In 2024, approximately 948,000 million people migrated to the United Kingdom, while 517,000 people migrated from the UK, resulting in a net migration figure of 431,000. There have consistently been more people migrating to the United Kingdom than leaving it since 1993 when the net migration figure was negative 1,000. 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 December 2024. 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.

In the twelve months to December 2024, approximately 948,000 people migrated to the United Kingdom, while 517,000 emigrated away from the country, resulting in a net migration figure of 431,000.

Immigration levels in the UK were seen as being too high in the last ten years, by approximately 70 percent of Britons in April 2025, compared with 63 percent one year earlier.

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.

Historical chart and dataset showing U.K. net migration by year from 1960 to 2024.

As of the second quarter of 2025, approximately 44 percent of people in the UK thought that immigration was an important issue facing the country, compared with 45 percent in the previous quarter.

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;

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...

Data exploring the overview of migrants in the UK labour market.

In 2024, the net migration figure for British citizens in the United Kingdom was negative 17,000, compared with negative 96,000 for citizens of European Union countries, and 544,000 for non-EU citizens.

Data exploring the overview of migrants in the UK labour market by region.

In the first quarter of 2025, approximately 82.4 percent of people born in the European Union but living in the UK were employed, compared with 74.6 percent for the UK-born population, and 74.1 percent for people outside the EU and UK. Since 2006, the employment rate for people born in the EU has consistently been higher than UK nationals and non-EU nationals.

In 2024, approximately 517,000 people emigrated from the United Kingdom, 77,000 of which were British citizens, 218,000 were EU citizens, and a further 222,000 were non-EU citizens.

Quarterly and annual statistics relating to information on border control and visas, asylum, managed migration, and enforcement and compliance. A new format for these statistics was introduced from second quarter 2011. See separate entry under immigration statistics at: http://data.gov.uk/dataset/immigration-statistics.

While the European colonization and settlement of other world regions largely began in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was not until the 19th century when the largest waves of migration began to take place. In early years, migration rates were comparatively low; in all of the Americas, the slave population actually outnumbered that of Europeans for most of the given period. Then, with the development of steam ships, intercontinental travel became more affordable and accessible to the masses, and voluntary migration from Europe rose significantly. Additionally, larger numbers of Asian migrants, especially from India and China, migrated to Australia, the Caribbean, and U.S. from the mid-1800s; although the U.S. and Australia both introduced policies that limited or prevented Asian immigration throughout most of the early 1900s. International migration between 1913 and 1950 was also comparatively low due to the tumultuous nature of the period, which involved both World Wars and the Great Depression.