Mexicans in The United Kingdom - Demographics and Population

Demographics and Population

According to the 2001 UK Census, 5,049 Mexican-born people were living in the UK. Mexico was the 102nd most common birthplace for British people; ahead of Lithuania but behind Chile (fifth out of all Latin American countries, again behind Chile but ahead of Peru). Mexicans like Chileans have a long history of immigration and emigration from the home and host countries.

According to the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, there is a slight imbalance in terms of gender with 47% of Mexican-born people resident in the UK being male and 53% female. Students make up around 40% of the population, whilst 13% are working in the UK. Spouses and children combined make up 9% of the Mexican-born population in the UK. The Institute for Mexicans Abroad has identified London as having the largest Mexican community in the UK as well as the most diverse, with many not actually registering with the consulate. Mexicans in the British capital tend to work in low paying jobs in the service sector (i.e. restaurant, cleaning, hotel and bar staff). There are significant numbers of Mexican students located in the university towns of Sheffield, Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, Manchester and Liverpool. There is evidence of increasing numbers of British nationals illegally employing Mexican domestic workers with invalid or without work permits.