NEARLY one in ten people living in Britain are foreign, a major international study shows.

The 5.95million is double the proportion of a decade ago and has been bumped up by a recent influx from the EU, according to a report by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

3 Nearly one in ten people living in Britain are foreign, a major international study shows Credit: PA:Press Association

Including British citizens born overseas, 13.9 per cent of the population - or one in SEVEN people - are from abroad.

The OECD said EU nationals accounted for “all the growth” in 2014-2015.

It also revealed UK had the third highest rate of “permanent” immigration in the advanced world in 2015 at 378,800 – below only the United States and Germany - it added.

The figures came as the Mediterranean migrant crisis threatened to erupt once more with a sharp rise in the numbers heading to Spain – and Italy threatening to turn away foreign boats.

The OECD said the humanitarian crisis fuelled the ‘arrival’ of 5 million migrants across the western world in 2016, up 7 per cent.

Germany saw 30 per cent more migrants in 2016 compared with the previous year, and Sweden registered an jump of 26 per cent.

3 The report said EU nationals accounted for 'all the growth' in 2014-2015 Credit: Getty Images

3 The figures came as the Mediterranean migrant crisis threatened to erupt once more Credit: Corbis

The OECD said there were notable increases in the number of immigrants heading to Canada, Japan, Korea and also Iceland – up 60 per cent in 2016.

It also said a second migrant wave was building as family members join those who have either moved to Europe for work or have secured refuge.

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Angel Gurria, OECD secretary general, urged nations to work to integrate the vast number of migrants and children that had travelled in recent years.

Launching the report in Paris, the OECD chief said: “Improving the integration of immigrants and their children, including refugees, is vital to delivering a more prosperous, inclusive future for all.”

He added: “While integration is largely a domestic issue, better cooperation at the international level is key to make the progress required and address negative perceptions against migration.”