The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the United Kingdom has reported that successful migration by Nigerians to UK reached 52,000 in 2024.
The report says much of the 52,000 Nigerians left the country and relocated to the UK in 2024 for either work or study purposes.
In the recently published report by the ONS, Nigerian migration places the country among the top non-EU countries contributing to UK immigration.
According to recent disclosures from ONS, Nigeria has emerged as one of the prominent contributors to non-EU+ migration to the UK, joining the ranks of countries like India, Pakistan, and China.
“For the year ending December 2024, Indian nationals were the most common non-EU+ immigrants.
“Work and study-related immigration were the primary reasons for migration among Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian nationals,” the ONS report stated.
The report further noted that the influx came despite a significant decline in overall net migration to the UK, which dropped by nearly “50 per cent in the year ending December 2024.”
The ONS estimates net migration at “431,000, down from 860,000 in the previous year.”
A breakdown of the Nigerian migration figure released by the ONS showed that about 27,000 came on work-related visas, 22,000 on study visas, and the remaining 3,000 under other immigration categories.
The report also highlighted that 83 per cent of non-EU+ migrants were of working age (16–64 years), with 52 per cent being male and 48 per cent female.
Children under 16 made up 16 per cent of migrants, while only one per cent were over the age of 65.
While immigration from countries such as Nigeria remained notable, the overall decline in migration was attributed to fewer arrivals on work and study visas, especially from non-EU+ countries, and increased emigration.
