Where Londoners Come From: The World in One City

London's 8.8 million residents (2023) represent one of the most diverse populations on Earth. Over 37% are foreign-born; more than 300 languages are spoken daily. Here's the breakdown.

1. United Kingdom (Born in UK: ~63%)

• England (majority), Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
• Internal migration: Young professionals → London; retirees → out
• Second/third-gen Britons with migrant heritage: massive share

2. European Union (Pre-Brexit Core, Still Large)

• Poland: ~150K (largest single EU nationality)
• Romania: ~120K (post-2014 surge)
• Italy, France, Spain, Germany: 50–80K each
• Irish: Historic community, distinct from UK-born
• Post-Brexit: Net EU migration turned negative 2021–22; settled status holders remain

3. Commonwealth & Historical Ties

• India: ~300K (largest non-EU group) — Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam communities
• Pakistan: ~150K — Mirpuri, Punjabi, Pashtun
• Bangladesh: ~120K — Sylheti concentrated in Tower Hamlets
• Nigeria: ~100K — Yoruba, Igbo
• Jamaica: ~80K — Windrush generation + descendants
• Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Cyprus: 30–60K each

4. North America

• USA: ~60K (finance, tech, creative, academia)
• Canada: ~15K

5. Asia (Beyond Commonwealth)

• China: ~120K (mainland + HK + Taiwan)
• Philippines: ~40K (healthcare, maritime)
• Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea: 10–30K each

6. Middle East

• Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey: 10–40K each
• Arab, Kurdish, Persian, Armenian, Assyrian communities

7. Africa (Beyond Commonwealth)

• Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda: refugee + economic migration
• North Africans (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt): established communities

8. Latin America

• Brazil: ~50K (largest)
• Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela: 10–20K each
• Growing fast: Venezuelan displacement, Brazilian tech/finance

Borough Patterns

• Brent, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Harrow: >50% foreign-born
• Richmond, Bromley, Havering: <30% foreign-born
• Ethnic enclaves: Southall (Punjabi), Brick Lane (Bangladeshi), Edgware (Jewish), Peckham (Nigerian/Ghanaian), Elephant & Castle (Latin American)

London doesn't have a "majority" — it has a plurality of minorities. That's its defining demographic fact.