South Africans in the United Kingdom

Distribution by regional area at the 2011 census
Total population
219,807 (2021) (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) 10,607 (2011) (Scotland)
Regions with significant populations
London, South East England
Languages
English (British, South African), Afrikaans
Religion
Predominantly: Christianity (Anglicanism · Calvinism · Methodism) Minority: Judaism, Traditional African religion, Irreligion
Related ethnic groups
Zimbabwean British, Afrikaners, British diaspora in Africa, South African American

South Africans in the United Kingdom include citizens and residents of the United Kingdom with origins in South Africa.

Demographics

According to the 2011 UK census, 186,355 South African-born people were resident in England, 4,668 in Wales, 10,607 in Scotland and 1,847 in Northern Ireland.^[1][2][3] The 2021 UK census recorded 211,447 South African-born people residing in England, 5,733 in Wales, and 2,627 in Northern Ireland.^[4][5]

Unlike the country of South Africa itself, the majority of the South African diaspora living in the United Kingdom are White South Africans. Of all people identifying as South African in England and Wales, 86% identify as white, while 12% identify as black and 2% as mixed.^[6] According to the 2021 Census, the majority of South African born people in the UK live in Surrey and South West London, particularly in Elmbridge, Woking, and Merton.^[7]

Notable South Africans in the United Kingdom

This list includes those who were born in South Africa and those who were born in another country but primarily raised in South Africa.

South African born British people have contributed heavily in sports, especially in Commonwealth sports such as Cricket and Rugby. 17 South African born players have played for the England national cricket team and over a dozen have played for both the England and Scotland national Rugby Union teams collectively.

British people of South African ancestry

References