By Isaac Samuel
A new data released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday has put Nigeria as the second-largest source of long-term migrants to the United Kingdom in 2024, with 120,000 Nigerians relocating within the year ending June.
The report, which focused on migration from non-EU+ countries—those outside the European Union and a select group of other European nations—placed Nigeria behind India, which led the chart with 240,000 migrants. Pakistan, China, and Zimbabwe followed with 101,000, 78,000, and 36,000 migrants respectively.
The ONS data offers insight into the demographics and motivations behind the movement, revealing that Nigerians, like many other non-EU+ nationals, largely migrated to the UK for employment and education.
Demographics at a Glance
Of the non-EU+ migrants, 82 percent were of working age (between 16 and 64 years), reflecting the UK’s continued attraction for skilled professionals and students.
The gender distribution was nearly equal, with 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Children under 16 made up 17 percent of the migrant population, while only 1 percent were aged 65 and above.
On why they came, the report revealed that employment was the leading reason for migration, with 417,000 people from non-EU+ countries arriving in the UK for work-related purposes, including skilled and seasonal jobs. Education was the next most common reason, accounting for 375,000 migrants. These trends underscore the UK’s dual appeal as both an economic opportunity and a global education hub.
Additional reasons cited for long-term migration include asylum (84,000), family reunification (76,000), and humanitarian or resettlement pathways (67,000).
The data comes amid growing domestic debates in the UK around immigration reform, border security, and labour shortages.
While the influx from non-EU+ nations reflects global mobility trends, it also shows the UK’s dependence on foreign talent and students to fill economic and academic gaps.
