Net migration into the UK reached a record-breaking 906,000 in the year to June 2023, higher than previously estimated, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure has since declined by 20% in the year to June 2024, bringing the estimated total to 728,000.
ONS director Mary Gregory commented on the latest trends:
“While remaining high by historic standards, net migration is now beginning to fall and is provisionally down 20% in the 12 months to June 2024.”
The revised 2023 figure represents a significant adjustment from the previous estimate of 740,000, revealing an undercount of 166,000. This change comes as the ONS incorporates more comprehensive data into its calculations.
The new data suggests 82,000 more people entered the UK, and 84,000 fewer people departed than initially reported. Contributing factors include updated information on Ukraine visa schemes and improved methods for estimating the migration of non-EU+ nationals.
The ONS emphasized that these figures remain “official statistics in development,” acknowledging the potential for further revisions as additional data becomes available.
This shift in migration estimates highlights the evolving nature of migration trends and the challenges in producing accurate, real-time figures.
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