British diaspora
The British diaspora consists of people of British ancestry and their descendants who emigrated from the United Kingdom. The largest concentrations of people of self-identified British descent in the world outside of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories are found in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States and parts of the Caribbean. Additionally, countries with over 100,000 British expatriates include Spain, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, France, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.
History of British diaspora
Up to the 19th century
After the Age of Discovery, the various peoples of the British Isles, and especially the English, were among the earliest and by far the largest communities to emigrate out of Europe. Indeed, the British Empire's expansion during the first half of the 19th century saw an extraordinary dispersion of the British people, with particular concentrations in Australasia and North America.The British Empire was "built on waves of migration overseas by British people", who left Great Britain, later the United Kingdom, and reached across the globe and permanently affected population structures in three continents. As a result of the British colonisation of the Americas, what became the United States was "easily the greatest single destination of emigrant British", but in what would become the Commonwealth of Australia the British experienced a birth rate higher than anything seen before, which together with continuing British immigration resulted in a huge outnumbering of indigenous Australians.
In colonies such as Southern Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jamaica, Barbados, British East Africa, and the Cape Colony, permanently resident British communities were established, and while never more than a numerical minority, these Britons exercised a dominant influence upon the culture and politics of those lands. In Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, people of British origin came to constitute the majority of the population, contributing to these states becoming integral to the Anglosphere.
The British emigrated not only to parts of the British Empire, but they went to settle in large numbers in parts of the Americas as well, particularly in the United States and with sizeable numbers to Mexico, Chile and Argentina.
The United Kingdom Census 1861 estimated the size of the overseas British to be around 2.5 million. However, it concluded that most of these were "not conventional settlers" but rather "travellers, merchants, professionals, and military personnel". By 1890, there were over 1.5 million further British-born people living in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
British diaspora today
According to The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, there were 13.1 million British nationals living abroad in 2004–05. These figures are taken from the consular annual returns from overseas posts. There is no requirement for UK citizens to register with British missions overseas, so these figures are therefore based on the most reliable information that can be obtained, e.g. from host government official statistics.A 2006 publication from the Institute for Public Policy Research estimated that 5.5 million British-born people lived outside the United Kingdom.
In terms of outbound expatriation, in 2009 the United Kingdom had the most expatriates among developed OECD countries, with more than three million British living abroad, a figure followed by Germany and Italy. On an annual basis, emigration from Britain has stood at about 400,000 per year for the past 10 years.
Living abroad as an expatriate can affect certain rights. In particular:
- British expatriates can only vote in general elections if they have been on a British electoral register at some point in the past 15 years. Otherwise, they are not eligible to vote.
- The British Mental Health Act 1983 rules that persons resident abroad do not qualify as "nearest relative" of a person who is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
British people by country
List of countries and territories by population of self-reported British ancestry
Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates
In 2006, the Institute for Public Policy Research, a British think tank, published a report on the British diaspora, entitled Brits Abroad. The following table lists the estimated number of British people living overseas in countries with more than 100 British people, according to the IPPR's report:Rank | Country | Number of British residents, 2006 | Region | Group |
1 | Australia | 1,300,000 | Asia Pacific | Anglo-Celtic Australian, Cornish Australian, English Australian, Scottish Australian, Welsh Australian |
2 | Spain | 761,000 | Europe | Britons in Spain |
3 | United States | 678,000 | North America | British American, Cornish American, English American, Welsh American, Scottish American, Scotch-Irish American |
4 | Canada | 603,000 | North America | English Canadian, Scottish Canadian, Welsh Canadian, Cornish Canadian |
5 | Ireland | 291,000 | Europe | |
6 | India | 250,000 | South Asia | Anglo-Indian |
7 | New Zealand | 215,000 | Asia Pacific | British New Zealander, Scottish New Zealander |
8 | South Africa | 212,000 | Africa | British diaspora in Africa |
9 | France | 200,000 | Europe | Britons in France |
10 | Germany | 115,000 | Europe | |
11 | Portugal | 60,000 | Europe | |
12 | Cyprus | 59,000 | Europe | |
13 | UAE | 55,000 | Mid East | Britons in the United Arab Emirates |
14 | Pakistan | 47,000 | Asia | Britons in Pakistan |
15 | Singapore | 45,000 | Asia Pacific | |
16 | Switzerland | 45,000 | Europe | |
17 | Israel | 44,000 | Mid East | |
18 | Netherlands | 44,000 | Europe | |
19 | Thailand | 41,000 | Asia Pacific | |
20 | China | 36,000 | Asia Pacific | Britons in China, Britons in Hong Kong, Shanghailander |
21 | Turkey | 34,000 | Mid East | Britons in Turkey |
22 | Kenya | 29,000 | Africa | |
23 | Belgium | 28,000 | Europe | |
24 | Barbados | 27,000 | Caribbean | |
25 | Saudi Arabia | 26,000 | Mid East | |
26 | Italy | 26,000 | Europe | |
27 | Jamaica | 25,000 | Caribbean | |
28 | Japan | 23,000 | Asia Pacific | Britons in Japan |
29 | Sweden | 18,000 | Europe | |
30 | Greece | 18,000 | Europe | |
31 | Nigeria | 16,000 | Africa | British Nigerian |
32 | Norway | 15,000 | Europe | |
33 | Egypt | 14,000 | Africa | Britons in Egypt |
34 | Philippines | 14,000 | Asia Pacific | |
35 | Malaysia | 13,000 | Asia Pacific | |
36 | Trinidad and Tobago | 11,000 | Caribbean | |
37 | Brazil | 11,000 | South America | English Brazilian, Scottish Brazilian |
38 | Bahrain | 11,000 | Mid East | |
39 | Gaza & West Bank | 11,000 | Mid East | |
40 | Indonesia | 11,000 | Asia Pacific | |
41 | Denmark | 11,000 | Europe | |
42 | Bangladesh | 9,200 | Asia | |
43 | Malta | 9,000 | Europe | |
44 | Mexico | 8,500 | North America | British Mexican |
45 | Austria | 8,500 | Europe | |
46 | Argentina | 8,300 | South America | English Argentine, Welsh Argentine, Scottish Argentine |
47 | Qatar | 8,100 | Mid East | |
48 | Oman | 7,800 | Mid East | |
49 | Malawi | 7,400 | Africa | British diaspora in Africa |
50 | Venezuela | 7,200 | South America | |
51 | Jordan | 7,200 | Mid East | |
52 | Kuwait | 7,100 | Mid East | |
53 | Czech Republic | 6,800 | Europe | |
54 | Brunei | 6,400 | Asia Pacific | |
55 | Macao | 6,300 | Asia Pacific | |
56 | Zimbabwe | 6,100 | Africa | |
57 | Russia | 6,100 | Europe | |
58 | Ghana | 5,900 | Africa | Ghanaian Britons |
59 | Zambia | 5,800 | Africa | |
60 | Poland | 5,600 | Europe | |
61 | Tanzania | 5,500 | Africa | |
62 | Luxembourg | 5,500 | Europe | |
63 | Chile | 5,200 | South America | British Chilean, English Chilean, Scottish Chilean, Welsh Chilean |
64 | Hungary | 5,200 | Europe | |
65 | Botswana | 5,000 | Africa | |
66 | Costa Rica | 4,800 | North America | |
67 | Peru | 4,600 | South America | British Peruvian |
68 | Romania | 4,500 | Europe | |
69 | Sri Lanka | 4,400 | Asia | Burgher people |
70 | Bahamas | 4,100 | Caribbean | |
71 | Vietnam | 3,800 | Asia Pacific | |
72 | Colombia | 3,600 | South America | |
73 | Libya | 3,600 | Africa | |
74 | Gibraltar | 3,600 | Europe | |
75 | Yemen | 3,400 | Mid East | |
76 | South Korea | 3,400 | Asia Pacific | |
77 | Iran | 2,900 | Mid East | |
78 | Antigua and Barbuda | 2,800 | Caribbean | |
79 | Finland | 2,800 | Europe | |
80 | Nepal | 2,700 | Asia | |
81 | Grenada | 2,500 | Caribbean | |
82 | Uganda | 2,500 | Africa | |
83 | Ecuador | 2,400 | South America | |
84 | Morocco | 2,400 | Africa | |
85 | Azerbaijan | 2,400 | Europe | |
86 | Swaziland | 2,300 | Africa | |
87 | Guyana | 2,200 | South America | |
88 | Lebanon | 2,200 | Mid East | |
89 | Syria | 2,200 | Mid East | |
90 | Belize | 2,000 | North America | |
91 | Sierra Leone | 2,000 | Africa | |
92 | Iraq | 2,000 | Mid East | |
93 | Guatemala | 1,900 | North America | |
94 | Dominica | 1,800 | Caribbean | |
95 | Netherlands Antilles | 1,800 | Caribbean | |
96 | Seychelles | 1,800 | Africa | |
97 | Namibia | 1,700 | Africa | |
98 | Mauritania | 1,600 | Africa | |
99 | Serbia-Montenegro | 1,600 | Europe | |
100 | St Lucia | 1,500 | Caribbean | |
101 | Gambia | 1,500 | Africa | |
102 | Mozambique | 1,400 | Africa | |
103 | Tunisia | 1,400 | Africa | |
104 | St Vincent/Grenadines | 1,300 | Caribbean | |
105 | Ethiopia | 1,300 | Africa | |
106 | Sudan | 1,300 | Africa | |
107 | Ivory Coast | 1,200 | Africa | |
108 | Dominican Republic | 1,100 | Caribbean | |
109 | Panama | 1,000 | North America | |
110 | British Virgin Islands | 1,000 | Caribbean | |
111 | Cambodia | 1,000 | Asia Pacific | |
112 | Honduras | 950 | North America | |
113 | North Macedonia | 950 | Europe | |
114 | Papua New Guinea | 940 | Asia Pacific | |
115 | Iceland | 940 | Europe | |
116 | Falkland Islands | 930 | South America | |
117 | Afghanistan | 900 | Asia | |
118 | Ukraine | 900 | Europe | |
119 | Croatia | 890 | Europe | |
120 | St Kitts & Nevis | 880 | Caribbean | |
121 | Bulgaria | 800 | Europe | |
122 | Kazakhstan | 770 | Asia | |
123 | Estonia | 750 | Europe | |
124 | Mauritius | 740 | Africa | |
125 | Slovakia | 740 | Europe | |
126 | Uruguay | 690 | South America | |
127 | Angola | 650 | Africa | British Angolans |
128 | Algeria | 630 | Africa | |
129 | Bermuda | 600 | Caribbean | |
130 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 540 | Europe | |
131 | Fiji | 500 | Asia Pacific | |
132 | Bolivia | 470 | South America | |
133 | Myanmar | 460 | Asia Pacific | Anglo-Burmese |
134 | Nicaragua | 410 | North America | |
135 | El Salvador | 390 | North America | |
136 | DR Congo | 390 | Africa | |
137 | Latvia | 370 | Europe | |
138 | Lesotho | 350 | Africa | |
139 | Mongolia | 340 | Asia Pacific | |
140 | Paraguay | 330 | South America | |
141 | Slovenia | 330 | Europe | |
142 | Monaco | 320 | Europe | |
143 | Cameroon | 300 | Africa | |
144 | Madagascar | 300 | Africa | Britons in Madagascar |
145 | Lithuania | 290 | Europe | |
146 | Vanuatu | 270 | Asia Pacific | |
147 | Anguilla | 260 | Caribbean | |
148 | Senegal | 220 | Africa | |
149 | Andorra | 210 | Europe | |
150 | Tajikistan | 200 | Asia | |
151 | Georgia | 200 | Europe | |
152 | Tonga | 190 | Asia Pacific | |
153 | Albania | 190 | Europe | |
154 | Cuba | 160 | Caribbean | |
155 | Montserrat | 160 | Caribbean | |
156 | Uzbekistan | 130 | Asia | |
157 | Cayman Islands | 110 | Caribbean | |
158 | Djibouti | 110 | Africa | |
- | Greenland | <100 | North America | |
- | Haiti | <100 | Caribbean | |
- | Puerto Rico | <100 | Caribbean | |
- | Turks & Caicos | <100 | Caribbean | |
- | US Virgin Islands | <100 | Caribbean | |
- | Surinam | <100 | South America | |
- | Benin | <100 | Africa | |
- | Burkina Faso | <100 | Africa | |
- | Cape Verde | <100 | Africa | |
- | Central African Republic | <100 | Africa | |
- | Chad | <100 | Africa | |
- | Congo | <100 | Africa | |
- | Guinea | <100 | Africa | |
- | Liberia | <100 | Africa | |
- | Niger | <100 | Africa | |
- | Rwanda | <100 | Africa | |
- | Somalia | <100 | Africa | |
- | St Helena | <100 | Africa | |
- | Togo | <100 | Africa | |
- | Bhutan | <100 | Asia | |
- | Kyrgyzstan | <100 | Asia | |
- | Maldives | <100 | Asia | |
- | Turkmenistan | <100 | Asia | |
- | Cook Islands | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | French Polynesia | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Guam | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Kiribati | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | New Caledonia | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Norfolk Island | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | North Korea | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Samoa | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Solomon Islands | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Taiwan | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Tuvalu | <100 | Asia Pacific | |
- | Armenia | <100 | Europe | |
- | Belarus | <100 | Europe | |
- | Faroe Islands | <100 | Europe | |
- | Liechtenstein | <100 | Europe | |
- | Moldova | <100 | Europe | |
- | San Marino | <100 | Europe |
Note: A different estimate puts China ahead with a population of 3,750,000 British citizens, most of which are those in Hong Kong who have continued to possess British nationality, particularly the British nationals status, which numbered 3.4 million, through their connection with the former crown colony.