UK emigration: British nationals
UK emigration: British nationals stood at 246,000 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emigration by nationality | |||||||||||
| British | 246,000 | 252,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 257,000 | 255,000 | 253,000 | 252,000 | 249,000 | |
| EU and EFTA | 118,000 | 130,000 | 155,000 | 158,000 | 155,000 | 156,000 | 156,000 | 155,000 | 153,000 | 154,000 |
Understanding UK emigration: British nationals
Tracking the gross outflow of domestic citizens, this metric measures the absolute number of British passport holders leaving the United Kingdom to establish long-term residence overseas. The dataset isolates departing nationals from foreign citizens, providing a focused view of citizen emigration trends. This gross departure indicator excludes all incoming arrivals, setting it apart from net migration calculations for the United Kingdom.
When evaluating these figures, analysts must account for the reality that citizen departures often correlate with international job opportunities, global mobility trends, and lifestyle relocations rather than domestic visa rules. Revisions frequently occur because expatriating citizens may not officially register their departure at the exact time they leave the United Kingdom. Researchers should analyse this series alongside returning citizen data to evaluate circular migration patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is included in this British citizen emigration count?
- It tallies individuals holding British passports who depart the United Kingdom to live abroad long-term.
- Are departures by British citizens driven by standard visa restrictions?
- No, citizens face no immigration controls on leaving, so their moves reflect personal, career, or retirement choices.
- Why might the timing of these departures appear delayed in the data?
- Many citizens do not formally notify authorities when leaving, requiring statistical adjustments based on later administrative sources.