Latin American migration to the United Kingdom
This article needs to be updated.(February 2015) |
Total population | |
---|---|
Est. number of Latin Americans in the United Kingdom 186,500 Roman Catholic; smaller numbers of Protestants | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Spanish Britons · Portuguese Britons |
Latin American migration to the United Kingdom dates back to the early 19th century. However, before the 1970s, when political and civil unrest became rife in many Latin American countries, the United Kingdom's Latin American community was not particularly large.[2] Economic migration to the United Kingdom has since increased. Brazilian and Colombian-born residents are the two largest groups standing at 95,000 and 36,000 respectively as of 2019.[3] A number of refugees and asylum seekers moved to the UK during the late 20th century, however, since the turn of the century, Latin Americans have been migrating to the UK for a wide range of reasons and at present the community consists of people from all walks of life.[4] The UK is also home to British-born people of Latin American ancestry. During the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis, Britain also became one of the favourite European destinations for some of the roughly 1.4 million Latin Americans who had acquired Spanish citizenship.[5]
History and settlement
Early presence of political figures
Latin Americans have inhabited what is now the United Kingdom for centuries, albeit in much smaller numbers than there are currently.
Exiles and refugees after 1970
The first significant and large wave of migration from Latin America to the United Kingdom occurred in the 1970s; the
Demographics and population
Unlike the
Official statistics on Latin American-born residents
According to the
Country of birth | Population (2011 census)[14][15][16] | Corresponding article |
---|---|---|
Brazil | 52,148 | Brazilians in the United Kingdom |
Colombia | 25,761 | Colombians in the United Kingdom |
Argentina | 10,550 | |
Mexico | 9,771 | Mexicans in the United Kingdom |
Venezuela | 9,150 | |
Ecuador | 8,767 | Ecuadorians in the United Kingdom |
Peru | 7,246 | Peruvians in the United Kingdom |
Chile | 7,130 | Chileans in the United Kingdom |
Bolivia | 3,765 | Bolivians in the United Kingdom |
Cuba | 2,481 | |
Dominican Republic | 1,377 | |
Uruguay | 1,364 |
Other population estimates
A number of other estimates of the population of Latin Americans in the UK are available. A detailed analysis was undertaken in May 2011 which estimated the population to be 186,500 in the UK, of which 113,500 were in London. This figure includes irregular and second generation Latin Americans.[1]
Population distribution
According to a 2005 report by the
There are also areas such as the Latin Village in South Tottenham[20] and Elephant and Castle that have a concentration of Latin American shops and clubs,[21] although because of gentrification the community in Elephant and Castle has faced being priced out the area.[22]
Latin Americans acquiring British citizenship
The table below shows the number of Latin Americans who acquired citizenship of the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2008; sorted alphabetically.
Previous nationality | 1997[23] | 1998[24] | 1999[25] | 2000[26] | 2001[27] | 2002[28] | 2003[29] | 2004[30] | 2005[31] | 2006[32] | 2007[33] | 2008[34] | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 22 | 38 | 45 | 62 | 45 | 105 | 120 | 115 | 145 | 120 | 125 | 120 | 1,062 |
Bolivia | 11 | 19 | 28 | 23 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 50 | 50 | 70 | 75 | 65 | 481 |
Brazil | 119 | 196 | 178 | 331 | 340 | 330 | 435 | 485 | 565 | 540 | 610 | 605 | 4,734 |
Chile | 39 | 61 | 79 | 92 | 125 | 110 | 145 | 130 | 110 | 100 | 90 | 90 | 1,171 |
Colombia | 185 | 272 | 296 | 381 | 375 | 945 | 1,000 | 1,290 | 1,500 | 1,580 | 1,845 | 1,115 | 10,784 |
Costa Rica | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 106 |
Cuba | 7 | 8 | 15 | 18 | 30 | 60 | 65 | 90 | 115 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 668 |
Dominican Republic | 12 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 30 | 55 | 50 | 65 | 55 | 35 | 20 | 35 | 406 |
Ecuador | 20 | 33 | 39 | 43 | 55 | 80 | 200 | 325 | 655 | 955 | 745 | 580 | 3,730 |
El Salvador | 6 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 143 |
Guatemala | 6 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 124 |
Honduras | 15 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 117 |
Mexico | 26 | 52 | 74 | 116 | 100 | 105 | 145 | 160 | 175 | 145 | 135 | 115 | 1,348 |
Nicaragua | 3 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 71 |
Panama | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 25 | 123 |
Paraguay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 42 |
Peru | 65 | 78 | 80 | 117 | 105 | 185 | 175 | 180 | 230 | 130 | 220 | 170 | 1,735 |
Uruguay | 8 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 10 | 10 | 131 |
Venezuela | 23 | 40 | 46 | 49 | 60 | 65 | 85 | 95 | 120 | 105 | 155 | 120 | 963 |
Total | 27,939 |
Cultural impact
Festivals
A number of festivals celebrate Latin American culture in the UK:
- Brazilica Festival (Liverpool)
- Carnaval del Pueblo (London)
- Carnival de Cuba (London)
- El Sueño Existe (Machynlleth)
Newspapers
A newspaper, Noticias Latin America (NLA), was published in London from 1992 until about 2008, but the newspaper ceased publication, and the company was struck off and dissolved in 2010.[35]
Crónica Latina was probably one of the first Latin American newspapers in London, founded in 1984 by Juan Salgado, first published as Notas de Colombia before adopting the name 'Cronica Latinas' in 1986. The newspaper is no longer in circulation.[36]
Social and political issues
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2010) |
Assimilation into British culture
Latin Americans residing in the UK often call themselves the "Invisibles", as a reflection of the lack of representation they have in the communities and the fact that there is no formal ethnic minority status for Latin Americans.[37]
Economics and employment
85% of the Latin American community are employed, many are often in jobs they are over-qualified for, and very few take state benefits.[38] Some 70% of Latin Americans residing in the UK have some form of education beyond the secondary level, however, they are 10 times more likely to work for less than the minimum wage.[37] Often, emigrants who come to the country as lawyers or other skilled professions end up having to work in low level positions due to lack of opportunities. 40% of Latin American workers have claimed to experience workplace abuse and exploitation and 11% report being paid less than the national minimum wage – a proportion 10 times higher than the average rate for the British population.[37]
Asylum seekers and refugees
Many Latin Americans have fled their home countries in search of safety and
Notable individuals
See also
- Latin Americans
- Latin America–United Kingdom relations
- Latin American diaspora
- Foreign-born population of the United Kingdom
- Migration from Latin America to Europe
- Spaniards in the United Kingdom
- Portuguese in the United Kingdom
- British Latin American
References
- ^ a b "No Longer Invisible: The Latin American community in London" (PDF). Trust for London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Workers, liberators and exiles: Latin Americans in London since 1800". untoldLondon. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
- ^ Sofia Buchuck (7 April 2010). "Crossing borders: Latin American exiles in London". untoldLondon. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ISBN 9786079367664.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Central and South American Community in London". Museum of London. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ ISBN 9789707570528.
- ^ a b "Caught in the crossfire: Colombian asylum seekers and the UK". Refugee Council. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Colombian migration to Europe" (PDF). Centre on Migration, Policy and Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Bolivians in London" (PDF). Runnymede Trust. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Census 2001 - Ethnicity and religion in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Archived from the originalon 4 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth (Table 1.3)". Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95 per cent confidence intervals.
- ^ "Table QS213EW: 2011 Census: Country of birth (expanded), regions in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "Country of birth (detailed)" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "Country of Birth - Full Detail: QS206NI". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ "Born Abroad - South America". BBC News. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
- ^ Kyambi, Sarah (2005). Beyond Black and White: Mapping New Immigrant Communities. London: Institute for Public Policy Research. Archived from the original on 10 November 2005.
- ^ Key, Phil (21 December 2007). "Keep the culture real, keep it Latin". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ "The Latin Village | Latinolife". www.latinolife.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "The Runnymede Trust | The fight isn't over for Elephant and Castle's Latin American community". www.runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1997" (PDF). Home Office. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1998" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1999" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2000" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2001" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2002" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2003" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2004" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2005" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2006" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2007" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2008" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ [1] [2] NOTICIAS LATIN AMERICA LIMITED (newspaper) dissolved, last accounts cover period ending 31 August 2008]
- ^ Roman-Velazquez, Patria (1999). The making of Latin London: Salsa music, place and identity. Ashgate.
- ^ a b c Muir, Hugh (4 March 2012). "Hideously diverse Britain: the UK's Latin American community is fighting for recognition". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "London's Latin American population rises fourfold". BBC News. 19 May 2011.
- ^ Burrell, Ian (21 August 1997). "Crisis as Colombian refugees flood into Britain". The Independent. London. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ Bermúdez Torres, Anastasia (October 2003). "Refugee populations in the UK: Colombians". ICAR Navigation Guide. London: Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees. Retrieved 21 February 2011.