World Immigration News

(BBC)Track UK's latest migration numbers - including asylum, visas and small boats

Release Date: 2026-05-08
Media: BBC
Summary: Recent migration statistics from United Kingdom show significant changes in immigration and asylum trends during 2025 and early 2026.

Net migration between July 2024 and June 2025 fell to 204,000, a 69% decrease compared with the previous year. Immigration dropped to 898,000 (down 31%), while emigration increased to 693,000 (up 7%).

Asylum applications in 2025 totaled 100,625, a 4% decline year-on-year. At the same time, returns and deportations increased to 37,918, up 9%. Small boat arrivals across the English Channel between January and May 2026 reached 7,310 people, which was 37% lower than the same period in 2025.

The report also explains UK migration categories and policies, including asylum accommodation, deportations, irregular migration, and legal migration routes such as work, study, family, and humanitarian visas.

It further clarifies how migration statistics are calculated. For example, net migration counts people staying for at least one year, while visa statistics reflect visas granted rather than actual arrivals.

Finally, the report compares UK migration trends with those of European countries, including asylum applications, irregular sea arrivals, and net migration levels across Europe.
Tags: United Kingdom

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