{"id":349577,"date":"2019-11-03T17:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T15:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=349577"},"modified":"2019-11-01T15:03:45","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T13:03:45","slug":"this-is-how-many-south-africans-have-moved-to-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/349577\/this-is-how-many-south-africans-have-moved-to-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"This is how many South Africans have moved to the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK’s office for national statistics has released data showing how many foreign nationals are currently living in the country.<\/p>\n

The data – which is based on the country’s annual population survey – shows the number of overseas-born people (by country) which live permanently in the UK as of the end of 2018.<\/p>\n

The survey shows that country with the largest overseas population is Poland, with an estimated 832,000 Polish people currently living in the UK.<\/p>\n

This is closely followed by India (832,000 people) and Pakistan (535,000 people) who ranked in second and third place respectively.<\/p>\n

South Africa is currently ranked eighth on the list with an estimated 246,000<\/strong> nationals currently living in the UK.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\nMale<\/th>\nFemale<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nPoland<\/td>\n832 000<\/td>\n395 000<\/td>\n437 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nIndia<\/td>\n832 000<\/td>\n420 000<\/td>\n412 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nPakistan<\/td>\n535 000<\/td>\n282 000<\/td>\n253 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nRomania<\/td>\n392 000<\/td>\n207 000<\/td>\n185 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nRepublic of Ireland<\/td>\n369 000<\/td>\n165 000<\/td>\n204 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n309 000<\/td>\n137 000<\/td>\n172 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\n253 000<\/td>\n139 000<\/td>\n114 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nSouth Africa<\/td>\n246 000<\/td>\n125 000<\/td>\n122 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nBangladesh<\/td>\n241 000<\/td>\n124 000<\/td>\n117 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nChina<\/td>\n207 000<\/td>\n93 000<\/td>\n114 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The latest data from the UK\u2019s Office for National Statistics (January 2019<\/a><\/strong>) shows that approximately 7,300 people<\/strong> emigrated from South Africa to the UK in 2017.<\/p>\n

This means that it remains one of the most popular destinations for South African emigrants alongside countries such as New Zealand and Australia.<\/p>\n

Changes to system<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the UK will likely retain its popularity going forward, the country’s Conservative Party has indicated that it plans<\/a> to introduce<\/strong>\u00a0a points-based immigration system once the country leaves the European Union.<\/p>\n

Interior minister Priti Patel said the system would be modelled after Australia and would be implemented ‘to serve the best interests of Britain’.<\/p>\n

Australia’s point system is designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities so as to contribute meaningfully to the country\u2019s economy, and filling any labour shortages.<\/p>\n

Most skilled visas for immigration to Australia require applicants to score a minimum number of points on the Points Test.<\/p>\n

Points are awarded in a number of categories which are considered attractive qualities, including the following:<\/p>\n