According to the latest data from the Home Office in the UK, the immigrant population increased by 171,000 people in the year leading up to March of this year, nearly half of the projected immigrant numbers for 2024. Excluding the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number has decreased to the lowest level since 2012.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated that net migration continued to decline to the lowest level since early 2021 when the UK introduced a new immigration system and implemented travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
In terms of asylum, a total of 93,525 people applied for asylum in the UK last year, a decrease of 12% compared to the previous year, but still more than double the number before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Sarah Crofts, Deputy Director at ONS, mentioned, “The recent decrease in numbers is due to a reduction in the number of people from non-EU countries, especially those coming to work here.”
The Home Office posted on X, stating, “We are ending our reliance on overseas labor, ensuring that immigrants contribute more than they take, and stepping up efforts to deport illegal immigrants and foreign criminals.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, “We are introducing a skill-based immigration system to reward contributions and end our reliance on cheap overseas labor.”
The policy changes implemented by the former Conservative government starting from early 2024 may have had an impact on the net migration numbers. The Labour government has retained these measures and expanded them in certain circumstances.
This includes restrictions on most overseas students bringing family members to the UK, as well as restrictions on care workers bringing dependents.
In April 2024, ministers also raised the salary threshold for skilled visa entrants from £26,200 to £38,700, and increased the minimum income requirement for sponsoring family visas by over £10,000.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the statistics show that the government is “restoring border order and control.” However, Shadow Cabinet Minister Chris Philp believes that the Labour Party needs to “go further.”
After Brexit, the number of immigrants started to increase significantly, with the Conservative government relaxing salary thresholds for healthcare and social care workers and other entry pathways to address labor shortages.
The current government recently announced further plans to reduce net migration, including requiring immigrants to have English proficiency equivalent to A-level standards, which is the level of English proficiency possessed by UK high school graduates.
In July 2025, the UK government also announced another increase in the income threshold for skilled worker visas to £41,700.
(This article draws reference from reporting by the BBC)