UK net migration
How many people move to the UK for at least a year, how many leave, and the difference between the two — split by nationality, and split by why they came: work visas and their dependants, study and its dependants, family, asylum and other reasons.
| Indicator | 12-2025 | 09-2025 | 12-2024 | 09-2024 | 06-2024 | 03-2024 | 12-2023 | 09-2023 | 06-2023 | 03-2023 | 12-2022 | 09-2022 | 06-2022 | 03-2022 | 12-2021 | 09-2021 | 06-2021 | 03-2021 | 12-2020 | 09-2020 | 06-2020 | 03-2020 | 12-2019 | 09-2019 | 06-2019 | 03-2019 | 12-2018 | 09-2018 | 06-2018 | 03-2018 | 12-2017 | 09-2017 | 06-2017 | 03-2017 | 12-2016 | 09-2016 | 06-2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration by nationality4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All nationalities | 171,000 | 202,000 | 331,000 | 497,000 | 649,000 | 734,000 | 848,000 | 891,000 | 924,000 | 944,000 | 891,000 | 822,000 | 681,000 | 575,000 | 467,000 | 384,000 | 251,000 | 132,000 | 93,000 | 35,000 | 111,000 | 170,000 | 184,000 | 202,000 | 224,000 | 274,000 | 276,000 | 226,000 | 216,000 | 193,000 | 208,000 | 205,000 | 200,000 | 240,000 | 249,000 | 290,000 | 321,000 | |
| British | -136,000 | -132,000 | -117,000 | -115,000 | -115,000 | -112,000 | -104,000 | -97,000 | -91,000 | -83,000 | -81,000 | -75,000 | -67,000 | -87,000 | -69,000 | -113,000 | -87,000 | -79,000 | -78,000 | -70,000 | -74,000 | -77,000 | -82,000 | -83,000 | -82,000 | -72,000 | -72,000 | -67,000 | -84,000 | -89,000 | -81,000 | -85,000 | -79,000 | -91,000 | -94,000 | -87,000 | -83,000 | |
| EU and EFTA | -42,000 | -47,000 | -63,000 | -64,000 | -61,000 | -57,000 | -53,000 | -43,000 | -30,000 | -21,000 | -9,000 | -3,000 | -1,000 | 28,000 | 15,000 | 64,000 | 95,000 | 61,000 | 70,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 | 81,000 | 80,000 | 114,000 | 126,000 | 155,000 | 170,000 | 138,000 | 158,000 | 160,000 | 176,000 | 192,000 | 188,000 | 235,000 | 253,000 | 294,000 | 322,000 | |
| Non-EU | 350,000 | 381,000 | 511,000 | 676,000 | 825,000 | 903,000 | 1,005,000 | 1,031,000 | 1,045,000 | 1,047,000 | 981,000 | 901,000 | 750,000 | 634,000 | 522,000 | 433,000 | 242,000 | 150,000 | 101,000 | 60,000 | 115,000 | 166,000 | 186,000 | 171,000 | 179,000 | 190,000 | 178,000 | 155,000 | 143,000 | 122,000 | 114,000 | 98,000 | 91,000 | 97,000 | 90,000 | 83,000 | 82,000 | |
| Immigration by nationality4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All nationalities | 813,000 | 862,000 | 1,012,000 | 1,159,000 | 1,299,000 | 1,359,000 | 1,441,000 | 1,461,000 | 1,466,000 | 1,469,000 | 1,398,000 | 1,317,000 | 1,167,000 | 1,069,000 | 947,000 | 937,000 | 818,000 | 629,000 | 662,000 | 606,000 | 736,000 | 815,000 | 788,000 | 793,000 | 821,000 | 849,000 | 825,000 | 766,000 | 757,000 | 736,000 | 752,000 | 754,000 | 718,000 | 759,000 | 772,000 | 804,000 | 832,000 | |
| British | 110,000 | 121,000 | 140,000 | 142,000 | 142,000 | 146,000 | 150,000 | 156,000 | 161,000 | 166,000 | 166,000 | 169,000 | 172,000 | 167,000 | 164,000 | 170,000 | 176,000 | 44,000 | 52,000 | 53,000 | 72,000 | 80,000 | 71,000 | 66,000 | 61,000 | 74,000 | 74,000 | 85,000 | 81,000 | 76,000 | 84,000 | 78,000 | 78,000 | 72,000 | 70,000 | 70,000 | 74,000 | |
| EU and EFTA | 76,000 | 83,000 | 91,000 | 94,000 | 94,000 | 99,000 | 103,000 | 112,000 | 124,000 | 133,000 | 141,000 | 150,000 | 157,000 | 184,000 | 173,000 | 236,000 | 280,000 | 287,000 | 316,000 | 293,000 | 333,000 | 347,000 | 349,000 | 376,000 | 413,000 | 429,000 | 421,000 | 397,000 | 407,000 | 399,000 | 411,000 | 425,000 | 399,000 | 447,000 | 465,000 | 496,000 | 521,000 | |
| Non-EU | 627,000 | 659,000 | 780,000 | 924,000 | 1,063,000 | 1,115,000 | 1,188,000 | 1,193,000 | 1,182,000 | 1,170,000 | 1,091,000 | 999,000 | 838,000 | 719,000 | 610,000 | 531,000 | 363,000 | 297,000 | 294,000 | 260,000 | 331,000 | 388,000 | 368,000 | 351,000 | 347,000 | 346,000 | 330,000 | 284,000 | 269,000 | 261,000 | 257,000 | 251,000 | 241,000 | 239,000 | 237,000 | 238,000 | 237,000 | |
| Emigration by nationality4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All nationalities | 642,000 | 661,000 | 680,000 | 662,000 | 650,000 | 625,000 | 593,000 | 570,000 | 543,000 | 525,000 | 508,000 | 496,000 | 486,000 | 495,000 | 480,000 | 552,000 | 567,000 | 496,000 | 569,000 | 571,000 | 625,000 | 645,000 | 605,000 | 591,000 | 597,000 | 575,000 | 549,000 | 539,000 | 541,000 | 543,000 | 544,000 | 549,000 | 518,000 | 519,000 | 523,000 | 514,000 | 511,000 | |
| British | 246,000 | 252,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 255,000 | 253,000 | 252,000 | 249,000 | 247,000 | 244,000 | 240,000 | 254,000 | 233,000 | 283,000 | 262,000 | 123,000 | 130,000 | 123,000 | 146,000 | 157,000 | 153,000 | 150,000 | 143,000 | 146,000 | 147,000 | 152,000 | 165,000 | 165,000 | 164,000 | 163,000 | 157,000 | 163,000 | 163,000 | 157,000 | 157,000 | |
| EU and EFTA | 118,000 | 130,000 | 155,000 | 158,000 | 155,000 | 156,000 | 156,000 | 155,000 | 153,000 | 154,000 | 151,000 | 153,000 | 159,000 | 156,000 | 159,000 | 172,000 | 184,000 | 226,000 | 247,000 | 249,000 | 263,000 | 266,000 | 269,000 | 262,000 | 287,000 | 274,000 | 250,000 | 259,000 | 249,000 | 240,000 | 235,000 | 233,000 | 212,000 | 213,000 | 213,000 | 202,000 | 199,000 | |
| Non-EU | 278,000 | 278,000 | 269,000 | 247,000 | 238,000 | 212,000 | 182,000 | 163,000 | 137,000 | 122,000 | 110,000 | 98,000 | 88,000 | 85,000 | 88,000 | 98,000 | 120,000 | 147,000 | 192,000 | 199,000 | 216,000 | 222,000 | 182,000 | 180,000 | 167,000 | 155,000 | 152,000 | 129,000 | 127,000 | 139,000 | 144,000 | 152,000 | 149,000 | 143,000 | 147,000 | 155,000 | 155,000 | |
| Immigration by reason10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All reasons | 34,000 | 35,000 | 34,000 | 33,000 | 31,000 | 31,000 | 31,000 | 32,000 | 32,000 | 32,000 | 32,000 | 32,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 16,000 | 17,000 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 14,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work: main applicant | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 12,000 | 9,000 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work: dependant | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study | 14,000 | 15,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study: main applicant | 14,000 | 14,000 | 14,000 | 13,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study: dependant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Family | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Asylum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net migration by reason10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All reasons | 21,000 | 21,000 | 20,000 | 21,000 | 21,000 | 23,000 | 24,000 | 26,000 | 27,000 | 29,000 | 30,000 | 31,000 | 30,000 | 29,000 | 25,000 | 19,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 10,000 | 11,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 14,000 | 16,000 | 17,000 | 18,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 14,000 | 10,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work: main applicant | 8,000 | 7,000 | 6,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 9,000 | 10,000 | 11,000 | 13,000 | 13,000 | 14,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 12,000 | 9,000 | 4,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Work: dependant | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study | 7,000 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study: main applicant | 7,000 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 11,000 | 11,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Study: dependant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Family | 2,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Asylum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Latest reading
All nationalities stood at 171,000 People in Dec 2025. That is −48.3% from a year earlier. The series on this page is monthly and runs from Jun 2012 to Dec 2025. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS).
- Latest
- 171,000 People
- Dec 2025
- vs a year earlier
- −48.3%
About this data
How many people move to the UK for at least a year, how many leave, and the difference between the two — split by nationality, and split by why they came: work visas and their dependants, study and its dependants, family, asylum and other reasons. Rolling twelve-month estimates from the Office for National Statistics — the number that decides how fast the UK workforce grows.
Frequently asked questions
- How is UK net migration defined?
- UK net migration is the difference between total long-term immigration into the UK and total long-term emigration out of the UK over a given period.
- What nationalities are covered in UK net migration statistics?
- The Office for National Statistics breaks down UK migration figures across British, EU and EFTA, and non-EU citizen categories.
- Which reasons for migration are tracked in this UK data?
- UK migration flows are categorised by primary purpose: work, study, family, asylum, and other reasons, including breakdowns for main applicants and dependants.
- How far back does this UK net migration dataset go?
- This Office for National Statistics dataset provides rolling UK long-term international migration estimates going back to 2012.
