UK net migration: British nationals
UK net migration: British nationals stood at -136,000 people in Dec 2025, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the International migration table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jun 2012 to Dec 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the International migration table
| Indicator | 12-2025 | 09-2025 | 12-2024 | 09-2024 | 06-2024 | 03-2024 | 12-2023 | 09-2023 | 06-2023 | 03-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration by nationality | |||||||||||
| British | -136,000 | -132,000 | -117,000 | -115,000 | -115,000 | -112,000 | -104,000 | -97,000 | -91,000 | -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 |
Understanding UK net migration: British nationals
Isolating citizens holding British passports, this demographic balance metric measures the net movement specifically of the domestic population moving into and out of the United Kingdom. The series contrasts British nationals returning to live in the home country after a period abroad against British citizens departing to establish residence elsewhere. This subset explicitly excludes foreign nationals from the calculation, distinguishing it sharply from aggregate totals or EU and non-EU specific breakdowns within the wider migration tables for the United Kingdom.
When evaluating these figures, analysts must account for the distinct cyclical nature of British emigration and return, which often ties to economic conditions, retirement planning, or international assignments. Revisions to these counts can occur when administrative lag obscures the precise timing of when a British passport holder officially changes their long-term residency status. Researchers should compare this series against broader international flows to understand how domestic mobility patterns diverge from foreign migration trends affecting the United Kingdom population.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is included in the British nationals net migration count?
- It covers citizens holding British passports who either return to live in the United Kingdom or depart to reside abroad.
- Why do British migration patterns often differ from foreign national trends?
- They are driven by domestic factors like retirement, global job assignments, and returning expatriates rather than visa policies.
- How should researchers treat early estimates for this citizen subset?
- Treat them with caution because administrative delays can affect the prompt recording of departures and arrivals by passport holders.