Foreign-born population – 2023 | 15.2% of the population | Main countries of birth: |
10.3 million, 52% women | Evolution since 2014: +28% | India (9%), Poland (7%), Pakistan (5%) |
International Migration Outlook 2025
In 2024, the United Kingdom received 436 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), ‑41% compared to 2023. This figure comprises 27% labour migrants, 60% family members (including accompanying family) and 9% humanitarian migrants. Around 384 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 102 800 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 10 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2023, a 10% decrease compared to 2022. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
India, Nigeria and Pakistan were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2023. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Nigeria registered the strongest increase (50 000) and China the largest decrease (‑22 000) in flows to United Kingdom compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 28%, to reach around 108 000. The majority of applicants came from Pakistan (11 000), Afghanistan (8 500) and Iran (8 100). The largest increase since 2023 concerned nationals of Pakistan (5 300) and the largest decrease nationals of Türkiye (‑1 200). Of the 106 000 decisions taken in 2024, 39% were positive.
Emigration of United Kingdom citizens to OECD countries decreased by ‑4% in 2023, to 85 000. Approximately 21% of this group migrated to Spain, 13% to the United States and 12% to Australia.
A general election in July 2024 saw a change from a Conservative to a Labour Government. The UK Government has since prioritised reducing historically high levels of net migration through increased border security and addressing irregular migration.
Estimated net migration to the United Kingdom fell to 431 000 in the year ending (YE) December 2024 from 860 000 in the previous year. This was driven by a decrease in immigration from non-EU+ nationals, with fewer people arriving on work and study visas, and increased emigration, including from people leaving who originally came on study visas once pandemic travel restrictions were eased.
In the YE March 2025 there were fewer work (192 000, 39% reduction) and study visas (403 000, 10% reduction) granted than the previous year alongside new restrictions on student dependents introduced in early 2024, with visas issued to dependents falling by 83%.
70 000 grants of leave were offered via safe and legal routes in YE March 2025, 26% fewer than the previous year, largely due to the reduction in visas and extensions requested and granted on Ukraine Schemes. The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme (launched in February 2025) enables Ukrainian nationals and eligible family members in the United Kingdom to extend their stay up to a further 18 months. While the Ukraine Family Scheme was closed to new applicants, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme remains open and uncapped for new applicants.
In YE March 2025, 44 000 irregular arrivals were detected, 14% more than the previous year. Of these, 38 000 (86%) arrived on small boats. 109 000 people claimed asylum in YE March 2025, 17% more than the previous year. The Illegal Migration Act 2023 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 was laid to remove the retrospective application of the Illegal Migration Act (which suspended the processing of asylum claims for irregular entrants) and enabled the processing of claims dated from March 2023 onwards. By March 2025, 94 000 people received initial decisions on asylum claims, 16% fewer than the previous year. 49% of initial decisions were grants. The top nationalities claiming asylum were Pakistan (11 048), Afghanistan (8 069) and Iran (7 786).
Measures unveiled in the Restoring Control over the Immigration System White Paper (published May 2025) aim to further reduce net migration and encourage economic growth, including through attracting higher skilled workers and linking the immigration system to domestic skills and training requirements. Proposed changes include increasing qualification requirements for skilled worker visas to degree level, reducing the Graduate visa route from 2 years to 18 months and increasing the time individuals must have spent in the United Kingdom before seeking settlement (from five to ten years). The paper commits to ending overseas recruitment for social care work, with a “transition period” planned until 2028.
The Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is currently passing through Parliament and aims to address irregular migration by enhancing border security and making changes to the UK’s asylum and immigration system. A commitment to end the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda was made in July 2024, following an election pledge by the Labour Party.
For further information: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office | www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics.
