New Research Reveals Insights into the Lives of EU Citizens Living in the UK
Demographics and Population
At the time of the UK Census (2021), there were 5.34 million EU passport holders living in the UK. The top three countries of origin were:
- Poland, with over 1 million citizens living in the UK
- Romania, with over 700,000 citizens living in the UK
- Ireland, with over 400,000 citizens living in the UK
Around 800,000 EU nationals living in the UK were part of an ethnic minority group, making up 15% of all EU citizens in the UK. The largest EU ethnic minority groups were Asian-Portuguese and Asian-Italian people, followed by Black Italians.
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Over 2.3 million EU citizens were registered to vote in local elections across England, Wales, and Scotland at the end of 2022, making up around 5% of all local government electors. There are approximately 48 million electors in the UK overall.
EU Settlement Scheme and understanding of rights
According to the latest data from the Home Office, over 6 million EU nationals have secured status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), with a significant proportion having settled status and others holding pre-settled status. Migration Observatory’s online survey among EUSS status holders revealed a lack of understanding of their rights, particularly among those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Those who experienced issues were more likely to be from ethnic minority groups, and may face serious consequences such as loss of immigration status or access to healthcare as a result.
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Immigration Trends and Naturalisation
Although more recent population data are not available, it is likely that the size of the EU population in the UK has declined since the Census. ONS estimates show that the net migration of EU nationals to the UK has been negative since 2021, at an average of around -85,000 per year between July 2021 and June 2024. According to Migration Observatory, there are several possible explanations: the fall in the pound's value after the EU referendum result in June 2016, including the easing of unemployment in Southern European Member States, and a perception that the UK was no longer a welcoming destination due to Brexit.
In contrast, the number of EU citizens naturalising in the UK has more than tripled since 2016, with over 60,000 granted citizenship in 2024. In addition, a significant proportion of EUSS status holders (around 40%) plan to apply for UK citizenship in the future.
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Employment and Labour Market Outcomes
EU migrants have consistently had high employment rates, with an estimated employment rate of around 82% in the last quarter of 2024. Those from ethnic minority background face less favourable labour market outcomes, with an unemployment rate of 7% compared to 4% among white EU nationals.
The largest industries for EU employees were administrative and support services, retail, manufacturing, and hospitality. Annualised median earnings among EU-origin employees in the UK stood at £31,100 a year in December 2024, slightly higher than among British or non-EU citizens.
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EU citizens make up a small share of people granted work visas in the UK, with 25,500 work visas issued in 2024 – just 7% of the total. The top nationalities for work visa recipients were Indian, Nigerian, and American.
Education and Student Enrolment
The number of EU students enrolling in British universities fell sharply after Brexit, with around 22,000 EU applications to undergraduate courses in 2024 – a 58% decrease from 2020. EU students now make up under 7% of all new international students, compared to 25% a few years ago. There are currently around 100,000 EU citizens studying in UK universities.
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The research is available here:
EU citizens living in the UK: an overview
Characteristics of EU citizens living in the UK
EU citizens in the UK labour market
EU student migration in the UK after Brexit
EU work migration under the points-based immigration system
