The latest UK migration figures show a major reduction in the number of people staying in the country, marking one of the steepest drops in recent years. In the year ending June 2025, net migration fell by 204,000 compared to the 2023 peak, which is an 80 percent decrease.
Net migration refers to the difference between people entering and leaving the UK. Government officials have often said that high migration levels strain housing, healthcare and essential services.
Indian nationals topped the list of those leaving. Around 45,000 students, 22,000 workers and another 7,000 individuals on other visas departed, bringing the total to 74,000. Chinese nationals followed with 42,000 departures. The Office for National Statistics said, “Indian nationals were the most common non EU group leaving the UK.”
Despite the rise in departures, Indian nationals remain among the top arrivals. The UK granted around 90,000 study visas and 46,000 work visas to Indians. The ONS noted that Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Nigerian nationals continue to be among the five largest non EU groups entering the country.
The ONS reported that 204,000 more people entered the UK than left in the twelve months to June 2025. This figure is far below the 649,000 recorded the previous year. Data from the Home Office for the year ending September 2025 shows that visa grants dropped to their lowest level since 2022.
Emigration reached 693,000, the highest since 2012. A large share of those leaving were non EU students. Around 252,000 British nationals emigrated, and more EU and other European citizens left than arrived.
Mary Gregory from the ONS said net migration is now at its lowest point since 2021. She explained that fewer people are coming to the UK for work or study, fewer dependants are arriving and more people are choosing to leave. Most non EU departures were Indian and Chinese students. Nine out of ten British citizens leaving were of working age.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the current levels as a five year low and welcomed the drop. She said, “We are introducing reforms so that everyone who comes here contributes more than they take.”
Home Office data shows that 3.1 million visas were issued in the year ending September. This is slightly lower than the 3.2 million issued the previous year. Work visas fell to 273,442, a 39 percent drop and the lowest since 2020. Skilled Worker visas also declined. In the third quarter of 2025, only 11,733 visas were granted, compared to more than 45,000 in the third quarter of 2023 for Health and Care Workers. General Skilled Worker visas fell from 21,035 in the first quarter of 2024 to 9,105 in the third quarter of 2025. Higher salary thresholds and rising sponsorship expenses contributed to the fall.
Some experts warn that the shrinking skilled workforce could affect the UK economy. One expert said the government’s focus on reducing immigration may slow down economic growth.
Irregular migration remains a challenge. Arrivals by small boats increased from 81,000 to 96,000 in the year to June. These asylum seekers made up 11 percent of all arrivals. The cost of housing and supporting asylum seekers is expected to cross fifteen billion pounds over the next decade. The government has announced new rules that could increase waiting periods for residency for lower income workers and restrict long term stay for some refugees.
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