Net migration to the UK dropped by nearly half to 171,000 in the 12 months to December 2025. The gap between people moving to the UK and people leaving reached its lowest level since 2021. The figure fell 48% year on year from 331,000 in 2024, continuing a sharp decline from a 2023 peak of 944,000. The main driver was a 47% fall in the number of non-EU nationals arriving for work-related reasons in 2025. Overall emigration fell slightly, with an estimated 813,000 immigrating and 642,000 emigrating. The Home Office planned to publish additional figures for the 12 months to March 2026. Public perception of net migration was found to be higher than reality.
"Net migration to the UK fell by nearly 50% to 171,000 last year, according to official figures released on Thursday, in what will be seen as a boost for Keir Starmer's government. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number of people leaving was at its lowest level since 2021. The figure was down 48% year on year from 331,000 in 2024, extending a sharp decline from a record peak of 944,000 in 2023."
"The number of nationals from outside the EU arriving for work-related reasons fell by 47% in 2025, which was the main cause of the continued fall in net migration. Over the same period, overall emigration fell slightly. An estimated 813,000 people immigrated to the UK while 642,000 emigrated. The continued fall in net migration was being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work, the ONS said."
"Many people mistakenly believe net migration is rising in Britain despite figures dropping to their lowest level in years, a thinktank has found. Research from British Future, published ahead of latest government figures on migration, revealed a chasm between reality and public perception of net migration, with a substantial portion of the public believing it had increased."
#uk-migration #net-migration #non-eu-work-arrivals #office-for-national-statistics #public-perception
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]