Net migration in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Net migration was 389,911 in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
389,911
Change on year
down 6.5%
World rank
4th
of 215 countries
All-time high
487,029
in 2022
All-time low
-83,876
in 1981
Years of data
66
1960–2025

Net migration in United Kingdom, 1960–2025

0200.0k400.0k196019922025

Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.

Analysis

In 2025, net migration in United Kingdom stood at 389,911.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.5% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net migration in United Kingdom peaked at 487,029 in 2022 and was at its lowest, -83,876, in 1981.

That places United Kingdom 4th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s -5,898 -60,655 76,443 10
1970s -18,101 -65,710 11,255 10
1980s 12,476 -83,876 83,164 10
1990s 62,959 17,846 152,653 10
2000s 244,017 153,917 309,385 10
2010s 265,630 172,088 347,839 10
2020s 391,128 144,221 487,029 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 1 Ukraine 1.70 million compare
  2. 2 United States 1.23 million compare
  3. 3 Syria 421,693 compare
  4. 5 Canada 326,204 compare
  5. 6 Sudan 291,469 compare
  6. 7 Malaysia 166,615 compare

See the full ranking of 264 places →

More financial sector data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is net migration in United Kingdom?
Net migration in United Kingdom was 389,911 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
What is the highest net migration recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 487,029 in 2022.
What is the lowest net migration recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was -83,876 in 1981.
How does United Kingdom rank for net migration?
United Kingdom ranks 4th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
Is net migration rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

About this data

Indicator
Net migration
Source
World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
264 places, 17,424 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.