West African immigrants in the UK

FOI reference: FOI-2025-3018

You asked

1. The total number of West Africans immigrants currently residing in the United Kingdom.

2. A breakdown of these numbers by:

• Region (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Specific parts of the UK ( Greater London, West Midlands, etc.)
• By countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory coast)
• By ethnicity (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ghana)

We said

Thank you for your request. 

We only produces population data on England and Wales. Population data for Scotland is produced by National Records Scotland (NRS), and population data in Northern Ireland is produced by [Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)](https://northern%20ireland%20statistics%20and%20research%20agency%20(nisra)/). Therefore, we do not hold the requested data for the whole of the UK. Should you wish to obtain this data from NRS and NISRA, they can be contacted at foi@nrscotland.gov.uk and info@nisra.gov.uk respectively. 

We produce population estimates each year, but these do not contain detailed information on country of birth, national identity or ethnic group. The most recent year we hold data for is 2021, collected during Census 2021.

Immigrants are generally identified by Country of birth or National identity. In Census 2021 respondents were asked questions on Country of Birth and National Identity. For both these questions the category applicable to West Africa is 'African: Central and Western African', which includes 3 subcategories 'Ghanian', 'Nigerian' and 'Other Central and Western African'. The relevant Census 2021 data for Country of birth and National Identity are summarised in the attached Excel document. 

Census 2021 also had a question on Ethnic group, the categories applicable to West Africa are the subcategories of 'Black, Black British, Black Welsh of African background' which are 'Cameroonian', 'Cote D'Ivoire', 'Ghanian', Nigerian'; and the subcategories of 'Black, Black British, Black Welsh of Caribbean background' which are 'Ghanian', 'Nigerian'. The relevant Census 2021 data for Ethnic Group are summarised in the attached Excel document. 

If you wish to look at the exact questions asked on these topics, a copy of the Census 2021 questionnaire can be downloaded from Census forms - UK Data Service.