UK net migration

Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), series Long-term international migration, provisional (no time-series ID). Twice a year; next release date to be announced on the ONS release calendar. No API: the spreadsheet file name changes with each release and must be read from the dataset page

What it measures

Net migration is the number of people moving to the UK for 12 months or more (long-term immigration) minus the number leaving the UK for 12 months or more (long-term emigration). This follows the United Nations definition of a long-term migrant. The ONS publishes it for rolling 12-month periods, broken down into British, EU+ and non-EU+ nationals, and by reason for immigration such as work, study and family. It is a different measure from visa grants or small boat arrivals, which the Home Office publishes. See net migration in the glossary.

How to read it

The figures are labelled provisional and are revised in later releases as more travel and visa data show whether people actually stayed or left for 12 months; revisions can be tens of thousands. In its May 2026 bulletin the ONS revised net migration for the year ending December 2024 to 331,000. Always quote the period and the release date, and compare with the latest version of earlier periods rather than the first estimate. Net migration can fall because immigration falls, because emigration rises, or both, so look at the two flows. See how revisions work.

Background

The ONS changed how it measures migration after the International Passenger Survey was suspended in 2020, and now uses mainly administrative data, including Home Office visa and travel records. Its current time series runs from the year ending June 2012. The ONS reported a peak of 944,000 for the year ending March 2023, and net migration of 171,000 for the year ending December 2025, which it described as nearly halving from the previous year.

Other parts of the UK

ONS mid-year population estimates (migration by local authority) · National Records of Scotland: mid-2025 population estimates · NISRA mid-year population estimates (Northern Ireland)

What is the difference between net migration and immigration?

Immigration is the number of people arriving to live in the UK for at least a year. Net migration subtracts the number of people leaving for at least a year. A high immigration figure can come with a lower net migration figure if emigration is also high. The ONS publishes immigration, emigration and net migration together.

Why do net migration figures get revised?

The first estimate for a period is made before it is known whether everyone counted stayed or left for 12 months. As more Home Office and travel data come in, the ONS updates its estimates. The ONS publishes revised figures for earlier periods in each release and explains the size of the changes.

Does net migration include asylum seekers and small boat arrivals?

Long-term migration estimates aim to include everyone who moves to the UK for 12 months or more, including people who arrive irregularly and claim asylum. However, the ONS breakdown by reason uses categories such as work, study, family and asylum, so check the bulletin's definitions. Small boat arrivals themselves are counted separately by the Home Office.

Related questions

• What is net migration to the UK?
• How many asylum applications does the UK receive?
• How many small boats crossed the Channel today?

More on this source: Home Office statistics (immigration, borders and policing)