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One third of 'Londoners' born abroad
Nicholas Cecil, Political Correspondent19 Oct 2007
One in three people living in London was born abroad and at least another 10,000 foreign-born citizens are settling in the capital each month.
Figures released today show that out of a total Greater London population of 7.4 million, about five million were born in Britain.
The number of foreign-born Londoners increased from 2.3 million in June last year to almost 2.5 million 12 months later.
The figures, from the Office for National Statistics, show the biggest foreign-born communities include Indians (almost 200,000), Bangladeshis (115,000), Irish (113,000) and Jamaicans (108,000).
There are now just over 100,000 Poles living in London and there are also large Nigerian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan populations.
Merrick Cockell, chairman of London Councils, said the true figures could be even higher and called for more funding to help pay for essential services.
"London boroughs are struggling to meet the increasing population's demands for services such as social care and waste, while central government reaps all the economic benefits from international migration," he said.
"The Government must distribute these benefits in a fairer way." Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Jeremy Browne stressed cultural diversity brought huge benefits to the capital.
"London is a truly international city with a constantly evolving population," he said.
"The success of our financial markets and business climate are attracting a wide range of entrepreneurs and workers.
"That is creating a social vibrancy but the Government needs to respond to legitimate concerns about pressure on public services in some areas."
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the amount of foreigners moving to Britain was "completely unacceptable" and called for an annual limit on the number of non-European Union migrants.
A Home Office spokesman said: "We know migration added about £6billion to our economy last year and London has shared in the benefits."
He said the independent Migration Impacts Forum would advise the Government on how migration affects public services and communities, both impact and benefits.
A new points system, based on the Australia model, for immigration will be introduced next year.
THE FIGURES IN FULL
Population by country of birth in Greater London in June 2007 - thousands
Total - 7,404
United Kingdom - 4,956
Afghanistan - 34
Africa Not Otherwise Specified - 17
Albania - 5
Algeria - 10
Angola - 7
Argentina - 2
Asia (except Middle East) Not Otherwise Specified - 21
Australia - 56
Austria - 6
Bangladesh - 115
Barbados - 12
Belarus - 3
Belgium - 8
Bosnia and Herzegovina - 5
Brazil - 24
Bulgaria - 9
Burma - 3
Canada - 14
Caribbean Not Otherwise Specified - 22
Chile - 2
China - 25
China Taiwan - 2
Colombia - 13
Congo - 5
Congo Democratic Republic - 9
Croatia - 4
Cyprus (EU) - 4
Cyprus (non EU) - 10
Cyprus (Not Otherwise Specified) - 23
Czech Republic - 8
Czechoslovakia Not Otherwise Specified - 2
Denmark - 7
Dominica - 2
Ecuador - 5
Egypt - 6
Eritrea - 3
Estonia - 2
Ethiopia - 3
Finland - 1
France - 55
Gambia - 3
Germany - 38
Ghana - 57
Gibraltar - 3
Greece - 15
Grenada - 4
Guyana - 15
Hong Kong - 22
Hungary - 10
India - 197
Indonesia - 6
Iran - 28
Iraq - 26
Ireland - 113
Israel - 7
Italy - 38
Ivory Coast - 4
Jamaica - 108
Japan - 19
Kenya - 60
Korea South - 6
Kuwait - 5
Latvia - 2
Lebanon - 13
Lithuania - 30
Macedonia - 2
Malawi - 7
Malaysia - 18
Malta - 3
Mauritius - 18
Middle East and Asia Not Otherwise Specified - 3
Morocco - 5
Nepal - 10
Netherlands - 14
New Zealand - 19
Nigeria - 91
Pakistan - 81
Philippines - 33
Poland - 105
Portugal - 34
Romania - 15
Russia - 14
Seychelles - 2
Sierra Leone - 10
Singapore - 7
Slovakia - 6
Somalia - 73
South Africa - 61
South America Not Otherwise Specified - 6
Spain (except Canary Islands) - 29
Sri Lanka - 76
S Kitts and Nevis - 3
St Lucia - 3
Sudan - 7
Sweden - 13
Switzerland - 4
Tanzania - 12
Thailand - 4
Trindad and Tobago - 9
Turkey - 52
Uganda - 16
Ukraine - 13
United States - 63
Vietnam - 17
Yugoslavia Not Otherwise Specified - 7
Zambia - 8
Zimbabwe - 14
Reader views (3)
I was born in Thailand to a British Father and I have been a British subject all my life. Does this make me a foriegn born Londoner or not. Birth place and original nationality are not necessarily the same thing.
- Mark, Hackney, 19/10/2007 12:49
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This is simply unacceptable. I live in Lancaster Gate and it no longer resembles the UK. Waffling on about diversity is no excuse for this mass, uncontrolled immigration
- Anthony, London, 19/10/2007 12:46
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Are these figures trying to say that there are only 100,000 Poles in London? 100,000 Poles in Camden would be more accurate. Imagine the scale of the true figures for immigration if these are the ones they admit to.
- Squiz, Islington, 19/10/2007 12:25
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