Despite a sharp drop in the United Kingdom’s overall net migration in 2024, Nigeria remained one of the top contributors to non-EU+ immigration, with approximately 52,000 Nigerians arriving in the country within the year.
This was revealed in new data released on Thursday by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), which placed Nigeria alongside India, Pakistan, and China as leading sources of non-European immigration.
The report shows that net migration to the UK fell by nearly 50 percent, dropping from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 by the end of December 2024. The decline was largely attributed to reduced numbers of work and study visa holders, particularly from non-EU+ countries, and an uptick in emigration among those who came during or shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the overall dip, Nigeria saw significant migration inflows, with 27,000 Nigerians arriving on work visas, 22,000 on study visas, and 3,000 under other categories, including dependents and humanitarian routes.
“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 report stated.
The ONS also revealed that 83 percent of non-EU+ migrants were of working age (16–64 years), with a near gender balance of 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Children under 16 accounted for 16 percent of migrants, while seniors aged 65 and above made up just one percent.
While Nigerian migration held steady, work-related immigration among main applicants saw the sharpest drop overall, falling by 108,000 — a 49 percent decrease year-on-year. Study-related immigration fell by 17 percent, and dependents of study visa holders dropped by 86 percent, marking the steepest decline in any category.
The ONS suggested that many migrants who arrived in the UK during or just after the pandemic had since returned to their home countries, particularly students who had completed their programmes.
The new figures reflect the UK government’s continued tightening of immigration rules, especially targeting study visa dependents and low-skilled workers, as part of broader reforms aimed at managing migration numbers.
