Nigeria emerged as the second-largest source of long-term migrants to the United Kingdom in 2024, with 120,000 Nigerians relocating to the UK in the year ending June 2024, according to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data places Nigeria behind India, which recorded 240,000 immigrants, and ahead of Pakistan (101,000), China (78,000), and Zimbabwe (36,000) among non-EU+ nationalities (those from outside the European Union and select European countries). The ONS report highlights that Nigerians, along with other top nationalities, primarily migrated for work and education, reflecting the UK’s demand for foreign labor and its status as a global education hub.
The demographic profile of non-EU+ migrants shows a balanced gender split, with 52% male and 48% female. A significant 82% are of working age (16–64 years), while 17% are children under 16, and just 1% are over 65. Work-related migration was the leading reason, attracting 417,000 non-EU+ nationals, followed closely by study-related migration with 375,000 individuals. Other reasons include asylum (84,000), family reasons (76,000), and humanitarian routes or resettlement (67,000). The ONS noted that work and study routes, particularly in health and care sectors, drove the high migration numbers, though policy changes in 2024, such as restrictions on student dependents, are expected to reduce future inflows.
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