Collection

National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK

Statistics on National Insurance number allocations.

From:
Department for Work and Pensions
Published
29 August 2013
Last updated
22 August 2024 — See all updates

This collection includes quarterly National Statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK.

Data tables

ODS data tables are no longer published alongside the quarterly releases. All the information previously published in the tables is now available in DWP’s main statistics tool Stat-Xplore.

If you have any comments about this, please email: cbm.stats@dwp.gov.uk.

Latest release

Background information and guidance

Read further information on the National Insurance number application process.

Find future National Insurance number (NINo) allocation publication dates in our statistics release calendar and more about DWP statistics on the Statistics at DWP page.

Email cbm.stats@dwp.gov.uk with feedback and queries about the statistics.

Previous releases: National Insurance number allocations

Previous releases: Nationality of DWP benefit claimants

The August 2021 publication of Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients was the last in the series.  

This follows our assessment that these statistics no longer met the purpose for which they were created.  The nationality for Non-UK nationals is recorded at the point of NINo registration and cannot be used as a proxy for current nationality or nationality at birth.

Held nationality records are not updated, therefore these statistics reflect nationality only at the time of NINo allocation and include data on Non-UK individuals allocated a NINo from 1975 onwards. Over this time period, many people will have changed nationality, however the data we currently hold is not able to quantify this. 

This statistical release had always from the outset had been clear on this definition, with a strong caveat about the use of these figures. However, once we became aware that the scale of difference between nationality at the point of NINo allocation and nationality or citizenship status at the point of receiving benefits is likely to be substantial, and likely to be misleading, after consultation with stakeholders and users, the decision was taken for the statistical series to be discontinued.  For more information about this see What you need to know – Nationality in the August 2021 publication.

Transformation journey for migration statistics

DWP has been working with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the wider Government Statistical Service (GSS) to transform population and migration statistics using administrative data. This includes the Migrant Workers Scan (MWS) data, which underpins the National Insurance number registrations statistics and is one of the key administrative data sources.

The MWS data is also used to create the Registration and Population Interaction Database (RAPID), with the MWS providing information on the nationality of those in the dataset.

The ONS release ‘long term international migration estimates’ uses RAPID as the main component of estimates of EU migration. RAPID also provides estimates for non-EU nationals as a useful comparator to the Home Office Border Systems data. The next release of estimates up to the year ending June 2024 are due to be released in November 2024. ONS will continue to update users on progress of the transformation to a new admin-based system.

The GSS brings together information from across government on migration statistics into an experimental dashboard, which is regularly updated.

Read Long term international migration, provisional statistical bulletins (ONS website).

Read International migration, England and Wales: Census 2021 (ONS website).

Updates to this page

Published 29 August 2013
Last updated 22 August 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to June 2024.

  2. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to March 2024.

  3. Added a note to the page about the 'Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients statistics'.

  4. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to December 2023.

  5. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to September 2023.

  6. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to June 2023.

  7. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to March 2023.

  8. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to December 2022.

  9. Added a note about future releases of the 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK' statistics. The next release will be published on 23 February 2023.

  10. Updated the information on the page about the suspended release of the quarterly National Statistics. The issue that has caused the suspension has now been identified, and work is now being carried out to quality assure the data to make sure it is accurate and complete. Once we are content that the data is fit for purpose we will provide an update as to when we expect to be able to reinstate the statistical series.

  11. Updated the information on the page about future releases of the statistics.

  12. Updated the information on the page about future releases of the statistics.

  13. Updated the information on the page about future releases of the statistics.

  14. Added a note that the next quarterly release of statistics (due out on 25 November 2021) will be delayed.

  15. Added links to the latest releases of 'National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals to June 2021' and 'Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to November 2020'.

  16. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to March 2021. Also, updated the note on the page about migration statistics and the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

  17. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to December 2020.

  18. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to September 2020. Also added notes about the migration statistics transformation journey and the impact of the coronavirus, and the re-designation of these statistics to National Statistics status.

  19. Added the latest releases of 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to June 2020' and 'Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to November 2019'.

  20. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, this has data to March 2020.

  21. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, with data to December 2019.

  22. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, with data to September 2019.

  23. Added statistics on 'National Insurance number allocated to adult overseas nationals to June 2019' and 'Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to November 2018'.

  24. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, with data to March 2019.

  25. Added a link to the latest release of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals statistics, with data to December 2018.

  26. Changed the contact details for feedback and queries about these statistics.

  27. Added statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to September 2018.

  28. Added statistics on 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to June 2018' and 'Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to November 2017'.

  29. Added statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to March 2018.

  30. Added statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to December 2017.

  31. Added statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to September 2017.

  32. Added statistics on 'Nationality at point of NINo registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to Feb 2017' and 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to June 2017'. Also added ad hoc statistical release 'Analysis of migrants’ access to income-related benefits'.

  33. Added 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to March 2017' statistics.

  34. Added 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to December 2016' statistics.

  35. Published a note about the Office for Statistics Regulation report on the reassessment of NINo statistics.

  36. Added National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to September 2016.

  37. Added statistics on 'National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals to June 2016' and 'Nationality at point of NINo registration of DWP working age benefit recipients to February 2016'.

  38. Added National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to March 2016.

  39. Added related ONS publications note about why figures from International Passenger Survey differ from ONS ones.

  40. Published statistics on National Insurance number (NINo) allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to December 2015.

  41. Published statistics on National Insurance number (NINo) allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to September 2015.

  42. Published statistics on National Insurance number (NINo) allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to June 2015 and Nationality at point of NINo registration of DWP working age benefit recipients to February 2015.

  43. Published National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK to March 2015.

  44. Published latest statistics with data to December 2014.

  45. Published latest statistics with data to September 2014.

  46. Published latest statistics with data to June 2014.

  47. Published statistics to March 2014.

  48. Statistics to December 2013 published

  49. Statistics to September 2013 released

  50. First published.

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