Colombians in the United Kingdom
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
Colombian-born residents 25,761 (2011 Census) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| London (Lambeth, Islington, Southwark, Camden) · Sunderland · Leeds · Newcastle | |
| Languages | |
| Colombian Spanish · British English | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Roman Catholicism |
|
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Colombian diaspora · Colombian people · Latin Americans in the United Kingdom · Spaniards in the United Kingdom · Brazilians in the United Kingdom · Portuguese in the United Kingdom · Hispanic · Latino |
Colombians in the United Kingdom (Spanish: Colombianos en el Reino Unido) include British citizens or residents who are of Colombian ancestry. According to the 2011 UK Census, the Colombian-born population of England was 25,016, Wales 166,Scotland 507 and Northern Ireland 72. The UK has the 11th largest community of Colombians abroad between Argentina (12th) and Costa Rica (10th).
Latin American migration to Europe has been growing rapidly since the mid-1960s. The first migrants consisted of Chilean and Argentine refugees, these were followed by Colombians and many other Latin American groups in the early 1970s. Many Colombians came to work in the UK on visas mainly in the domestic services and catering industries. Colombians in the UK tend to originate from the country's urban areas such as Bogota, Cali, Medellin and Palmira, although some come from the smaller towns and countryside. There are roughly three stages of Colombian migration to the UK, between 1975 and 1979 many came under the work permit system to take up jobs in low pay domestic services predominantly. Between 1980 and 1986 many relatives and families of the early settlers came to the UK, many of them soon became illegal immigrants due to themselves overstaying their visas. Another stage where significant numbers of asylum seekers came to the UK was between 1986 and 1997 when thousands came to the UK due to guerrilla and paramilitary violence in Colombia. This is the period where the largest number of Colombians came to the UK, although significant numbers are still migrating today as the Colombian British population expands into its second generation. Historically, the United Kingdom has, in fact, proven the most popular European destination for Colombian migrants despite the lack of historical links that are evident with Spain. Spain alongside several other European nations has formerly been dubbed a "reservoir of migrant labour". However, since the turn of the millennium, Spain has become a key destination within Europe for Colombian migrants and is now home to the large majority of the Colombian community in the European continent, with over 350,000 Colombian-born residents in Spain as of 2015. Significantly smaller communities are present in the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
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