What the latest migration figures mean for the UK

Net migration to the UK has fallen by a record amount for a calendar year, with the number of people emigrating from the country close to levels last seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Estimated net migration to the UK stood at a provisional total of 431,000 in the year to December 2024, down 429,000 (49.9 per cent) from 860,000 in the year to December 2023.

This is the largest numerical drop on record.

Here, we examine the latest migration figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS):

- How has migration changed in recent years?

Levels of net migration to the UK have varied sharply.

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 208,000 in 2017, 276,000 in 2018 and 184,000 in 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 93,000 in 2020, when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose steeply to 484,000 in 2021 and 873,000 in 2022, before dropping slightly to 860,000 in 2023.

The 12 months to June 2023 saw net migration hit a record 906,000.