Migration to the UK has decreased significantly in the past year, with a notable drop in the number of individuals entering the country. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration in the year leading up to December 2025 was estimated at 171,000, marking a 48% decline from the previous 12 months when it stood at 331,000. This decrease represents the lowest level since the inception of the post-Brexit immigration system and during the period when Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in effect.
The reduction in net migration is attributed not only to a decrease in emigration but also to a decline in the arrival of asylum seekers to the UK. The ONS report indicates that 813,000 people immigrated to the UK from June to June, while 642,000 individuals emigrated. The ongoing decline in net migration is primarily driven by fewer non-EU nationals arriving in the UK for employment purposes, as highlighted by the ONS.
Furthermore, the data reveals a substantial drop in the number of asylum seekers, which fell to 20,885 in the 12 months leading up to March 2026, representing a decrease of approximately 12%. The number of asylum seekers temporarily accommodated in UK hotels also experienced a significant decline, reaching 20,885 at the end of March 2026, down by 35% compared to the previous year, according to Home Office figures.
Comparing the current numbers to those up to December 2025, there has been a reduction of nearly 10,000 individuals. The peak in asylum claims was recorded during the prior Conservative government, with 56,000 claims in September 2023. The decline in migration numbers is being hailed as a significant achievement by the Labour Party, which has been aiming to reduce the influx of individuals to the country since assuming power in 2024.
