Over 2,000 Britons live in Iran: Report

IRNA website, Tehran
23 Mar 06

London, 23 March: At least 2,000 Britons are estimated to live in
Iran, according to the latest consular figures recorded by the UK
embassy in Tehran.

Consular returns for 2004/2005 put the estimated British national
community in Iran at 2,100, one of the lowest in the region.

The number may be higher as there is no requirement for UK citizens to
register with overseas missions.

The figure compares with 115,000 in the UAE, 85,000 in Pakistan,
19,000 in Saudi Arabia, 9,550 in Turkey, 7,000 in Bahrain, 6,500 in
Oman, 6,000 in Qatar, 5,895 in Russia, 4,500 in Kuwait and 2,800 in
Azerbaijan.

Neighbouring countries with fewer British expatriates include Iraq,
2000, Afghanistan, 900, Turkmenistan, 700, and Armenia, 60.

The annual returns put the total size of British communities living
abroad at 13.1 million at the end of March last year, fractionally
down in 2003-04, but below the 15.8 reached in 1999.

The highest number of UK citizens living abroad is the estimated
3,752,031 in China, which includes those in the former colony of Hong
Kong. The second highest is the 2.4 million in Canada, followed by
just over 2 million in Australia and nearly 1.4 million in the US.

Other former colonies with sizable British communities include South
Africa, 750,000, New Zealand, 450,000 and Ireland, 103,467. Among
European countries, there are also 677,000 in Spain and 301,000 in
France, with many Britons buying second houses there.