UK Net Migration Falls to 204,000 in Year to June 2025

Net migration to the United Kingdom fell to 204,000 in the 12 months ending June 2025, marking the lowest level in four years and a sharp decline from recent peaks, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The estimate represents a 69 percent drop from the 649,000 recorded in the previous year and a 78 percent decrease from the record high of 944,000 in the year to March 2023. It reflects 898,000 people arriving for long-term stays and 693,000 departing, resulting in the net figure after rounding. This is the smallest annual gain since the year ending March 2021, when net migration stood at 132,000, amid a recovery from pandemic-related travel restrictions.

The downturn stems from reduced arrivals and rising departures. Fewer non-European Union nationals came for study or work, the primary drivers of the post-pandemic surge. Study-related immigration from non-EU countries dropped 25 percent year-on-year to 288,000, while work-related arrivals plummeted 61 percent to 171,000. Humanitarian schemes, including those for British nationals from Hong Kong and people fleeing Ukraine, also saw lower participation after initial spikes in 2021 and 2022.