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Emigration

Volume 472: debated on Monday 3 March 2008

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many emigrants from the UK counted for the purpose of calculating emigration were (a) UK nationals, (b) UK nationals of working age and (c) skilled workers who were UK nationals of working age in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total emigration figure in each year each of these figures represent; (177453)

(2) from which 20 countries the most immigrants to the UK came in each of the last 10 years; and how many of each nationality immigrated in each year;

(3) how many (a) UK nationals and (b) non-UK nationals emigrated from the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 3 March 2008:

The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your questions relating to nationality of migrants:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, from which 20 countries the most immigrants to the UK came in each of the last 10 years; and how many of each nationality immigrated in each year. (177406)

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) UK nationals and (b) non-UK nationals emigrated from the UK in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex. (177411)

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many emigrants from the UK counted for the purpose of calculating emigration were (a) UK nationals, (b) UK nationals of working age and (c) skilled workers who were UK nationals of working age in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total emigration figure in each year each of these figures represent. (177453)

I am replying in her absence.

A long-term international migrant is defined as someone who changes his or her country of usual residence for a period of at least a year, so that the country of destination effectively becomes the country of usual residence. This is the United Nations recommended definition of a long-term international migrant and is the definition used for calculating population estimates and projections.

Total International Migration (TIM) estimates provide the most comprehensive figures on long-term international migration. The main source for producing these estimates is the International Passenger Survey (IPS).

While other migration flows, not captured by the IPS, are included in the TIM estimates, the nature of these other data sources and the methods used to produce TIM mean that some detailed queries can only be answered using the IPS. As a sample survey, data from the IPS are subject to a statistical margin of error.

For IPS purposes “citizenship” is taken to be the nationality of the passport being used by the passenger and in this context ‘British’ includes the whole of the UK and Gibraltar. These definitions have been used in providing the information you have requested.

Table 1 lists the top 20 citizenships of those migrating into the UK in each of the years 1997 to 2006. The top category in each year, British citizens, predominantly comprises British passport holders returning to the UK after a stay of a year or more abroad. As indicated in the table, estimates for some of the top 20 countries have a wide margin of statistical sampling error. For this reason, in Table 2, estimated numbers are presented for combined years for the top 10 countries only. The tables all refer to the citizenship of the immigrant, not their country of last residence. (177406)

Table 3 attached, shows how many British nationals and non British nationals emigrated from the UK in each of the years between 1997 and 2006 (the latest year available), broken down by age group and sex. (177411)

Table 4, attached, gives the International Passenger Survey estimates of emigration of British citizens by working age and previous occupation and as a percentage of total emigration, for the United Kingdom. IPS data do not specifically identify ‘skilled workers’. The closest prosy is ‘usual occupation prior to migration’ which is based on very broad occupational groupings. Most of those in the ‘professional and managerial’ category could be considered skilled workers although some, such as professionals taking early retirement would not fall under this category. Also, the ‘manual and clerical’ grouping, which covers all other workers, may include some skilled workers such as tradesmen and so this is also shown for information. (177453)

Table I International migration, estimates from the International Passenger Survey, top 20 citizenships migrating into the UK, time series 1997 to 2006, part I

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

1

British

British

British

British

British

2

France1

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

3

Australia

United States of America

United States of America

India

France1

4

United States of America

France1

France1

China (Peoples Republic)

India

5

Malaysia

New Zealand

New Zealand

France1

Germany

6

India

Greece

South Africa

United States of America

South Africa

7

Greece1

South Africa

China (Peoples Republic)

South Africa1

China (Peoples Republic)

8

Germany1

Italy1

India

New Zealand

United States of America

9

Japan

Germany1

Greece1

Germany1

Philippines

10

New Zealand

Spain1

Germany1

Pakistan

New Zealand

11

South Africa1

Japan

Pakistan1

Italy1

Pakistan1

12

Pakistan

India

Japan

Canada1

South Korea1

13

Bangladesh

Malaysia1

Philippines1

Japan

Malaysia

14

Canada1

Canada1

Slovakia1

Philippines

Japan

15

Netherlands1

China (Peoples Republic)1

Italy1

Malaysia

Bangladesh

16

Sweden1

Mauritius1

Malaysia

Nigeria1

Greece1

17

South Korea1

Pakistan

Denmark1

Greece1

Canada1

18

Spain1

Sweden1

Belgium1

South Korea1

Zimbabwe1

19

Cyprus1

Netherlands1

Austria1

Netherlands1

Thailand

20

Finland1

Denmark1

Kenya1

Sri Lanka

Hungary1

1 Countries where the estimate has a standard error >25 per cent., these estimates are considered less reliable than other estimates.

Notes:

1. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It covers the principal air, sea and channel tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

2. This table relates solely to the IPS. IPS data form the major part of international migration. However, total international migration estimates are produced by combining migration data from the IPS, Home Office data on asylum seekers, migration data between the UK and the Irish Republic and adjustments for ‘switchers’, i.e. those whose initial length of stay intentions are not realised.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

Table I International migration, estimates from the International Passenger Survey, top 20 citizenships migrating into the UK, time series 1997 to 2006, part 2

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

1

British

British

British

British

British

2

China (Peoples Republic)

China (Peoples Republic)

India

Poland

Poland

3

South Africa

India

China (Peoples Republic)

India

India

4

India

France1

South Africa

South Africa

Pakistan

5

Philippines

Australia

Australia

China (Peoples Republic)

Australia

6

Australia

South Africa

Pakistan

Australia

China (Peoples Republic)

7

United States of America

United States of America

Poland1

Pakistan

South Africa

8

Germany1

Philippines

United States of America

United States of America

United States of America

9

New Zealand

Pakistan

Philippines

Germany1

Germany

10

Spain1

Portugal1

Germany1

New Zealand

New Zealand

11

France1

New Zealand

Lithuania1

Japan1

Philippines1

12

Japan1

Germany1

France1

Philippines

Bangladesh

13

Pakistan

Ghana

Nigeria

Bangladesh

Nigeria

14

Italy1

Netherlands1

New Zealand

Spain1

Slovakia1

15

Canada

Canada

Zimbabwe1

Nigeria

Thailand1

16

Hong Kong1

Sri Lanka

Spain1

Czech state1

France1

17

Netherlands1

Japan

Czech state1

Slovakia1

Malaysia1

18

Kenya1

Malaysia1

Slovakia1

Sri Lanka1

Canada

19

Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Sweden1

Malaysia1

Spain1

20

Greece1

Nigeria

Thailand1

Italy1

Sri Lanka

1 Countries where the estimate has a standard error >25 per cent., these estimates are considered less reliable than other estimates.

Notes:

1. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It covers the principal air, sea and channel tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

2. This table relates solely to the IPS. IPS data form the major part of international migration. However, total international migration estimates are produced by combining migration data from the IPS, Home Office data on asylum seekers, migration data between the UK and the Irish Republic and adjustments for ‘switchers’, i.e. those whose initial length of stay intentions are not realised.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

Table 2 International migration, top 10 citizenships migrating to the UK, estimates from the International Passenger Survey, time series 1997 to 2006 in 2 year groupings

l997-98

1999-2000

2001-02

Estimate

Estimate

Estimate

All citizenships

591

All citizenships

713

All citizenships

758

1

British

195

British

214

British

207

2

Australia

39

Australia

50

Australia

51

3

France

36

United States of America

31

China (Peoples Republic)

43

4

United States of America

30

China (Peoples Republic

28

India

37

5

Greece

2

France

28

South Africa

35

6

New Zealand

21

India

27

Philippines

33

7

Germany

17

South Africa

26

United States of America

30

8

South Africa

16

New Zealand

25

Germany

28

9

India

16

Germany

20

France

25

10

Malaysia

15

Pakistan

17

New Zealand

21

2003-042005-06

Estimate

Estimate

All citizenships

945

All citizenships

1,025

1

British

183

British

169

2

India

81

Poland

109

3

China (Peoples Republic

63

India

103

4

South Africa

50

Pakistan

47

5

Australia

48

Australia

46

6

Pakistan

31

China (Peoples Republic)

45

7

France

31

South Africa

41

8

United States of America

30

United States of America

31

9

Philippines

23

Germany

26

10

Poland1

19

New Zealand

24

1 Countries where the estimate has a standard error >25 per cent., these estimates are considered less reliable than other estimates.

Notes:

1. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It covers the principal air, sea and channel tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

2. This table relates solely to the IPS. IPS data form the major part of international migration. However, total international migration estimates are produced by combining migration data from the IPS, Home Office data on asylum seekers, migration data between the UK and the Irish Republic and adjustments for ‘switchers’, i.e. those whose initial length of stay intentions are not realised.

Source:

Office for National Statistics

Table 3: International migration, estimates from the International Passenger Survey, time series 1997 to 2006, migration from the UK by citizenship, broad age group and sex: United Kingdom

All ages

Under 15

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Males

Females

British

1997

135

75

60

16

18

8

35

16

19

1998

114

60

54

13

9

14

20

19

11

1999

115

70

45

13

111

12

24

15

9

2000

141

81

60

15

16

19

26

16

10

2001

133

78

55

14

18

16

25

10

15

2002

164

90

74

115

110

15

33

17

17

2003

170

97

72

18

110

19

27

15

12

2004

184

90

95

16

17

110

29

15

15

2005

174

110

65

20

19

111

23

14

9

2006

196

114

83

18

10

19

26

15

10

Non-British

1997

97

50

47

9

5

14

33

19

14

1998

91

43

48

8

14

14

34

12

21

1999

130

62

68

10

17

14

42

16

26

2000

137

72

64

7

13

14

40

19

21

2001

117

57

60

7

14

13

34

15

19

2002

141

71

70

16

13

13

41

17

24

2003

144

68

77

11

17

14

42

13

28

2004

126

62

64

18

14

14

40

16

23

2005

154

78

77

14

13

11

50

27

23

2006

173

94

79

18

15

13

53

20

32

25-4445-59/64260/652 and over

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Males

Females

British

1997

68

41

27

10

18

12

15

12

13

1998

65

34

31

110

17

14

16

12

14

1999

57

34

24

16

19

17

14

11

13

2000

74

44

29

22

114

18

14

11

13

2001

60

37

23

27

120

17

16

13

13

2002

77

46

31

31

16

115

17

11

16

2003

81

49

33

35

19

16

17

15

12

2004

84

46

38

46

21

25

19

12

17

2005

90

64

27

25

18

18

116

16

110

2006

98

57

41

32

22

19

122

19

113

Non-British

1997

48

22

26

17

14

13

11

1998

43

23

20

16

14

12

1999

68

33

35

17

16

12

12

12

2000

83

46

37

16

13

13

2001

70

35

35

15

12

12

11

11

11

2002

83

44

40

110

16

14

11

11

2003

85

44

41

15

13

12

11

11

2004

74

39

35

13

12

11

12

11

11

2005

85

39

45

111

18

13

14

14

2006

102

63

38

19

16

13

12

12

1 Figures are where the estimate has a standard error >25 per cent., these estimates are considered less reliable than other estimates.

2 Age groups are split above and below retirement age. This is 60 for females and 65 for males.

Notes:

1. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It covers the principal air, sea and channel tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

2. This table relates solely to the IPS. IPS data forms the major part of international migration. However, total international migration estimates are produced by combining migration data from the IPS, Home Office data on asylum seekers, migration data between the UK and the Irish Republic and adjustments for ‘switchers’, i.e. those whose initial length of stay intentions are not realised.

Table 4: International migration, estimates from the International Passenger Survey, time series 1997 to 2006 (calendar year), emigration of British citizens by working age1 and previous occupation2 and as a percentage of total emigration, United Kingdom

Thousand

Aged 16-59/641

All ages

Professional and managerial

Manual and clerical

Estimate

Percentage of total emigration

Estimate

Percentage of total emigration

Estimate

Percentage of total emigration

Estimate

Percentage of total emigration

1997

135

58

113

49

58

25

27

11

1998

114

56

94

46

48

23

23

11

1999

115

47

97

40

52

21

31

13

2000

141

51

121

44

75

27

28

10

2001

133

53

111

45

59

23

31

12

2002

164

54

141

46

77

25

34

11

2003

170

54

144

46

64

20

54

17

2004

184

59

158

51

72

23

47

15

2005

174

53

138

42

81

25

38

12

2006

196

53

154

42

75

20

48

13

1 The working age population is defined as men aged 16-64 and women aged 16-59.

2 Usual occupation before migration.

Note:

1. The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics. It covers the principal air, sea and channel tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

2. This table relates solely to the IPS. IPS data form the major part of international migration. However, total international migration estimates are produced by combining migration data from the IPS, Home Office data on asylum seekers, migration data between the UK and the Irish Republic and adjustments for ‘switchers’, i.e. those whose initial length of stay intentions are not realised.

Source:

Office for National Statistics