Net migration to the UK has fallen by more than two-thirds in a year to 204,000, the lowest annual figure since 2021, according to the latest official figures.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show the number of people migrating is set to fall by 69% by June 2025, to 649,000.
Net migration reached a record 944,000 by March 2023 as part of the “Boriswave” of foreign workers, but has since declined sharply.
Fewer than 900,000 people are expected to immigrate to the UK between July 2024 and June 2025, more than 400,000 fewer than the previous year.
At the same time, 693,000 people left the UK, which is 43,000 more than last year.
Separate figures published by the Home Office show that the number of asylum seekers staying in hotels has increased.
A total of 36,273 people claiming asylum were living in hotels at the end of September, a 13% increase on the June figure.
Immigration policies have become a key electoral battleground amid growing support for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
In the year ending September 2025, 51,000 people were found arriving via illegal routes, including small boats and other clandestine routes such as lorries and vans.
Of those, small boat arrivals accounted for 46,000 (89%). The top nationalities arriving by small boat were Eritrean (17%), Afghan (13%), Iranian (11%), Sudanese (10%) and Somali (8%).
Home Office figures show 111,000 people claimed asylum in the year ending September 2025, slightly down on the figure of 111,084 for the year ending June 2025.
Both Labor and the Tories are expected to attempt to take credit for the decline in overall migration.
Policies implemented by the Tories under Rishi Sunak’s government cut the number of work and student visas. His policies have been carried forward by Starmer’s government.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Net migration is at its lowest level in half a decade and has fallen by more than two-thirds under this government.
“But we are moving forward because the pace and scale of migration has placed immense pressure on local communities.
“Last week, I announced reforms to our immigration system to ensure that people who come here contribute and invest more than those who leave.”
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