Britain has the most illegal migrants in Europe – with over 745,000 believed to still be here

MORE illegal migrants are in Britain than any other European nation, a study has found.

Researchers believe as many as 745,000 are still here — enough to rival the population of Leeds.

The number is equivalent to one in 100 of the entire UK population and more than ­double the 300,000 in France.

It is also ahead of the highest estimate for Germany, which at 700,000 has the second-largest illegal population.

The landmark research was compiled by 18 institutions, including Oxford University’s Compas migration study centre.

Study chiefs estimated the number of illegal migrants in Britain as between 594,000 and 745,000.

The figure covers those who entered illegally, overstayed on a visa, or “‘disappeared” off-grid after having an asylum bid rejected.

Experts suggested the size of the UK’s illegal migrant population could reflect the value of the so-called “black economy”.

The research is part of a new public database to estimate illegal migrant populations around the world.

Denis Kierans, senior researcher at Compas, said: “These are people living and working in the UK, but outside the tax and benefits system.

“The state is missing out on their contributions to the public purse while they end up at risk of exploitation and destitution.”

The figure comes on top of the asylum backlog of 224,742.