How is migration measured?
There are two main ways of looking at the scale of international migration:
Measuring flows across an international border Counting how many people live in a
particular country who are not nationals of that country or who were born abroad.
What are the UK’s latest migrations statistics?
The latest estimates on migration from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest
that in 2023:
1.2 million people migrated into the UK and 479,000 people emigrated from it, leaving
a net migration figure of 782,000. This represents the balance of long-term migrants
moving in and out of the country.
The latest ONS population estimates for the whole of the UK suggest that, in the year
ending June 2021, there were:
6.0 million people were living in the UK who had the nationality of a different country
(9% of the total population). This does not include dual nationals where one nationality
is British. 3.4 million EU nationals (excluding UK) were living in the UK
A more recent, ad hoc estimate by the ON indicated that, as of June 2023, there were
around 11.4 million non-UK-born residents of England and Wales, including 3.4 million
EU-born and 8.0 million non-EU born. This was equivalent to around 18% of the England
and Wales population.
As of 2019, there were around 994,000 UK nationals living in EU countries, excluding
Ireland.
How has migration to the UK changed over time?
The number of people migrating to the UK has been greater than the number emigrating
in each year since 1994. Before then, immigration and emigration were roughly in balance,
with net migration slightly decreasing the population in most years. Over the last
twenty-five years, both immigration and emigration have increased to historically
high levels, with immigration exceeding emigration by more than 100,000 in every year
between 1998 and 2020.
There was considerably less migration during the Covid-19 pandemic than in previous
years. The pandemic also disrupted the way in which migration statistics are produced
so the data from this period is subject to more uncertainty than usual. In 2021, immigration
increased sharply and reached a level of around 1.2-1.3 million per year in 2022 and
2023.
New ways of measuring migration
The UK’s official migration estimates, which are produced by ONS are undergoing a
transformation. The ONS aims to improve their accuracy and to do so it is trying
out and refining a new methodology based on administrative data.
The latest estimates use a new methodology which has been backdated to 2012. Estimates
from before and after this date are not fully comparable. The new estimates are classed
as experimental and are likely to be revised as the method is honed.
This briefing explains the concepts and methods used in measuring migration. It contains
current and historical data on immigration, emigration and net migration in the UK.
It sets out the most recent estimates of the UK’s foreign national and foreign-born
populations and includes international comparisons of migration and migrant populations
in European Union countries.
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description
This Commons Library briefing paper is a guide to understanding UK migration statistics.
It explains the concepts and methods used in measuring migration and sets out a range
of data on migration in the UK and in European Union countries.
disclaimer
<p>This information is provided to Members of Parliament in support of their
parliamentary duties and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of
any particular individual. It should not be relied upon as being up to date; the law
or policies may have changes since it was last updated; and it should not be relied
upon as legal or professional advice or as a substitute for it. A suitably qualified
professional should be consulted if specific advice or information is required.</p>
<p>This information is provided subject to our general terms and conditions
which are available online or may be provided on request in hard copy. Authors are
available to discuss the content of this briefing with Members and their staff, but
not with the general public.</p>
htmlsummary
<h2>How is migration measured?</h2>
<p>There are two main ways of looking at the scale of international migration:</p>
<ol>
<li>Measuring flows across an international border</li>
<li>Counting how many people live in a particular country who are not nationals
of that country or who were born abroad.</li>
</ol>
<h2>What are the UK&rsquo;s latest migrations statistics?</h2>
<p>The latest <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/bulletins/longterminternationalmigrationprovisional/yearendingdecember2023">estimates
on migration from the Office for National Statistics</a> (ONS) suggest that
in 2023:</p>
<ul>
<li>1.2 million people migrated into the UK and 479,000 people emigrated from
it, leaving a net migration figure of 782,000. This represents the balance of long-term
migrants moving in and out of the country.</li>
</ul>
<p>The latest <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/populationoftheunitedkingdombycountryofbirthandnationality">ONS
population estimates for the whole of the UK</a> suggest that, in the year ending
June 2021, there were:</p>
<ul>
<li>6.0 million people were living in the UK who had the nationality of a different
country (9% of the total population).&nbsp;This does not include dual nationals
where one nationality is British.</li>
<li>3.4 million EU nationals (excluding UK) were living in the UK</li>
</ul>
<p>A more recent,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/longterminternationalimmigrationemigrationandnetmigrationflowsprovisional">ad
hoc estimate</a> by the ON indicated that, as of June 2023, there were around
11.4 million non-UK-born residents of England and Wales, including 3.4 million EU-born
and 8.0 million non-EU born. This was equivalent to around 18% of the England and
Wales population.</p>
<p>As of 2019, there were around 994,000 UK nationals living in EU countries,
excluding Ireland.</p>
<h2>How has migration to the UK changed over time?</h2>
<p>The number of people migrating to the UK has been greater than the number
emigrating in each year since 1994. Before then, immigration and emigration were roughly
in balance, with net migration slightly decreasing the population in most years. Over
the last twenty-five years, both immigration and emigration have increased to historically
high levels, with immigration exceeding emigration by more than 100,000 in every year
between 1998 and 2020.</p>
<p>There was considerably less migration during the Covid-19 pandemic than in
previous years. The pandemic also disrupted the way in which migration statistics
are produced so the data from this period is subject to more uncertainty than usual.&nbsp;In
2021, immigration increased sharply and reached a level of around 1.2-1.3 million
per year in 2022 and 2023.</p>
<p><img src="http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06077/assets/741de3f9-b7c2-4e9c-829d-874dbe1f03e7.png"
alt="" width="460" height="230"></p>
<h2>New ways of measuring migration</h2>
<p>The UK&rsquo;s official migration estimates, which are produced by ONS
are undergoing a transformation. The ONS aims&nbsp; to improve their accuracy
and to do so it is trying out and refining a new methodology based on administrative
data.</p>
<p>The latest estimates use a new methodology which has been backdated to 2012.
Estimates from before and after this date are not fully comparable. The new estimates
are classed as experimental and are likely to be revised as the method is honed.</p>
<p>This briefing explains the concepts and methods used in measuring migration.
It contains current and historical data on immigration, emigration and net migration
in the UK. It sets out the most recent estimates of the UK&rsquo;s foreign national
and foreign-born populations and includes international comparisons of migration and
migrant populations in European Union countries.</p>
