International migration statistics

Oxford has long been a destination for international migrants, be it for work or study. 

The 2021 Census showed that 35% of Oxford's population was born outside the UK, compared to 28% in the 2011 Census.

In terms of country of birth, Census 2021 data shows that the largest non-British group is made up of residents born in India with 3,601 (+1,117 from the previous Census), followed closely by the United States with 3,070 (+475 from the previous Census). Other countries included in the top 10 are Poland (2,773), China (2,565), Pakistan (2,558) and Scotland (2,041).

Around 12% of Oxford residents were born in the European Union. This compares to 8% in 2011.

Most people come to Oxford as young adults between the ages of 18 and 44 years, although over a quarter (12,000) of Oxford residents who arrived from outside the UK were under the age of 16 years. The biggest increase since 2011 is seen in the proportion of residents arriving in the UK between the ages of 30-44 years old (+2.5%)

In 2021, 4% of the city's population had moved to Oxford from outside the UK in the last 12 months (6,600 residents), a further 17% had moved to Oxford from elsewhere in the UK in the last year (28,000).

In 2021, 62.2% of babies born in Oxford had at least one parent born outside the UK (60.4% in 2020). Below is a table of live births (numbers and percentages), where one or both parents are born outside the UK and area of usual residence.

Parents’ country of birth (Office for National Statistics)

Source: Office for National Statistics

Further information

Local area migration indicators - Office for National Statistics.

Migration Statistics Quarterly Report (national level indicators) - Office for National Statistics.

Home Office migration statistics.