Migration in the UK- Statistics and Facts
In 2024, approximately 948,000 people migrated to the United Kingdom, with 517,000 people emigrating, resulting in a net migration figure of 431,000 people. Between 1964 and 1993, the number of people entering the UK and the number of people leaving were relatively balanced, with immigration accelerating significantly from 1994 onwards. Since 1999, net migration has been the main driver of UK population growth, with natural change (the difference between births and deaths) accounting for a progressively smaller demographic growth share.
High levels of anxiety about immigration in 2015 were undoubtedly influenced by the European Migrant Crisis, which was at its height in that year. These concerns would also play an influential role in the Brexit referendum the following year, which saw the UK crash out of the European Union, with freedom of movement being one of the main casualties. Since the end of 2018, the UK has also witnessed a marked increase in the number of people trying to reach the country by crossing the English channel from France, reaching a peak of almost 46,000 people crossing in 2022. Preventing or discouraging these crossings was one of the five pledges Rishi Sunak made to the UK electorate at the start of 2023. The controversial plan to relocate some asylum seekers to Rwanda was one of the main polices introduced to reduce net migration. Despite traditionally being the political party most trusted to handle this issue, however, the Conservatives gradually lost ground to the Labour Party on this topic and went on to lose the 2024 general election.
There is also an increasing number of study visas granted in the UK, reaching a peak of around 623,700 in 2022, before falling to around 420,000 in 2024, with Chinese students being the most numerous nationality to apply in that time period. When it comes to work visas, the most common nationality granted this type of visa was also Indian nationals, at over 66,000 in 2024.
The main issues
After World War Two, the British government encouraged immigration from the British Empire's colonies to the UK mainland to meet postwar labor demands. One of the most important groups, who migrated to the UK from the Caribbean between 1947 and 1971, became known as the 'Windrush Generation,' named after one of the first ships arriving in the UK. In more recent years, immigration from the European Union, particularly after the EU's 2004 enlargement, further added to the levels of immigration to the UK. The percentage of British people who saw immigration as an important issue facing the country also rose during this period, with a peak of 71 percent recorded in 2015.High levels of anxiety about immigration in 2015 were undoubtedly influenced by the European Migrant Crisis, which was at its height in that year. These concerns would also play an influential role in the Brexit referendum the following year, which saw the UK crash out of the European Union, with freedom of movement being one of the main casualties. Since the end of 2018, the UK has also witnessed a marked increase in the number of people trying to reach the country by crossing the English channel from France, reaching a peak of almost 46,000 people crossing in 2022. Preventing or discouraging these crossings was one of the five pledges Rishi Sunak made to the UK electorate at the start of 2023. The controversial plan to relocate some asylum seekers to Rwanda was one of the main polices introduced to reduce net migration. Despite traditionally being the political party most trusted to handle this issue, however, the Conservatives gradually lost ground to the Labour Party on this topic and went on to lose the 2024 general election.
Non-British population of the UK
As of 2021, there were approximately 896,000 Indian nationals living in the UK, the most of any non-UK nationality. Prior to 2021, Polish nationals were the most common non-UK nationality. Between 2008 and 2017 the Polish population of the UK more than doubled from 502,000 to over 1.02 million, with the Brexit vote likely a factor in the overall decline since 2017. Furthermore, of the 4.9 million people who had applied for the UK's EU settlement scheme, over were 1.12 million were Polish, while 1.13 million were Romanian. The EU settlement scheme is intended to allow EU nationals to remain in the UK, an issue reciprocated by the EU regarding the status of migrants in the UK living in EU member states.There is also an increasing number of study visas granted in the UK, reaching a peak of around 623,700 in 2022, before falling to around 420,000 in 2024, with Chinese students being the most numerous nationality to apply in that time period. When it comes to work visas, the most common nationality granted this type of visa was also Indian nationals, at over 66,000 in 2024.
