Nigeria became one of the leading sources of migration to the United Kingdom in 2024, with around 52,000 citizens relocating there, according to the latest figures from the UK Office for National Statistics.
This influx positions Nigeria as a top contributor to non-European migration, even as the UK's net migration decreased sharply by nearly 50% to 431,000, down from 860,000 the previous year.
The majority of the migrants traveled for work or study purposes, with 27,000 obtaining work-related visas and 22,000 arriving on study visas. The remaining 3,000 came under other immigration categories.
Nigerians join nationals from India, Pakistan, and China as leading contributors to non-European migration to the UK. For 2024, Indian nationals were the most common non-EU+ immigrants, with a significant number arriving for both work and study.
The UK's migration data indicates that 83 percent of non-European migrants were of working age, between 16 and 64 years, with a gender distribution of 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Children under 16 accounted for 16 percent of the migrants, while only one percent were over 65.
The decline in overall migration to the UK was attributed to fewer arrivals on work and study visas, particularly from non-European countries, and increased emigration.
Many individuals who migrated during or after the COVID-19 pandemic have since returned to their home countries, especially those on study visas.
Work-related immigration among main applicants saw a significant drop, decreasing by 108,000, a 49 percent year-on-year decrease. Study-related immigration also fell by 17 percent, with the number of study dependents experiencing the steepest decline at 86 percent.
Top Countries Contributing to Migration to the UK in 2024
- India: 240,000
- Nigeria: 120,000
- Pakistan: 101,000
- China: 78,000
- Zimbabwe: 36,000
These figures underscore the shifting dynamics of immigration to the UK and the continuing influence of Nigerian migration within this broader context.
