Migration to the UK has decreased significantly in the past year, with a notable drop in the number of individuals entering the country, according to the most recent data.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that net migration was approximately 171,000 in the year leading up to December 2025, marking a 48% decrease from the previous year’s figure of 331,000. This reduction represents the lowest level since early 2021, coinciding with the implementation of the post-Brexit immigration system and ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Analysis of the new ONS statistics indicates that the decline in net migration is not solely due to fewer people leaving the country but also a drop in the number of asylum seekers arriving in the UK.
Net migration is calculated as the variance between individuals immigrating to the UK for the long term and those leaving the country. In the period up to June, an estimated 813,000 people arrived in the UK, while 642,000 individuals emigrated. The decreasing trend in net migration is attributed to a decrease in non-EU nationals coming to the UK for employment, as highlighted by the ONS.
Additionally, the latest figures reveal a considerable decrease in asylum seekers, with numbers dropping to 20,885 in the 12 months leading up to March 2026, marking a roughly 12% decrease. This constitutes a reduction of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous reporting period. The peak in asylum claims was recorded during the previous Conservative government, with 56,000 claims in September 2023.
The recent statistics are being heralded as a significant achievement for the Labour party, which has aimed to reduce the influx of individuals into the country since assuming power in 2024.