African migration to the UK

David Owen
University of Warwick, UK
 Aims of the paper
• To outline trends in migration from Africa
to the UK
• To describe the living conditions of African
migrants in the UK
• To contrast migrants from different regions
of Africa
 Structure of paper
• The data sources used
• Trends over time / types of migration
• Geography of Africans in the UK
• Demography and socio-economic
circumstances of Africans
• Comparative position of Africans
• Conclusion
 Data sources on African migration
• The main data source used for this paper was
the Labour Force Survey for 2008 – a quarterly
random survey of 160 thousand people (data
presented is for Great Britain). This provides a
wealth of information on demography and
participation in the labour force.
• Geographical distribution from Census of
Population for 2001
• DWP National Insurance number applications;
represents people coming to UK to work
• Home Office UK Asylum statistics 2007 and
Control of Immigration Statistics 2007
 Migration trends
• The LFS asks individuals the year in which they first entered the UK.
This gives an indication of the migration trend, but excludes those
who returned to Africa.
• Migration of Black-Africans to the UK started rather later than that of
Caribbean and South Asian people
• Until the late 1980s, total migration was around 5000 a year. The
total reached 20 thousand in a number of years in the 1990s.
• The number of migrants increased rapidly at the turn of the century
and remained around 30 thousand per year during this decade.
• Migration from West and Central Africa increased steadily during
this period.
• Migration from East Africa increased rapidly in the early 1990s,
afterwards falling, but increasing again after 2000.
• Migration from Southern Africa was highest around the year 2000.
 Year of entry to the UK of Black
African-born people, 1960-2007
50000

45000

40000

35000

30000 North
South
25000 East
West
20000 Africa

15000

10000

5000

60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06
19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20
 Asylum migration
• Migration for asylum was a
major factor underlying Africa
migration to the UK. 35,000

• The total number of asylum

applications from Africa 30,000

steadily increased throughout

the 1990s, peaked in 2002, 25,000

afterwards declining. 20,000

• The peak was 30.5 thousand

sylumapplicationsfromAfrica
in 2002. 15,000

• There were still 8.8 thousand

applications in 2007 A
10,000

• There was a total of 171.5 5,000

thousand asylum applications

from African principal 0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

applicants over the period

1998-2007.
 Asylum migration by country
• Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced
wars, civil conflict and political unrest since 1990 and
have been the source of asylum applications to the UK.
• The bulk of asylum applications are from countries
formerly colonised by the UK.
• Eastern and southern Africa was the largest source of
asylum applications.
• The largest individual source of applications was
Somalia (43 thousand), followed by Zimbabwe (21
thousand), Congo and DR Congo (both 11.5 thousand),
Nigeria (9.8 thousand) and Algeria (8.3 thousand)
 Asylum applications by country
1998-2007
Asylum applications 1998-2007

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000

Algeria
Angola
Burundi
Cameroon
Congo
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Nigeria
Rw anda
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
Zimbabw e
Other sub Saharan Africa
 Trends in asylum migration from the
largest sources, 1997-2007
• Asylum migration started in the early 1990s in Somalia, and was still
running at over 5 thousand per year in the late 1990s. It has
declined since 2002.
• Asylum applications from Sierra Leone and Algeria declined after
2000/2001.
• Asylum migration from other countries was building up in the late
1990s.
• For Zimbabwe, asylum flows peaked in 2002 at 7.7 thousand. This
year also saw peak asylum flows from DR Congo.
• There has been a steady flow of asylum applications (around 1000
per year) from Nigeria.
• Asylum migration from Eritrea steadily increased over the period
1997-2007. Asylum applications from Sudan have also been
increasing.
 Trends in asylum migration from
Africa,1998-2008
9,000

8,000

7,000

6,000 Algeria
Dem. Rep. of Congo
Asylum applications

5,000 Eritrea
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
4,000 Somalia
Sudan
3,000 Zimbabw e

2,000

1,000

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
 Migration from Africa for
employment
• The main sources of information on work-related
migration are DWP data on National Insurance number
allocations and Home Office information on work permits
issued.
• Over the period 2002-8, an average of 60 thousand NI
numbers per annum were allocated to African nationals.
• This probably overstates migration for work due to
double-counting. Nevertheless, migration for work-
related reasons now greatly exceeds asylum migration.
• The largest number of NI numbers allocated during the
financial year 2006/7 was to South Africans (17
thousand), followed by Nigerians (12.5 thousand),
Ghana (5.5 thousand) and Zimbabwe (4.1 thousand).
 National Insurance numbers allocated
to African nationals, 2002-8
80

70

60
NI numbers allocated (000s)

50

40

30

20

10

0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
 Largest National Insurance number
allocations to African nationals 2006/7
NI num ber allocations 2006/7
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000

South Africa
Nigeria
Ghana
Zimbabw e
Somalia
Kenya
Eritrea
Algeria
Tanzania
Gambia
Uganda
Egypt
Zambia
Cameroon
Morocco
Sierra Leone
Malaw i
Sudan
Congo
Libya
Ethiopia
Tunisia
Botsw ana
Cote D'ivoire
Democratic Rep of Congo
 Employment-related migration from
Africa, 1997-2007
• The number of people from Africa with work permits permitted to
settle in the UK steadily increased from 4 thousand in 1997 to 2002
to a peak of 15.7 thousand.
• The numbers declined slowly after 2002, but were still 10 thousand
in 2007.
• This probably reflects the rapid increase in recruitment of African
doctors and nurses by the NHS, since the bulk of admissions were
for people working for 12 months or more.
• The number of dependants admitted steadily increased,
representing a third of all grants in 1997 and around two-fifths in
2007.
• In addition, 2.5 thousand students from Africa (1331 males, 1179
females) were accepted onto UK higher education courses in
2007/8 (UCAS data).
 Work permit holders and dependants
from Africa, given leave to enter the UK
1997-2007
18,000

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000 Dependants of w ork permit holders

Employment for less than 12 months

8,000 Employment for 12 months or more

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
 Regional distribution of Black-African
people in England and Wales
• Black-African people mainly live in West South
and and
the southern and eastern regions North Central East
of England and Wales Africa Africa Africa Africa

• Over three-quarters of Black- LONDON 77.0 57.2 83.8 69.5

African people born in Africa lived Inner London 45.9 36.7 53.5 36.5
in London in 2001. Outer London 31.1 20.6 30.3 33.0
• Nearly half lived in Inner London. NORTH EAST 0.6 2.2 0.5 0.7
• The South-East has the second NORTH WEST 3.5 7.3 2.8 4.2
largest number of Black African
YORKSHIRE AND THE
people, but mainly in the larger HUMBER 2.3 5.1 1.4 3.3
cities and towns near London. EAST MIDLANDS 2.2 2.5 1.2 3.4
• People form West and Central
WEST MIDLANDS 2.6 3.8 1.8 3.6
Africa are most concentrated in
London, especially Inner London. EAST 3.7 4.7 2.8 4.8

• People from South and East Africa SOUTH EAST 5.9 12.1 4.4 7.5

have a more geographically SOUTH WEST 1.4 2.9 0.8 2.0

widespread distribution than other ENGLAND 99.2 97.8 99.6 98.9
Africans.
WALES 0.8 2.2 0.4 1.1

ENGLAND & WALES 300046 9527 166271 124248

 Geographical distribution of Black-
African people
Black African-born people
2001 Census of Population
24,000
12,000
2,400

North Africa
West & Central Africa
South & East Africa
 Largest national origins
• In 2008, the Black African-born population of the UK was nearly 0.5
million.
• There were 6 countries from which there were 20 thousand or more
Black-African migrants present in the UK in 2008; Nigeria, Ghana,
Somalia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya.
• The largest single country of origin was Nigeria with 125 thousand
people.
• Overall, there were 855 males per thousand females among Black
African-born people.
• In the larger countries of origin, females strongly outnumbered
males, but males were strongly in the majority in many smaller
countries.
• Amongst Somalis, there were 566 males per thousand females.
 AL
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Countries of origin of African migrants

Male
Female
 Age and gender structure of Black African-
born people, 2008
96
91
86
81
76
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Age in years

51
46
41
36
31
26
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10000.00 8000.00 6000.00 4000.00 2000.00 0.00 2000.00 4000.00 6000.00 8000.00 10000.00

Male Female

• Predominantly younger adults

• Females in the majority in most age groups; but surveys find it harder to contact
males
• Few older people
• Few young children
• Larger number of teenage children – girls strongly in majority
 Age structure and geographical origins
of Black-Africans
% aged % aged % aged %aged % aged
0-15 16-24 25-44 45-64 65+ Total

North - - - - - 1888

South 14.6 18.2 52.5 14.0 - 64897

East 13.0 24.6 45.9 13.4 - 154217

West 9.5 12.6 50.7 22.6 4.7 276063

Africa 11.2 17.1 49.3 18.7 3.7 497064

• Around half of Black-Africans were aged 25-44 in 2008.

• Those from West Africa tended to be older, with a smaller
percentage of children and young adults and a higher percentage of
older adults and pensioners.
• The youngest population was from East Africa; a quarter of whom
were young adults.
• The percentage of children was highest for East Africans.
 Family structure of African migrants
North South East West Total
Single person household - 17.7 22.2 23.2 22.1
Married couple - 52.6 39.1 50.6 47.5
Cohabiting couple - - 5.6 7.1 6.2
Lone parent - 25.8 33.1 19.0 24.2
Same sex/civil partner - - - - -
Living with dependent children - 62.7 66.2 61.0 62.8

1888 64897 154217 276063 497064

• Overall, half of African migrants live in married couples and a further 6 per
cent as cohabiting couples.
• Just over a fifth are single, and a quarter are lone parents.
• Just over three-fifths live with dependent children
• East Africans are least likely to be living in married couples and most likely
to be lone parents (33.1 per cent)
• South Africans are most likely to be living in married couples
• West Africans are most likely to be single
 Labour market situation by
geographical origin
Males Females

Economic activity Employment Unemployment Economic activity Employment Unemployment

rate rate rate rate rate rate
North 71.7 65.2 9.1 38.7 34.5 11.0
South 87.7 84.7 3.5 79.2 75.7 4.4
East 77.5 69.3 10.5 55.9 51.1 8.6
West 83.1 75.1 9.7 69.6 65.1 6.5
Africa 80.9 74.9 7.4 65.2 61.0 6.4

• The economic situation of African migrants is relatively favourable.

• Male economic activity and employment rates are close to average, but the
unemployment rate is relatively high.
• For women, economic activity and employment rates are slightly below average and
the unemployment rate is above average.
• People from Southern Africa have the most favourable economic situation, with high
activity and low unemployment rates
• However, people from East Africa are least likely to be economically active and most
likely to be unemployed.
 Economic activity of African migrants
by period of immigration

Economic activity rate Employment rate Unemployment rate

1970-1989 78.9 69.0 12.6

1990-1999 72.4 62.3 14.0

2000 onwards 61.0 53.2 12.8

• The economic activity rate in 2008 is much higher for migrants who
arrived between 1970 and 1989 than for more recent migrants.
• Those arriving in the 1990s are more likely to be economically
active and in work than those who arrived after 2000
• Just over half of post-2000 migrants are in employment and an
eighth of those economically active are unemployed
 Economic activity of Africans by age
• Economic activity rates 35000
Male

increase with age 30000

• A high percentage of
25000

20000
Inactive

economically inactive
ILO unemployed
In employment
15000

younger people are in

10000

5000

education 0
16-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+

• Economic activity rates

are highest for people in
Female

40000

their thirties
35000

30000

• Men are more likley than

25000

Inactive
20000 ILO unemployed
In employment

women to be 15000

10000

economically active 5000

0
16-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70+
 Educational qualifications of
African migrants
North South East West Africa
Degree or equivalent - 16.9 15.5 28.7 23.2
Higher educ - 20.1 9.1 11.4 11.8
GCE A Level or equiv - 18.3 13.3 12.8 13.6
GCSE grades A-C or equiv - 14.7 11.1 9.4 10.5
Other qualifications - 23.3 25.5 27.3 26.3
No qualification - - 24.3 9.2 13.5
Don't know - - - - -

1888 54810 131684 243917 432297

• Overall, nearly a quarter of African migrants possess a degree or equivalent

qualification
• A quarter have ‘other’ qualifications
• An eighth have no educational qualifications
• West Africans are most likely to have a degree or higher level qualification
• East Africans are least likely to have a degree and least likely to have no
qualifications
• South Africans are most likely to have higher education or A-level equivalent
qualifications – probably commensurate with associate professional (inc. nursing
occupations)
 Types of job held by African
migrants
• Women tend to do associate professional and
personal service occupations
• For men, the largest occupation is elementary
occupations (26 per cent), followed by
professional and associate professional
occupations
• South Africans are more likely to be
concentrated in associate professional and
personal service occupations than other
Africans.
• West Africans are most likely to work in
elementary occupations
 Occupations of African migrants

North South East West Africa Male Female

1: Managers and Senior Officials - - - 7.0 6.3 7.6 -

2 : Professional Occupations - - - 15.1 13.4 18.1 7.8

3 : Associate Professional and Technical Occupations - 26.9 17.9 13.0 16.2 11.4 22.0

4 : Administrative and Secretarial Occupations - - - 10.0 8.8 7.9 10.0

5 : Skilled Trades Occupations - - - 3.9 3.7 4.4 -

6 : Personal Service Occupations - 28.9 17.0 14.8 17.2 9.9 26.1

7 : Sales and Customer Service occupations - - - 7.1 8.0 5.5 11.1

8 : Process, Plant and Machine Operatives - - - 6.3 5.8 9.5 -

9 : Elementary Occupations - - 22.0 22.7 20.6 26.0 14.1

Total 1522 36567 54649 160644 253381 139720 113979

 Conclusion
• Migration from Africa to the UK has been accelerating in
the last 20 years and the Black African-born population
has reached 0.5 million
• Economic migration is now becoming more important
than asylum migration
• The population is predominantly of prime economically
active age, and the majority are female
• The economic circumstances of the African population is
relatively favourable
• Africans are more likely to work in non-manual than
manual occupations, but over a quarter work in
elementary occupations