London, July 13 (IANS) The population of Indians in Britain is expected to nearly double from 1.4 million to 2.67 million by 2051 by which time the country's population would hover around the 78 million mark, according to a new study.

The study conducted by academics from the University of Leeds, says that ethnic minorities are set to make up a fifth of the population by 2051. Their share of the population will increase from eight percent in 2001 to around 20 percent.

The study also revealed that ethnic minorities will shift from deprived local authorities to more affluent areas, with ethnic groups to be "significantly less segregated from the rest of the population".

Project leader Philip Rees, a professor, said in a statement: "The ethnic make-up of the UK's population is evolving significantly. Groups outside the white British majority are increasing in size and share, not just in the areas of initial migration, but throughout the country, and our projections suggest that this trend is set to continue through to 2051."

The number of non-EU migrants given work permits, or permission to carry on working in Britain, rose by 20 percent, from 159,535 in 2007 - the year before points were introduced - to 190,640 last year, including dependents. The number of student approvals increased by a third, from 208,800 to 273,445 a year later.

The study found that that "groups outside the white British majority" are increasing in size and share, not just in the areas of initial migration, but throughout the country, and our projections suggest that this trend is set to continue through to 2051.

It says: "At a regional level, ethnic minorities will shift out of deprived inner-city areas to more affluent areas, which echoes the way white groups have migrated in the past. In particular black and Asian populations in the least deprived local authorities will increase significantly."

Other key projections for 2051 include Britain's population reaching almost 78 million, from 59 million in 2001. The current population of 61,398,000 is an increase of three million since 1997.