In 2024, approximately 766,000 people from outside the European Union migrated to the United Kingdom, compared with 122,000 people from European Union countries, and 60,000 British nationals.

In 2020/21 there were approximately 696,000 Polish nationals living in the United Kingdom, the highest non-British population at this time. Indian and Irish were the joint second-largest nationalities at approximately 370,000 people.

UK residents by individual countries of birth and citizenship, broken down by UK country, local authority, unitary authority, metropolitan and London boroughs, and counties. Estimates from the Annual Population Survey.

In the year to June 2025, approximately 898,000 people migrated to the United Kingdom, while 693,000 people migrated from the country, resulting in a net migration figure of 204,000. There have consistently been more people migrating to the United Kingdom than leaving it since 1993 when approximately 1,000 more people left the country than arrived. Although migration from the European Union has declined since the Brexit vote of 2016, migration from non-EU countries accelerated rapidly from 2021 onwards. In the year to June 2023, 968,000 people from non-EU countries migrated to the UK, compared with 129,000 from EU member states. Immigration and the 2024 election Since late 2022, immigration, along with the economy and healthcare, has consistently been seen by UK voters as one of the top issues facing the country. Despite a pledge to deter irregular migration via small boats, and controversial plans to send asylum applicants to Rwanda while their claims are being processed, Rishi Sunak's Conservative government lost the trust of the public on this issue. On the eve of the last election, 20 percent of Britons thought the Labour Party would be the best party to handle immigration, compared with 13 percent who thought the Conservatives would handle it better. Sunak and the Conservatives went on to lose this election, suffering their worst defeat in modern elections. Historical context of migration The first humans who arrived in the British Isles, were followed by acts of conquest and settlement from Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Danes, and Normans. In the early modern period, there were also significant waves of migration from people fleeing religious or political persecution, such as the French Huguenots. More recently, large numbers of people also left Britain. Between 1820 and 1957, for example, around 4.5 million people migrated from Britain to America. After World War Two, immigration from Britain's colonies and former colonies was encouraged to meet labour demands. A key group that migrated from the Caribbean between the late 1940s and early 1970s became known as the Windrush generation, named after one of the ships that brought the arrivals to Britain.

Estimates for UK immigration, emigration and net migration, year ending June 2012 to year ending June 2025. These are official statistics in development. To access the most up-to-date data for each time period, please use the most recently published dataset.

United Kingdom UK: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 8,543,120.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,604,583.000 Person for 2010. United Kingdom UK: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 3,593,106.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,543,120.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 1,661,888.000 Person in 1960. United Kingdom UK: International Migrant Stock: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.; Sum;

According to the 2021 Census, 81.7% of the population of England and Wales was white, 9.3% Asian, 4.0% black, 2.9% mixed and 2.1% from other ethnic groups.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, approximately 80.4 percent of people born in the European Union but living in the UK were employed, compared with 74.7 percent for the UK-born population and 75.1 percent for people outside the EU and UK. Since 2006, the employment rate for people born in the EU has consistently been higher than that of UK nationals and non-EU nationals.

United Kingdom UK: Net Migration data was reported at 900,000.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 990,000.000 Person for 2012. United Kingdom UK: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 174,003.000 Person from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,030,075.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of -97,495.000 Person in 1982. United Kingdom UK: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Different migration-related data sources at local authority level including migration flows, non-UK-born and non-British populations, National Insurance number registrations, GP registrations, and births to non-UK-born mothers.

Dataset Overview

This dataset provides comprehensive statistics on migration in the United Kingdom from 1901 to 2023. It includes data on immigration, emigration, net migration, and detailed breakdowns by nationality, reason for migration, visa categories, and regional distributions. The data is sourced from the UK Parliament’s Commons Library briefing paper titled “Migration Statistics”, which aims to explain the concepts and methods used in measuring migration and offers a range of data on migration in the UK and European Union countries.

Dataset Folder: CBP06077-data.xlsx

2.2 (1) - Long-term international migration estimates in the UK

2.2 (2) - Estimated average annual net migration in the UK, 1901-2021

2.5 - Long-term international migration estimates in the UK, by nationality

2.6 (1) - Immigration by main reason for migration

2.6 (2) - Entry clearance visas granted by category, excluding tourist visas

2.6 (3) - Work visas granted by current category and prior equivalent

4.1 - Immigration and net migration of foreign nationals in EU countries and the UK, 2021

4.2 - Foreign-national and foreign-born populations of EU countries, 2021

5.1 - Estimated number of EU nationals living in the UK by nationality, 2021

5.2 - EU nationals by region, United Kingdom, 2021

5.4 (1) - Estimated number of British nationals living in EU countries, 2017

5.4 (2) - UN estimates of British citizens living in other EU countries, 2020

Cover Note - Additional information about the dataset

Dataset Contents

The dataset comprises multiple Excel files, each corresponding to specific tables and figures from the original report. Below is a detailed description of each file:

1. Long-term International Migration Estimates in the UK

•  Filename: long_term_international_migration_estimates_uk.xlsx
•  Description: Annual estimates of immigration, emigration, and net migration in the UK from 1991 to 2012.
•  Columns:
•  Year ending
•  Immigration
•  Emigration
•  Net migration

2. Estimated Average Annual Net Migration in the UK (1901-2021)

•  Filename: estimated_average_annual_net_migration_1901_2021.xlsx
•  Description: Decadal average net migration estimates based on census data from 1901 to 2012.
•  Columns:
•  Decade
•  Censuses ending
•  Average annual net migration

3. Long-term International Migration Estimates by Nationality

•  Filename: long_term_migration_by_nationality.xlsx
•  Description: Immigration, emigration, and net migration figures broken down by British, EU, and Non-EU nationals from 1991 to 2012.
•  Columns:
•  Year ending
•  Immigration: British, EU, Non-EU
•  Emigration: British, EU, Non-EU
•  Net migration: British, EU, Non-EU

4. Immigration by Main Reason for Migration

•  Filename: immigration_by_reason.xlsx
•  Description: Immigration figures categorized by main reasons such as work, accompanying/joining family, study, other, and none stated, from 1991 to 2012.
•  Columns:
•  Year ending
•  Work related
•  Accompany/Join
•  Study
•  Other
•  None Stated

5. Entry Clearance Visas Granted by Category (Excluding Tourist Visas)

•  Filename: entry_clearance_visas_granted.xlsx
•  Description: Data on entry clearance visas granted in work, study, family, and other categories from 2006 to 2024.
•  Columns:
•  Year
•  Work: Main applicants, Including dependants
•  Study: Main applicants, Including dependants
•  Family: All
•  Other: All

6. Work Visas Granted by Category

•  Filename: work_visas_granted_by_category.xlsx
•  Description: Details of work visas granted, categorized into Worker (T2), Temporary Worker (T5), Investor/Business Development/Talent (T1), and others from 2010 to 2024.
•  Columns:
•  Year
•  Worker (T2)
•  Temporary Worker (T5)
•  Investor, Business Development and Talent (T1)
•  Other
•  Total

7. Immigration and Net Migration of Foreign Nationals in EU Countries (2021)

•  Filename: immigration_net_migration_eu_2021.xlsx
•  Description: Immigration and net migration figures of foreign nationals in EU countries and the UK for the year 2021.
•  Columns:
•  Country
•  Immigration
•  Net migration

8. Foreign-national and Foreign-born Populations of EU Countries (2021)

•  Filename: foreign_population_eu_2021.xlsx
•  Description: Number and percentage of foreign-national and foreign-born populations in EU countries as of 2021.
•  Columns:
•  Country
•  FOREIGN NATIONAL: Number, As % of population
•  FOREIGN BORN: Number, As % of population
•  Total Population

9. Estimated Number of EU Nationals Living in the UK by Nationality (2021)

•  Filename: eu_nationals_in_uk_2021.xlsx
•  Description: Estimates of EU nationals residing in the UK, broken down by country of nationality for 2021.
•  Columns:
•  Country of nationality
•  Stock

10. EU Nationals by Region in the UK (2021)

•  Filename: eu_nationals_by_region_uk_2021.xlsx
•  Descri...

Annual mid-year data on internal migration moves for England and Wales, by local authority, region, single year of age, five-year age group and sex. Data on internal migration moves between local authorities and regions and internal migration moves into and out of each local authority in England and Wales. Also including a lookup table listing each local authority in England and Wales, the region it is located within, its local authority code and region code.

The statistic shows the total population in the United Kingdom from 2015 to 2019, with projections up until 2025. The population grew steadily over this period.

Population of the United Kingdom

Despite a fertility rate just below the replacement rate, the United Kingdom’s population has been slowly but steadily growing, increasing by an average of 0.6 percent every year since 2002. The age distribution has remained roughly the same for the past ten years or so, with the share of the population over 65 years old seeing a slight increase as the baby boomer generation enters into that age bracket. That share is likely to continue growing slightly, as the United Kingdom has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

The population of the island nation is predominantly white Christians, but a steady net influx of immigrants, part of a legacy of the wide-reaching former British Empire, has helped diversify the population. One of the largest ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom is that of residents of an Indian background, born either in the UK, India, or in other parts of the world. India itself is experiencing problems with rapid population growth, causing some of its population to leave the country in order to find employment. The United Kingdom’s relatively lower levels of unemployment and the historical connection between the two countries (which has also resulted in family connections between individuals) are likely reasons that make it a popular destination for Indian emigrants.

Analysis of the non-UK-born population in England and Wales by country of birth, age, sex, housing, family, language, health, qualifications, religion, national identity and ethnicity.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The OECD International Migration database presents data showcasing flows and stocks of the total immigrant population and immigrant labour force, together with data on acquisition of nationality. This database contains annual data from 1980 onwards.

Main Topics:

The database covers:

• international and population migration
• immigration and immigrants
• emigration and emigrants
• asylum seekers by nationality
• nationalities
• educational attainment
• employment and unemployment

This statistic shows development of the foreign-born population in the United Kingdom from 2009 until 2019. Since 2009 there has been an annual increase of over *** million foreign-born residents in the UK. The peak was in 2018 at *** million people before decreasing to **** million in 2019.

This table contains 30 series, with data for years 1871 - 1971 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years), and was last released on 2012-02-16. This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 items: Canada ...) Birthplace (30 items: Total all countries; England and Wales; Northern Ireland; Scotland ...).

As of June 2021, there were around ******* Polish nationals living in the United Kingdom. Between 2008 and 2019, the Polish population of the United Kingdom more than doubled, reaching a peak of over *** million in 2017.