Net migration into UK almost halved in 2025, official figures show
Fewer non-EU work arrivals and a drop in asylum seekers drove the decline, while 813,000 people immigrated and 642,000 emigrated, the ONS said.
- On Thursday, the Office for National Statistics reported net migration fell 48% to 171,000 in the year to December 2025, marking the lowest level since early 2021.
- Sarah Crofts, deputy director of the ONS, cited fewer international work arrivals as the primary driver, while asylum seeker numbers fell to 20,885, a decline of roughly 12 percent.
- These figures represent a sharp decline from the 944,000 peak recorded under the previous Conservative government in March 2023, signaling a significant shift since Labour took power in 2024.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated the data proves Labour is "restoring order and control to our borders," claiming net migration fell 82% from its previous high.
- While Emigration remains elevated with 278,000 non-British nationals and 246,000 British citizens departing, officials suggest outflows may soon decline, though long-term sustainability remains uncertain.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Net immigration to the United Kingdom fell by almost half in 2025, to 171,000 people, the lowest level since 2021, a decline mainly due to that of working visas, which was welcomed by the Labour Government on Thursday.
UK net migration falls sharply as student, work visa curbs deepen
United Kingdom net migration saw a significant drop in 2025. Figures fell to 171,000, a level not seen since before the post-Brexit immigration system. This decline follows a sharp fall from a 2023 peak. Policy changes by both Conservative and Labour governments contributed to this trend. Restrictions on student dependants and higher salary thresholds for skilled workers were key measures.
UK net migration drop has only just begun
Earlier this year, I wrote for UnHerd about how UK net migration would fall sharply in 2026 — and that it could even turn negative. However, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published today for the year ending December 2025, show only a modest decline to 171,000, down from 204,000 in the [...]Read More...
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