born White people were also born in Asia (11 per cent), North or South America (11 per cent), Africa (10 per cent) and Oceania (6 per cent).
People born in Africa are the most varied in terms of their ethnic backgrounds. In 2001 less than two-fifths (38 per cent) of all African-born UK residents were Black, while 31 per cent were White and 20 per cent were Indian.
The overseas-born population is more concentrated than the UK-born population in the working age group. Three-quarters (75 per cent) of the overseas-born population were aged between 16 and state pension age in 2001. Only three-fifths (60 per cent) of the UK-born population were in this age group. There were 23 overseas-born people of pension age for every 100 overseas-born people of working age, compared with 31 per 100 for the UK-born population.
Sources: Census, April 1951 to 2001, Office for National Statistics Census, April 1951 to 2001, General Register Office for Scotland Census, April 1951 to 2001, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
The following article can be found by following the 'Population Trends' link on the right-hand side of the page. Volume 116: Immigration,emigration and the ageing of the overseas-born population in the UK
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