Migration / United Kingdom
Official figures from OECD International Migration Database and Office for National Statistics, year by year. Each chart links to its source and to what it measures. Compare United Kingdom with other countries
+171,000 people in 2025 (2.5 per 1,000 inhabitants): more arrived than left.
Long-term net migration in the calendar year: immigration minus emigration of people moving for 12 months or more, whatever their nationality. Recent years are provisional and are revised.
| Period | Net migration |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 171,000 |
| 2024 | 331,000 |
| 2023 | 848,000 |
| 2022 | 891,000 |
| 2021 | 467,000 |
| 2020 | 93,000 |
| 2019 | 184,000 |
| 2018 | 276,000 |
| 2017 | 208,000 |
| 2016 | 249,000 |
| 2015 | 303,000 |
| 2014 | 284,000 |
| 2013 | 244,000 |
| 2012 | 195,000 |
Flagged by the source: 2025 (provisional). Source: Office for National Statistics (Long-term international migration, table 1). What this measures
813,000 in 2025 (11.7 per 1,000 inhabitants).
Long-term immigration in the calendar year: people arriving to stay 12 months or more, whatever their nationality. Recent years are provisional and are revised.
| Period | Arrivals |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 813,000 |
| 2024 | 1,012,000 |
| 2023 | 1,441,000 |
| 2022 | 1,398,000 |
| 2021 | 947,000 |
| 2020 | 662,000 |
| 2019 | 788,000 |
| 2018 | 825,000 |
| 2017 | 752,000 |
| 2016 | 772,000 |
| 2015 | 797,000 |
| 2014 | 778,000 |
| 2013 | 713,000 |
| 2012 | 643,000 |
Flagged by the source: 2025 (provisional). Source: Office for National Statistics (Long-term international migration, table 1). What this measures
642,000 in 2025 (9.2 per 1,000 inhabitants).
Long-term emigration in the calendar year: people leaving for 12 months or more, whatever their nationality. Recent years are provisional and are revised.
| Period | Departures |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 642,000 |
| 2024 | 680,000 |
| 2023 | 593,000 |
| 2022 | 508,000 |
| 2021 | 480,000 |
| 2020 | 569,000 |
| 2019 | 605,000 |
| 2018 | 549,000 |
| 2017 | 544,000 |
| 2016 | 523,000 |
| 2015 | 494,000 |
| 2014 | 494,000 |
| 2013 | 469,000 |
| 2012 | 448,000 |
Flagged by the source: 2025 (provisional). Source: Office for National Statistics (Long-term international migration, table 1). What this measures
9.0% of the population in 2021 were foreign citizens (6,013,000 people).
| Period | Foreign citizens |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9.1 |
| 2019 | 9.3 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2017 | 9.3 |
| 2016 | 9.1 |
| 2015 | 8.6 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2013 | 7.7 |
| 2012 | 7.5 |
| 2011 | 7.6 |
| 2010 | 7.2 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6.8 |
| 2007 | 6.2 |
| 2006 | 5.6 |
| 2005 | 4.7 |
| 2004 | 4.6 |
| 2003 | 4.3 |
| 2002 | 4.4 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2000 | 3.7 |
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | 696,000 | 11.6% |
| India | 370,000 | 6.2% |
| Ireland | 370,000 | 6.2% |
| Romania | 342,000 | 5.7% |
| Italy | 342,000 | 5.7% |
| Portugal | 268,000 | 4.5% |
| Spain | 206,000 | 3.4% |
| Pakistan | 181,000 | 3.0% |
| Nigeria | 178,000 | 3.0% |
| Other countries | 3,060,000 | 50.9% |
Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures
14.4% of the population in 2021 were born abroad (9,614,000 people).
| Period | Foreign-born residents |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 14.4 |
| 2020 | 14.3 |
| 2019 | 14.1 |
| 2018 | 14.2 |
| 2017 | 14.1 |
| 2016 | 13.6 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2014 | 12.5 |
| 2013 | 12.3 |
| 2012 | 11.9 |
| 2011 | 11.7 |
| 2010 | 11.2 |
| 2009 | 11.1 |
| 2008 | 10.7 |
| 2007 | 10.1 |
| 2006 | 9.5 |
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | 896,000 | 9.3% |
| Poland | 682,000 | 7.1% |
| Pakistan | 456,000 | 4.7% |
| Ireland | 412,000 | 4.3% |
| Germany | 347,000 | 3.6% |
| Romania | 329,000 | 3.4% |
| Nigeria | 312,000 | 3.2% |
| South Africa | 298,000 | 3.1% |
| Italy | 280,000 | 2.9% |
| Other countries | 5,602,000 | 58.3% |
Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
206,619 in 2023 (3.0 per 1,000 inhabitants).
| Period | Acquisitions of citizenship |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 206,619 |
| 2022 | 175,972 |
| 2021 | 189,803 |
| 2020 | 130,568 |
| 2019 | 159,356 |
| 2018 | 157,011 |
| 2017 | 123,207 |
| 2016 | 149,378 |
| 2015 | 118,054 |
| 2014 | 125,715 |
| 2013 | 208,021 |
| 2012 | 194,288 |
| 2011 | 177,866 |
| 2010 | 195,014 |
| 2009 | 203,789 |
| 2008 | 129,377 |
| 2007 | 164,637 |
| 2006 | 154,018 |
| 2005 | 161,699 |
| 2004 | 148,273 |
| 2003 | 130,535 |
| 2002 | 120,121 |
| 2001 | 90,282 |
| 2000 | 82,210 |
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | 18,319 | 8.9% |
| Pakistan | 16,553 | 8.0% |
| Italy | 10,772 | 5.2% |
| Nigeria | 8,900 | 4.3% |
| Mauritius | 8,772 | 4.2% |
| Syria | 8,320 | 4.0% |
| Romania | 6,389 | 3.1% |
| South Africa | 5,999 | 2.9% |
| Poland | 5,919 | 2.9% |
| Other countries | 116,676 | 56.5% |
Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures
108,135 in 2024 (1.6 per 1,000 inhabitants).
| Period | Asylum applicants |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 108,135 |
| 2023 | 84,415 |
| 2022 | 89,395 |
| 2021 | 56,465 |
| 2020 | 36,025 |
| 2019 | 44,465 |
| 2018 | 37,365 |
| 2017 | 33,380 |
| 2016 | 38,380 |
| 2015 | 39,970 |
| 2014 | 32,344 |
| 2013 | 29,395 |
| 2012 | 27,978 |
| 2011 | 25,898 |
| 2010 | 22,644 |
| 2009 | 30,675 |
| 2008 | 31,315 |
| 2007 | 28,300 |
| 2006 | 28,320 |
| 2005 | 30,840 |
| 2004 | 40,625 |
| 2003 | 60,050 |
| 2002 | 103,080 |
| 2001 | 71,010 |
| 2000 | 80,300 |
| Group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 10,542 | 9.7% |
| Afghanistan | 8,508 | 7.9% |
| Iran | 8,099 | 7.5% |
| Bangladesh | 7,225 | 6.7% |
| Syria | 6,680 | 6.2% |
| India | 5,312 | 4.9% |
| Vietnam | 5,259 | 4.9% |
| Eritrea | 5,053 | 4.7% |
| Sudan | 4,833 | 4.5% |
| Other countries | 46,624 | 43.1% |
Source: OECD International Migration Database. What this measures
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.
Not published by OECD International Migration Database for this country.