Migration added 171,000 people to the UK’s population in 2025, almost half the level recorded the previous year, according to new Home Office figures.

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The total marks the lowest level since 2012 outside the Covid pandemic period, though Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there was still “more to do” to reduce numbers further.

The data also showed that 93,525 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year to March 2026, down 12% from the previous year but still more than double pre-pandemic levels.

Work Migration Continues to Decline

The Office for National Statistics said net migration had fallen to levels last seen in early 2021, when Britain introduced its post-Brexit immigration system and Covid travel restrictions were in place.

Sarah Crofts, deputy director at the ONS, said the decline was largely driven by fewer arrivals from outside the European Union, particularly for work-related visas.

Policy changes introduced in 2024 under the previous Conservative government are believed to have played a major role in the decline. The current Labour government has kept those measures and expanded some of them.

Restrictions included preventing most overseas students from bringing family members to the UK and limiting care workers from bringing dependants.

The salary threshold for skilled worker visas was also raised from £26,200 to £38,700, while the income requirement for sponsoring family visas increased by more than £10,000.

After Brexit, immigration rose sharply as Conservative ministers relaxed some visa rules for health and social care workers to address labour shortages. Critics referred to the increase as the “Boriswave”.

The government has since announced further measures, including requiring migrants to speak English to A-level standard and increasing the skilled worker salary threshold again to £41,700.

Asylum Numbers Remain High

Home Office figures showed asylum applications fell by 12% in the year to March 2026, although levels remain significantly above those seen before the pandemic.

There were 43,806 detected arrivals through illegal routes during the same period, with small boat crossings accounting for 90% of cases.

The number of asylum seekers housed in hotels while awaiting decisions fell to 20,885 by March 2026. That compares with 30,657 in December 2025 and a peak of 56,000 recorded in September 2023.

Asylum hotels became a major political issue last year, triggering protests in places including Norwich, Epping and Mold.

In October, Starmer pledged to close all asylum hotels, saying he had inherited a “mess” from the Conservatives.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the latest figures showed “real progress” had been made in restoring control over Britain’s borders.

Political Parties Clash Over Migration

The ONS said just over 800,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2025, down 20% compared with the previous year.

Meanwhile, an estimated 642,000 people left the UK for long-term residence abroad in the year to December 2025.

Ben Brindle of the Migration Observatory said the economic impact of migration depended on who was arriving and leaving. He noted that migration among groups with broadly positive economic impacts had declined, while asylum-related migration remained comparatively high.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued that immigration levels were still too high and called for stricter controls, including a binding annual cap on migration.

Meanwhile, Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick described the departure of British nationals from the UK as “the Starmer Exodus”, although the ONS said emigration among British citizens had remained broadly stable in recent years.

The Liberal Democrats blamed Brexit for the number of Britons leaving the country and urged the government to strengthen cooperation with European allies.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 22 May 2026

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Brits and EU citizens are leaving in droves and being replaced by non eu migrants. What could possibly go wrong? 😄

Not to mention all the undocumented illegals that never make it into the figures.

Even with all that we still have "officially" 171,000 net migration? What happened to Starmers one in one out? Is he still PM by the way? 😃

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Brits and EU citizens are leaving in droves and being replaced by non eu migrants. What could possibly go wrong? 😄

Not to mention all the undocumented illegals that never make it into the figures.

Even with all that we still have "officially" 171,000 net migration? What happened to Starmers one in one out? Is he still PM by the way? 😃

And it has been caused by Brexit! 😃

https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/long-term-international-migration-flows-to-and-from-the-uk/

UK Gov cooking the books.

Nobody believes officials or politicians any more.

16 minutes ago, candide said:

And it has been caused by Brexit! 😃

https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/long-term-international-migration-flows-to-and-from-the-uk/

Incorrect.

Its been caused by consecutive UK governments refusing to use the tools that Brexit provided.

A shield is no use if it is not raised.

12 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

UK Gov cooking the books.

Nobody believes officials or politicians any more.

The ONS is independent of Government.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The ONS is independent of Government.

And yet they report all Brit deaths to the Pensions department.

If they were independent, that would be a breech of the data protection act.

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Incorrect.

Its been caused by consecutive UK governments refusing to use the tools that Brexit provided.

A shield is no use if it is not raised.

Lol! You complained that EU citizen left. It has been caused by Brexit. They have been replaced by non-European immigrants (ex. In NHS). 🤣

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

And yet they report all Brit deaths to the Pensions department.

If they were independent, that would be a breech of the data protection act.

And, of course, it's not true! 😃

3 hours ago, Kinnock said:

UK Gov cooking the books.

Nobody believes officials or politicians any more.

I think the standard built in reply is " I agree that's why I did my own hip replacement " !

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

And yet they report all Brit deaths to the Pensions department.

If they were independent, that would be a breech of the data protection act.

Are you sure?

The ONS don’t deal with individual death reporting.

9 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Are you sure?

The ONS don’t deal with individual death reporting.

Yeah, that's why we pensioners have to fill out life certificates when out of the UK, ONS reports all deaths in the UK which is how pension payments stop so quickly after death in the UK.

On 5/22/2026 at 4:21 PM, candide said:

Lol! You complained that EU citizen left. It has been caused by Brexit. They have been replaced by non-European immigrants (ex. In NHS). 🤣

EU citizens dont have to leave. They can stay quite easily by filling in some basic paperwork. Less than you fill in to stay in Thailand assuming you actually live here.

They choose to leave because the UK is a becoming a violent cesspit full of illegal immigrants, a failing economy, a 2 tier justice system and a ridiculous cost of living for the privilege.

On 5/23/2026 at 12:44 AM, BritManToo said:

Yeah, that's why we pensioners have to fill out life certificates when out of the UK, ONS reports all deaths in the UK which is how pension payments stop so quickly after death in the UK.

Of course, it's not true. The updates are provided directly by the General Register Office to the DWP (and to the ONS). 😄

This Morning in the early Hours a Rubber Boat with 70 illegals set off from France. It was escorted in French waters by the French coastguard vessel. Once it was out of French Waters they were picked up by a English border force vessel and delivered to Dover. We actually helped them enter the UK and Starmer is trying to tell us he is smashing the Boats, more are on there way today. Reports from France have confirmed migrants Are waiting on the beach in France awaiting there rubber boats while the French police stand watching them.

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

EU citizens dont have to leave. They can stay quite easily by filling in some basic paperwork. Less than you fill in to stay in Thailand assuming you actually live here.

They choose to leave because the UK is a becoming a violent cesspit full of illegal immigrants, a failing economy, a 2 tier justice system and a ridiculous cost of living for the privilege.

They did not have to leave. They left for several reasons, and it has been largely triggered by Brexit. for example, a more attractive economy in Eastern Europe, combined with the loss of their previous status.

The data clearly shows that it started after the Brexit referendum and accelerated after Brexit. And the peak in non-EU immigration also clearly started after Brexit.

This phenomenon has been widely documented and analysed.

16 hours ago, candide said:

They did not have to leave. They left for several reasons, and it has been largely triggered by Brexit. for example, a more attractive economy in Eastern Europe, combined with the loss of their previous status.

The data clearly shows that it started after the Brexit referendum and accelerated after Brexit. And the peak in non-EU immigration also clearly started after Brexit.

This phenomenon has been widely documented and analysed.

You probably think roosters crowing in the morning causes the sun to rise. 😄

There is nothing about Brexit that should cause immigration to rise.

Immigration increased because the UK government refused to use the tools brexit provided.

Removing the government for an anti immigrant government like Restore is the solution, not rejoining the EU.