Staff reporter
LONDON: Net migration to the UK has fallen to its lowest level outside the Covid-19 pandemic since 2012, according to the latest figures, marking a significant decline in the number of people moving to Britain.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that net migration stood at an estimated 171,000 in the year ending December 2025, down from 331,000 in the previous year. The figure represents a sharp fall from the record peak of 944,000 recorded in the year ending March 2023.
The decline has largely been driven by a reduction in immigration from outside the European Union, particularly among people arriving for work-related reasons. The number of non-EU nationals coming to Britain for employment purposes fell by 47 per cent during 2025.
The figures follow tighter immigration measures introduced by successive Conservative and Labour governments, including restrictions on dependants accompanying international students and higher salary requirements for certain skilled-worker visas.
The Labour government has presented the fall as evidence that its efforts to bring migration under control are having an impact. However, the figures are likely to intensify debate over the economic and social consequences of Britain’s changing immigration system.
Business groups and some employers have warned that tighter restrictions could make it harder to recruit workers in sectors facing staff shortages, including social care and hospitality. Supporters of stricter controls argue that lower migration could ease pressure on housing, public services and local infrastructure.
Net migration is calculated by subtracting the number of people leaving the UK from the number arriving for long-term residence. It is distinct from the total number of people entering the country and does not, by itself, measure irregular migration or small-boat arrivals.
Despite the substantial decline, immigration remains a major political issue, with the government facing continued pressure to demonstrate that border controls are effective while ensuring the economy can attract the skills it needs.
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