According to newly released data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), approximately 52,000 Nigerians migrated to the United Kingdom in 2024, positioning Nigeria among the top sources of non-EU immigration during the year. This influx occurred despite a notable decrease in overall net migration to the UK, which fell nearly 50 percent year-over-year.

The ONS estimates net migration at 431,000 for the year ending December 2024, a sharp decline from 860,000 in the previous year.

The majority of Nigerian migrants arrived in the UK for employment or educational opportunities, with 27,000 coming on work-related visas, 22,000 on study visas, and the remaining 3,000 under various other immigration categories. Nigeria now joins the ranks of India, Pakistan, and China as one of the leading contributors to non-EU immigration to the UK.

The report highlighted that Indian nationals accounted for the largest group of non-EU immigrants, with work and study being the primary motives for migration among Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian nationals alike.

Notably, 83 percent of non-EU immigrants were of working age (16–64 years), with a demographic split of 52 percent male and 48 percent female. Children under 16 comprised 16 percent of migrants, while only one percent were aged over 65.

Despite the significant contributions from countries like Nigeria, the overall decline in migration is linked to fewer arrivals on work and study visas, particularly from non-EU countries, and an increase in emigration. Many individuals who migrated during or after the COVID-19 pandemic have since returned home, especially those on study visas.

The ONS report also revealed that work-related immigration saw the largest numerical reduction, down by 108,000—a staggering 49 percent year-on-year decrease. Study-related immigration also dipped by 17 percent, with the number of study dependents plummeting by 86 percent, marking the steepest decline in this category.