British diaspora facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
British diaspora

Total population
Estimated at about 200 million
Regions with significant populations
United Kingdom	51,736,290 (81.9% of population)
United States	72,065,000 (2015) 678,000
Australia	10,764,870 (45.4% of population)
Canada	10,749,150 (30.6% of population)
New Zealand	2,425,278 215,000
South Africa	1,600,000 (2.6% of population)
Chile	700,000 (4% of population)
France	150,000-400,000 (2017)
Spain	297,229 (2014)
Germany	178,000 (2021)
Languages
Predominantly English Also: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots, Ulster Scots, Cornish, Manx, British Sign Language
Religion
Predominantly Christianity (Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, etc.)

The British diaspora includes people of British background and their families who have moved away from the United Kingdom. It's like a big family tree spreading out across the world! This article focuses on people who say they have British family roots.

The biggest groups of people who identify as British outside the UK are found in New Zealand (59%), Australia (45%), Canada (30.6%), the United States (11%), South Africa (2.6%), and parts of the Caribbean. All together, the British diaspora includes about 200 million people around the globe.

Many British people also live in countries like the Republic of Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.

Why Did British People Move Abroad?

Early Migrations: The Age of Discovery

After the Age of Discovery, people from the British Isles (especially the English) were some of the first and largest groups to leave Europe. They traveled to many new places. The British Empire grew a lot in the 1800s. This led to many British people moving to different parts of the world. They settled especially in Australasia (like Australia and New Zealand) and North America.

The British Empire grew because many British people moved overseas. They left Great Britain (which later became the United Kingdom). These people traveled all over the world. They changed the populations in three continents. For example, the British colonisation of the Americas meant that the United States became the biggest place for British people to move to. In Australia, British people had many children. This, along with more British people moving there, led to a much larger population than the indigenous Australians.

British Communities Around the World

In places like Southern Rhodesia, British Hong Kong, Singapore, Jamaica, Barbados, British East Africa, and the Cape Colony, British communities were set up. Even though they were a small part of the total population, these British settlers had a big impact on the culture and politics of these lands. In Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, people of British origin became the majority. These countries are now important parts of the Anglosphere, which means they share a lot of culture and language with Britain.

British people didn't just move to parts of the British Empire. Many also settled in other parts of the Americas. Large numbers went to the United States. Many also moved to Mexico, Chile, and Argentina.

In 1861, a UK survey guessed that about 2.5 million British people lived overseas. However, most of these were not permanent settlers. They were travelers, traders, professionals, and military staff. By 1890, over 1.5 million more British-born people lived in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.

British People Today

How Many British People Live Abroad?

In 2004–05, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office estimated that 13.1 million British citizens lived abroad. These numbers come from reports from British offices overseas. It's not required for UK citizens to register when they move abroad. So, these numbers are based on the best information available, often from the host country's official records.

A report from 2006 by the Institute for Public Policy Research estimated that 5.5 million people born in Britain lived outside the United Kingdom.

In 2009, the United Kingdom had the most people living abroad among developed OECD countries. More than three million British people lived overseas. Germany and Italy followed. About 400,000 people have moved from Britain each year for the past 10 years.

What Rights Do British People Abroad Have?

Living abroad as an expatriate can change some of your rights. For example:

• You can only vote in general elections if you have been on a British voting list at some point in the last 15 years. If not, you cannot vote. The government is planning to change this rule to allow 'votes for life'.
• The British Mental Health Act 1983 says that people living abroad cannot be considered the "nearest relative" for someone living in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man.

Where Do British People Live Around the World?

Map of the British diaspora in the world by population (includes people with British ancestry or citizenship).
     United Kingdom      + 10,000,000      + 1,000,000      + 100,000      + 10,000

Countries with Many People of British Ancestry

Here is a list of countries and territories. It shows how many people there have reported having British family roots. It also shows what percentage of the population this makes up.