ONS says UK net migration nearly halved to 171,000 in year to December 2025
23 May 2026
UK net migration fell sharply in the year to December 2025. The Office for National Statistics published its long-term international migration bulletin on 21 May 2026 with figures that show a significant shift in the numbers coming to the UK.
The ONS estimates net migration at 171,000 for the year ending December 2025. This is compared to a revised figure of 331,000 for the year ending December 2024. The bulletin describes net migration as having "nearly halved from YE December 2024." In absolute terms, the drop is roughly 160,000 fewer people staying in the UK than left.
The ONS identifies work arrivals as the main driver of the fall. "The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving for work-related reasons fell by 47% in 2025, which was the main reason for the continued fall in net migration." Fewer new Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas being granted in recent years are now flowing through into these arrival numbers.
These statistics measure who arrives and leaves the UK overall. They do not affect your individual visa or your eligibility for settlement. If you are already in the UK on a work or family visa, your settlement clock runs from your own qualifying period, not from these aggregate figures. The falling numbers do, however, reflect the tighter policy environment that shaped recent changes to salary thresholds and sponsor enforcement.
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