What is net migration to the UK?

Net migration is the number of people moving to the UK for at least a year minus the number leaving. The ONS publishes the official estimate twice a year, in May and November, in its long-term international migration release.

The figures are revised heavily as more travel and tax data arrive, sometimes by tens of thousands, so always say which release a figure comes from. They are rolling 12-month totals, usually to June or December.

Official sources: ONS long-term international migration (latest)

The latest figure

The newest value is at Office for National Statistics (ONS). More on it: UK net migration.

When is the next figure out?

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

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• Rolling average
  An average recalculated each period over a fixed window, such as the latest three months or twelve months, to smooth out short-term ups and downs.
• Provisional figures
  Early estimates published before all data are in, so users get timely figures. They are expected to be updated when later data arrive.
• Net migration
  Long-term immigration minus long-term emigration over a period, usually a rolling year. It measures the net change in population from migration.
• Revisions
  Changes to previously published figures, made when more complete data, improved methods or updated seasonal factors become available. A normal part of official statistics.
• Administrative data
  Information collected by organisations while running a service, such as tax records, benefit claims or hospital activity, and then used to produce statistics.

Where the figures come from

• Higher education and student finance statistics (HESA, Student Loans Company, Office for Students and DfE)
  Official figures on UK student numbers, international students, student loan debt, graduate earnings, university finances and apprenticeships.
• UK population and vital statistics (ONS, National Records of Scotland and NISRA)
  Where to find official UK figures on births, fertility, baby names, marriage, divorce, households, population estimates, projections and the census.
• Home Office statistics (immigration, borders and policing)
  Find Home Office figures on small boat arrivals, asylum, hotels, visas, returns, detention, police numbers and stop and search, and how to read them.

Related questions

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• How many asylum seekers are in hotels?
• How many people are deported or removed from the UK?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about immigration, small boats and asylum: all Immigration, small boats and asylum questions.