More EU nationals choosing to live in Scotland despite Brexit

The number of EU nationals choosing to live in Scotland rose significantly last year despite the uncertainty of post-Brexit immigration laws, official figures have revealed.
Polish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt DunhamPolish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt Dunham
Polish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt Dunham

The overall number of non-British nationals north of the Border rose by 12 per cent to 378,000, according to the latest figures published by the National Records of Scotland (NRS).

The number of EU nationals increased by 26,000 to 235,000 in this time, with the number of non-EU nationals increasing by 14,000 to 142,000. A total of seven per cent of the resident population of Scotland now has non-British nationality.

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The Scottish Government said it would do everything it could to ensure that inward migration continued post-Brexit.

Polish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt DunhamPolish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt Dunham
Polish remains the most common non-British nationality in Scotland. Picture: AP/Matt Dunham

Ministers have long been concerned that if migration to the UK is cut post-Brexit, Scotland’s population will drop in the long-term.

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The report also confirmed that Polish remains the most common non-British nationality, with an estimated 99,000 residents accounting for 26 per cent of the total non-British population and two per cent of residents in Scotland overall.

The council area with the highest proportion of residents who are non-British nationals was Aberdeen City, with 21 per cent of residents holding non-British nationality.

The figures are based on the Annual Population Survey, which is the largest household survey in the UK other than the census.

External affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “These figures underline the key role inward migration plays in supporting further population growth across Scotland’s communities and rural areas.

“As we face challenges in relation to the recent, welcome increase in life expectancy, migration flows to Scotland help us ensure we can grow our working age population and support our social and economic needs, now and in the future.

“Scotland already benefits significantly from the contribution made by those who have chosen to live, work and study here, bringing new skills and expertise and helping to underpin future economic growth, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure inward migration to our country can continue.

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“However, the current UK Government’s hostile immigration policy and unrealistic migration targets are detrimental to Scotland’s economic growth and wider wellbeing.

“This is why, in our recently published paper, we have set out the need for the Scottish Parliament to be granted devolved powers on migration. This would allow us to continue to grow our country’s economy and tackle current demographic challenges, while also creating a more welcoming environment for those migrants and their families who have chosen to make Scotland their home.”