Nigeria has emerged as the second-largest contributor to long-term migration into the United Kingdom in 2024, according to newly released statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The report, which covers the year ending in June 2024, indicates that 120,000 Nigerians relocated to the UK within the period. This places Nigeria just behind India, which recorded 240,000 migrants, making both countries the top two sources of non-European Union (EU+) migration into the UK.
The ONS study focused on nationals from outside the EU and key European partner countries. It analyzed various factors, including the demographics of migrants, their reasons for relocating, and their countries of origin.
Top 5 Non-EU+ Countries of Origin (Year Ending June 2024):
1. India – 240,000 migrants
2. Nigeria – 120,000 migrants
3. Pakistan – 101,000 migrants
4. China – 78,000 migrants
5. Zimbabwe – 36,000 migrants
The data highlights that the vast majority of Nigerian and other non-EU+ migrants moved to the UK for work and education. Specifically, 417,000 individuals from non-EU+ countries entered for job-related opportunities, including both skilled roles and seasonal employment. An additional 375,000 migrants came to the UK for study-related purposes, reinforcing the country’s position as a hub for global education and skilled labor.
Other motivations for migration included:
Asylum applications – 84,000
Family reunification – 76,000
Humanitarian routes and resettlement programs – 67,000
Demographic Breakdown: The report reveals a near-equal gender split among non-EU+ migrants, with 52% male and 48% female. A significant 82% of these individuals were of working age (16–64), while children under 16 made up 17% of the total. Only 1% of migrants were aged 65 or older.
This migration trend comes as the UK government simultaneously implements policies to reduce overall migration. In a related development, net migration into the UK in 2024 fell by half to 431,000. Measures such as stricter visa criteria and an increase in deportations of foreign criminals have been announced in a bid to further control immigration numbers.
Nonetheless, the surge in long-term arrivals from countries like Nigeria reflects ongoing global mobility trends driven by employment and educational opportunities in developed nations like the UK.
