Net migration falls to 171,000 but asylum seekers continue to rise, new official data shows

New official figures show net migration to the UK fell to 171,000 last year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the figure (excluding those coming to live here long term, minus those migrating) had fallen to almost half the previous year’s figure of 331,000.

Net migration peaks at 944,000 in 2023.

The ONS also said the number of people coming to the UK to seek asylum during the year was 88,000, a slight increase on the previous year.

Therefore, the figures show that approximately half (49 percent) of net migration consists of refugees.

However, the ONS suggested that granting asylum as a proportion of 14 per cent of total immigration from outside the EU was a better measure.

Experts at the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory said net migration showed that the rising rate of asylum seekers was becoming ‘less favorable’ to the type of migration to Britain.

Researcher Dr Ben Brindle said: ‘Immigration is now down, but the economic impacts depend on who is migrating (or no longer migrating) rather than how many people.

‘Today’s data shows a challenge facing the government: the categories of migration it most wants to reduce are those least amenable to the policy.

‘As a result, migration from groups with a positive or generally neutral economic impact, such as skilled workers and student partners, has decreased, while asylum-related migration remains high.

‘This means that the composition of recent migration is likely to become less economically favorable, as refugees have lower employment rates and often require a lot of support from the state.’

New data from the ONS also showed Britain’s foreign-born population rising by 1.6 million to 13.1 million between 2022 and 2024.

Foreign nationals now make up 19 percent of the population, or almost a fifth; In the 2021 Census, this rate was 16 percent, or one in six.

According to Home Office data, only 2,750 small boat migrants were deported through March; this was a small fraction of those arriving at that time.

Dr Brindle, of the Migration Observatory, said: ‘The sharp increase in net migration after the pandemic has pushed foreign nationals to their highest ever share of the UK population.’

Separate data published by the Home Office, covering the more recent 12-month period ending this March, showed there were 94,000 asylum claims, down 12 per cent on the previous year.

The report also found that 21,000 refugees were living in taxpayer-funded hotels at the end of March, down 35 per cent year on year.

In total, the number of asylum seekers supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs fell to 97,500.

However, the number of asylum seekers in dispersed accommodation (self-catering flats and houses) across the country has risen from just under 62,000 to 68,719 just before the 2024 general election.

These figures do not include Afghans who arrived here under special government plans to support those at risk from the Taliban.

When these are included, the total number of people receiving support rises from 130,000 at the election to just over 136,000.

Conservative MP and shadow minister Neil O’Brien said in a blog post: ‘Despite the government’s boasts about hotel closures, the experience for most people in most areas is that there has been an increase in the local housing of asylum seekers.

‘The Ministry of Internal Affairs distributes people all over the country like blowing on dandelions.

‘The government hopes this will make the problem less visible.

‘I think this is likely to backfire as people are left adrift and helpless in villages and town suburbs where there is little social infrastructure to connect with and few people in a similar situation.’

Although the number of foreign nationals removed from the UK by the Home Office rose by 7 per cent to 39,000, only 2,750 of them reached Britain by small boat across the Channel; This means an annual increase of 17 percent.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘There are currently around 100,000 people in shelter and Labor’s response is to move them out of hotels and hide them on residential streets.

‘Labour should deport all illegal immigrants but they don’t have the backbone to do it.

‘Many of the 93 per cent allowed to remain by this Government go on to commit serious crimes including murder, rape and sexual assault of young girls. This situation is shameful.’

During the year, 253,000 work visas were issued, down 17 percent, and 410,000 work visas, down 3 percent.

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood says ‘real progress has been made’ in improving the country’s border controls

Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood said: ‘Net migration has fallen by 82 per cent in just three years.

‘We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and those who want to build a better life here.

‘But we must restore order and control to our borders.

‘As these statistics show, real progress has been made, but there is still work to do.

‘That’s why I’m introducing a skills-based immigration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s dependence on cheap workers overseas.’