Migration has been an age-old phenomenon, deeply ingrained in the essence of humanity, driven by the natural inclination of humans to explore better opportunities elsewhere. Annually, developed nations witness a significant inflow of immigrants from various corners of the globe. Among them, the United Kingdom stands strong, securing the fifth position in the list of countries attracting the highest number of immigrants.
According to the United Nations 2020, below are the top 10 Countries with the highest number of Foreign-Born Residents (Immigrants).
| Country | Number of Immigrants (million) |
| United States | 50.6 |
| Germany | 15.8 |
| Saudi Arabia | 13.5 |
| Russia | 11.6 |
| United Kingdom | 9.4 |
| United Arab Emirates | 8.7 |
| France | 8.5 |
| Canada | 8.0 |
| Australia | 7.7 |
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In 2022, the United Kingdom witnessed a migration of approximately 1.16 million people arriving in the country, while 557,000 people left, resulting in a net migration figure of 606,000. Between 1964 and 1993, immigration and emigration numbers were fairly balanced, but since 1994, immigration has been on the rise. Notably, net migration has become the primary driver of the UK’s population growth since 1999, with natural change (births minus deaths) contributing to a smaller share of demographic growth.
Over 1.12 million Polish nationals and 1.13 million Romanian nationals applied for the scheme, which allows EU nationals to remain in the UK, mirroring the issue of migrants’ status in EU member states”
As of 2021, a report by The Migration Observatory revealed that the largest non-UK nationality living in the UK was Indian, with approximately 896,000 Indian nationals residing in the country. Before 2021, Polish nationals held this position, with their population doubling from 502,000 to over 1.02 million between 2008 and 2017. However, the Brexit vote likely contributed to a decline in their numbers since 2017.
Indian nationals also saw a notable increase, with 117,965 Sponsored Study grants, an 80,569 (215%) increase compared to 2019.”
The EU settlement scheme saw a significant number of applications, with Polish and Romanian nationals being the largest applicants. Over 1.12 million Polish nationals and 1.13 million Romanian nationals applied for the scheme, which allows EU nationals to remain in the UK, mirroring the issue of migrants’ status in EU member states.
Nigerian nationals experienced a significant increase in Sponsored Study grants compared to 2019, rising by 57,545 (a 686% increase) to a record high of 65,929 migrants”
ONS
Regarding study visas, there has been a notable increase, with Indian students being the most numerous nationalities to apply for such visas. In the year ending March 2023, approximately 632,006 study visas were granted. Additionally, when it comes to work visas, Indian nationals also topped the list, with 150,405 work visas granted in 2022/23.
Two major factors contributed to the high influx of people into the United Kingdom:
1. Study: International students accounted for 39% of the increase. The UK actively pursued a strategy to attract and diversify foreign student recruitment. The reintroduction of post-study work rights after Brexit likely made the UK more appealing to international students.
2. Work: 23% of the increase in visa grants from 2019 to the year ending June 2022 was due to work visas, particularly for skilled workers. The health and care industry drove most of this growth. The increase in skilled workers is not solely attributed to the post-Brexit immigration system but also to the higher demand for workers who were already eligible under the previous system, such as doctors and nurses.
A recent report by the UK Home Office indicates that Nigeria became the top country of origin for migrants to the UK as of June 2022, making it the third-largest nationality group in the country.
Nigerian nationals experienced a significant increase in Sponsored Study grants compared to 2019, rising by 57,545 (a 686% increase) to a record high of 65,929 migrants. Indian nationals also saw a notable increase, with 117,965 Sponsored Study grants, an 80,569 (215%) increase compared to 2019. Chinese nationals received 115,056 visas, 4% lower than in 2019, making them the second most common nationality granted Sponsored Study visas in the year ending June 2022.
In total, there were 486,868 Sponsored Study visas granted (for both principal applicants and their dependants), a 71% increase (202,147 more visas) compared to 2019. Nigerians accounted for about 12% of this total, showing the highest increase in the number of dependants accompanying persons with study visas from a single country.
