Census 2011 – Country of birth, nationality and migration

Headlines

  • The proportion of the population who were born outside the UK increased from 10.6% in 2001 to 14.2% in 2011
  • South Africa and India are the most common non UK countries of birth
  • 9.5% of the population were born outside the EU, but only 5.5% of the population hold passports from non EU countries suggesting that many have acquired British or other EU citizenship
  • Nearly half (46.7%) of Surrey residents who were born overseas have arrived in the UK since 2000.

Country of birth

In 2011, 14.2% of Surreys population were born outside the UK. 4.8% were born in EU countries including the Republic of Ireland and 9.5% outside the EU. The borough with the highest proportion of the population born outside the UK was Woking (19.9%) and the lowest was Tandridge (8.7%)

Surrey has a slightly higher proportion of its population born outside the UK than England as a whole, where 4.4% were born in EU countries and 9.4% elsewhere.

Table 1: Country of birth 2011

Born in UK Republic of Ireland Other EU Member
countries in
March 2001
EU Accession
countries April 2001
to March 2011
Other Countries
Surrey 85.8% 0.9% 2.4% 1.5% 9.5%
Elmbridge 81.7% 1.1% 3.1% 1.7% 12.4%
Epsom and Ewell 83.7% 1.1% 2.5% 1.3% 11.3%
Guildford 84.5% 0.7% 2.8% 1.9% 10.1%
Mole Valley 90.1% 0.7% 1.7% 1.1% 6.4%
Reigate and Banstead 87.9% 0.9% 1.9% 1.4% 8.0%
Runnymede 83.1% 1.0% 3.0% 1.8% 11.1%
Spelthorne 85.9% 1.1% 1.7% 1.9% 9.4%
Surrey Heath 86.7% 0.8% 2.1% 1.1% 9.2%
Tandridge 91.3% 0.8% 1.4% 0.8% 5.7%
Waverley 89.4% 0.7% 2.2% 1.2% 6.6%
Woking 80.1% 0.9% 3.3% 2.0% 13.7%
South East 87.9% 0.7% 1.9% 1.8% 7.7%
England 86.2% 0.7% 1.7% 2.0% 9.4%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding

Figure 1 Percentage of population born outside the UK 2011

Source: Office for National Statistics

The proportion of Surrey residents born outside the UK has increased since 2001 when 10.6% were born outside the UK.

The percentage born in Republic of Ireland and countries in the EU in 2001 remains fairly similar, with the increase coming from other countries. Note that in the 2001 Census, people born in countries which have subsequently joined the EU would have been included in the other category.

Table 2: Country of birth of Surrey residents 2001 and 2011

2001 2011
Born in UK 89.4% 85.8%
Republic of Ireland 1.0% 0.9%
Other EU Member countries in March 2001 2.4% 2.4%
EU Accession countries April 2001 to March 2011 1.5%
Other Countries 7.2% 9.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Table 3: Top 10 countries of birth of Surrey residents (excluding UK) 2011

South Africa 11,518
India 11,497
Ireland 9,970
Poland 7,581
United States 6,867
Germany 6,747
Pakistan 5,287
Italy 4,071
Philippines 4,054
Australia 3,835

Source: Office for National Statistics

Nationality

For the first time, the 2011 Census asked for information about passports held. Some people may hold two or more passports; these may be from non-EU countries, EU countries or a combination of both. Accordingly, the numbers of passports held by the resident population will exceed the number of passport holders.

82.3% of Surrey residents hold a UK passport. Tandridge has the highest proportion of UK passport holders (85.4%) and Runnymede the lowest (78.1%).

9.7% of the population do not have a passport, because they have never held one or their UK passport has expired. Spelthorne has the highest percentage with no passport (11.0%) and Elmbridge the lowest (7.3%).

5.5% of Surrey residents hold a non EU passport. This contrasts with the 9.5% of the population born outside the EU. This suggests that a large proportion of people who were born outside the EU have acquired British or other EU citizenship and hold a British or EU passport. However some people born abroad will be UK citizens because their parents were UK citizens overseas at the time of their birth.

4.7% of the population hold passports from EU countries. This is very close to the 4.8% of the population who were born in the EU. This may be because EU passport holders have rights to free movement and employment in the UK which non-EU nationals do not; thus there may be less need for EU passport holders resident in England and Wales to apply for a UK passport compared to non-EU nationals.

Surrey has a higher percentage of its population holding a UK passport than England as a whole. However a smaller percentage has no passport. Overall a higher proportion of Surrey residents (10.2%) hold a non UK passport than England as a whole (8.9%).

Table 4: Passports held 2011

No passport United Kingdom Republic of Ireland Other EU countries Non EU countries
Surrey 9.7% 82.3% 1.0% 3.7% 5.5%
Elmbridge 7.3% 81.7% 1.5% 4.9% 8.0%
Epsom and Ewell 7.8% 83.6% 1.3% 4.1% 5.5%
Guildford 10.2% 80.3% 0.7% 4.4% 6.6%
Mole Valley 9.7% 85.2% 0.8% 2.3% 3.7%
Reigate and Banstead 10.0% 83.3% 1.0% 3.1% 4.3%
Runnymede 10.5% 78.1% 1.2% 4.9% 7.4%
Spelthorne 11.0% 80.9% 1.2% 3.6% 4.9%
Surrey Heath 9.0% 84.5% 0.9% 2.6% 4.8%
Tandridge 10.3% 85.4% 0.9% 1.9% 3.0%
Waverley 10.8% 84.0% 0.8% 2.6% 3.9%
Woking 9.3% 78.9% 1.0% 5.5% 7.9%
South East 14.1% 79.0% 0.7% 3.3% 4.2%
England 16.5% 75.8% 0.8% 3.6% 4.5%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Figures do not sum to 100% as people may hold two or more passports; thus the numbers of passports held by the resident population will exceed the number of passport holders.

Year of Arrival in the UK

For the first time, the 2011 Census asked for the year of arrival in the UK for residents who were born overseas.

46.7% of non UK born Surrey residents arrived in the UK since 2000. Runnymede (57.4%) and Guildford (56.1%) have the highest proportion of recent arrivals which may be due to foreign students studying at Royal Holloway College and the University of Surrey. The lowest proportion of recent arrivals is in Tandridge (35.6%).

The proportion of non UK born residents arriving since 2000 in England as a whole is slightly higher at 50.2%.

Table 5: Year of arrival in UK of non UK born residents

arrived before 1991 arrived 1991-2000 arrived since 2000
Surrey 36.8% 16.5% 46.7%
Elmbridge 36.7% 17.7% 45.6%
Epsom and Ewell 42.8% 17.5% 39.8%
Guildford 28.6% 15.3% 56.1%
Mole Valley 42.2% 16.6% 41.2%
Reigate and Banstead 38.7% 16.5% 44.8%
Runnymede 28.7% 13.8% 57.4%
Spelthorne 38.0% 16.5% 45.5%
Surrey Heath 39.7% 17.4% 42.9%
Tandridge 47.6% 16.8% 35.6%
Waverley 44.1% 16.3% 39.6%
Woking 32.6% 16.8% 50.6%
South East 34.3% 15.5% 50.1%
England 33.2% 16.6% 50.2%

Source: Office for National Statistics

Figure 2: Year of arrival in UK of non UK born residents

Source: Office for National Statistics