A borough in east London has been revealed as the UK’s biggest migration hotspot. It comes a week after the population of England and Wales is estimated to have jumped by more than 700,000 in the year up to June 2024 — the second-largest increase in over 75 years — almost entirely due to international migration.
New analysis shows that net international migration was positive in all but one of 318 councils across England and Wales, according to reports. Estimates published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show Newham as the biggest area for migration. The borough, which has a population of around 374,000 people, includes areas of the capital such as Stratford, Canning Town, East Ham and Beckton.
In the year to mid-2024, around 17,224 net immigrants moved into Newham, the Daily Mail reports.
This equates to 4.6% of Newham’s population — approximately one in 20 people.
Luton and Coventry are also two migration hotspots, according to the ONS figures.
The number of net immigrants that settled in Luton, Bedfordshire, in the year to mid-2024 was 10,200 — 4.27% of its population (around 239,090).
While Coventry, Warwickshire, saw 15,446 net immigrant arrivals — 4.19% of its population (approximately 369,000).
Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control think tank, told the Daily Mail that mass migration is “changing the very fabric of Britain”.
Last week, the ONS reported there were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up 706,881 from 61.1 million in mid-2023.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage branded the rise “disastrous for the quality of life for everyone in the country” while Conservatives warned: “The pressure on housing and social cohesion is unacceptable”.
The ONS said net international migration – the difference between people moving to the country and leaving – was the “main driver” of the jump in population and accounted for 98% (690,147) of the increase.
During the period, there were only slightly more births than deaths (596,012) than deaths (566,030), adding 29,982 to the population.
While Newham had the biggest net immigration in terms of the total population percentage, large local authorities have experienced the most arrivals in terms of numbers.
Birmingham welcomed 24,235 net immigrants in the year to mid-2024 but with a population of nearly 1.2 million, this represented 2.05% of its population — considerably less than the likes of Newham and Luton.
Figures show that South Holland in Lincolnshire was the only local authority in England and Wales to see negative net migration during the period, the Mail reported.
The City of London technically had the largest share of its population due to net immigration in the year to June 2024 (10.79%) — however, it is home to only around 15,000, with net immigration arrivals at roughly 1,600.