Latin American migration to the United Kingdom

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(Redirected from
Latin American Britons
)
British people of Latin American descent
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

Revolutionary Francisco de Miranda established his successful campaign for Latin American independence in London

Latin Americans have inhabited what is now the United Kingdom for centuries, albeit in much smaller numbers than there are currently.

Juan Garcia del Rio.[2]

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

Communist takeover of Cuba
. Most migration happened during the Freedom Flights which started in 1965 when some Cubans chose the UK as an alternative to the United States.

Demographics and population

Unlike the

United States Census and the Canadian Census, the United Kingdom Census doesn't include a category for individuals to identify as 'Latin American' and it is therefore fairly difficult to know exactly how many British citizens or residents are of Latin American ethnic or national origin.[11]

Official statistics on Latin American-born residents

According to the

2001 UK Census, 62,735 Latin Americans in the United Kingdom were born in their respective nations of origin.[12] There were also a further 1,338 people who stated their birthplace as 'South or Central America' (note that not all South American countries are "Latin").[12] In 2009, the Office for National Statistics estimated that the number of Brazilian-born people in the UK alone had risen to around 60,000 and the number of Colombian-born to around 22,000. Estimates for other Latin American countries were not made because the sample size did not allow for estimation of the size of smaller groups with sufficient degree of accuracy.[13]

Latin American-born people in the United Kingdom in 2001
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

2001 Census, the ten census tracts with the largest South American-born populations are all in London. Hyde Park had the highest number of South Americans, followed by Vauxhall North, Kensington, Chelsea, Vauxhall South, Regent's Park, Streatham North, Hammersmith, Streatham South, Hackney South,[17] and Newham. Outside of London, the largest South American populations were to be found in Oxford, Cambridge, central Manchester, central Bristol, central Edinburgh and Milton Keynes.[18] More recently, it has been suggested that Liverpool now has the UK's largest Latin American population outside London.[19]

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:

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

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

Colombian armed conflict that began in 1964.[39][40]

Notable individuals

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. .
  6. ^ a b c d e f "The Central and South American Community in London". Museum of London. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  7. ^ .
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Colombian migration to Europe" (PDF). Centre on Migration, Policy and Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Bolivians in London" (PDF). Runnymede Trust. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Census 2001 - Ethnicity and religion in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  12. ^
    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Archived from the original
    on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Table QS213EW: 2011 Census: Country of birth (expanded), regions in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Country of birth (detailed)" (PDF). National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Country of Birth - Full Detail: QS206NI". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Born Abroad - South America". BBC News. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Key, Phil (21 December 2007). "Keep the culture real, keep it Latin". Liverpool Daily Post. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  20. ^ "The Latin Village | Latinolife". www.latinolife.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  21. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  22. ^ "The Runnymede Trust | The fight isn't over for Elephant and Castle's Latin American community". www.runnymedetrust.org. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1997" (PDF). Home Office. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  24. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1998" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  25. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1999" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  26. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2000" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  27. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2001" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  28. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2002" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  29. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2003" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  30. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2004" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  31. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2005" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  32. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2006" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  33. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2007" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  34. ^ "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2008" (PDF). Home Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  35. ^ [1] [2] NOTICIAS LATIN AMERICA LIMITED (newspaper) dissolved, last accounts cover period ending 31 August 2008]
  36. ^ Roman-Velazquez, Patria (1999). The making of Latin London: Salsa music, place and identity. Ashgate.
  37. ^ a b c Muir, Hugh (4 March 2012). "Hideously diverse Britain: the UK's Latin American community is fighting for recognition". The Guardian. London.
  38. ^ "London's Latin American population rises fourfold". BBC News. 19 May 2011.
  39. ^ Burrell, Ian (21 August 1997). "Crisis as Colombian refugees flood into Britain". The Independent. London. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  40. ^ 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.

External links