Net migration fell more sharply than estimated

Net migration to the UK in recent years peaked at a higher level than initially estimated and has since fallen more sharply, new figures show.

- ANAHITA HOSSEIN-POUR & IAN JONES

Improved methods by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest net migration hit a higher and slightly earlier peak of 944,000 in the year ending March 2023, compared with the previous estimate of 906,000 for the year ending June 2023.

This was followed by a sharper fall than initially reported, with net migration in the year ending December 2024 now estimated to be 345,000, lower than the original estimate of 431,000 that was published by the ONS in May this year.

The main driver of the change in the net migration figures is an improvement to the way the ONS calculates the migration of British nationals.

Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the UK and the number leaving the country.