UK Migration — The Real Numbers
Seven graphics covering net migration, gross arrivals, British emigration, reasons for entry, nationalities, student visas, and asylum entry routes.
Net migration vs gross arrivals
Net migration of 171,000 sits behind gross arrivals of 813,000 — a figure rarely quoted in headline coverage. The gap matters because emigration (including 246,000 British nationals) is what converts raw arrivals into the net figure.
British emigration
246,000 British nationals left the UK in the year to December 2025 — two in three aged 16–34. This is rarely framed as part of the migration picture but directly determines the net figure.
Why they came — reasons for entry
Study accounted for 47% of long-term arrivals, work 23%, asylum 14%, family 10%. The dominant reason is student visas — not work, and not asylum — though all categories contribute to net migration figures.
Where from — nationality breakdown
77% of net migration came from outside the EU. EU net migration turned negative — more EU nationals left than arrived. The dominant flows are from South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Student visas — 406,824 granted
406,824 student visas were granted in the year to December 2025. The top source countries and the scale of the student route as a driver of overall migration numbers.
Dependant visa collapse — down 86%
Student dependant visas fell from 143,000 to approximately 20,000 following the January 2024 rule change — an 86% reduction. The most dramatic single policy impact in recent migration data.
Asylum entry routes — verified figures
39% of asylum claimants entered the UK on a valid visa before claiming. Source: AIDA Country Report 2025 (European Council on Refugees and Exiles). This graphic uses only verified aggregate data — per-nationality breakdowns from unofficial sources are not used.
Primary sources
- ONS Long-Term International Migration (year ending December 2025) — ons.gov.uk
- Home Office Immigration System Statistics (year ending December 2025) — gov.uk
- AIDA Asylum Information Database Country Report 2025 — asylumineurope.org