UK Net Migration Falls by Two-Thirds to 204,000

The United Kingdom's net migration saw a significant decline, falling by two-thirds to a provisional estimate of 204,000 in the year ending June 2025, according to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This substantial drop comes despite long-term immigration remaining high, with 898,000 arrivals, largely offset by a record 693,000 people emigrating from the country.

Political commentator Tom Harwood highlighted this dynamic on social media, stating, > "immigration is actually still close to record highs (900k). But that's offset by record emigration (693k)." The ONS data confirms 898,000 long-term immigrants entered the UK in the year to June 2025, a decrease of over 400,000 from the previous year's figure of 1,299,000. Concurrently, long-term emigration rose by 43,000 to 693,000 during the same period.

This reduction in net migration is primarily attributed to a decrease in non-EU nationals arriving for work or study, with a 61% drop in work-related immigration and a 25% decrease in study-related immigration for this group. Additionally, there has been a continued increase in individuals leaving the UK, with most departing being non-EU nationals who had initially arrived on study-related visas. Both British and EU citizens also recorded more people leaving than arriving.

The ONS has updated its methodology for calculating migration statistics, now relying on administrative data from the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions instead of the International Passenger Survey. This methodological shift has provided a more accurate picture, revising the peak net migration to 944,000 in March 2023. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed the latest figures, noting that net migration is now at its lowest level in half a decade and has fallen by over two-thirds under the current government, following recent reforms to the migration system.