Migration to the UK has nearly halved over the last year under the Labour Government, new figures have revealed, with hundreds of thousands fewer people coming to the country and tens of thousands fewer migrants being housed in hotels.
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Net migration stood at an estimated 171,000 in the year to December 2025, down nearly a half (48%) from 331,000 in the previous 12 months, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the lowest figure since early 2021, when the post-Brexit immigration system was introduced and Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place.
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The new ONS figures reveal that the fall in net migration is driven not just by a drop in emigration, but also a decline in the number of asylum seekers arriving on British shores. The latest figures also highlights Reform UK’s ignorance about the immigration situation, after repeatedly claiming migration is out of control in Britain.
A report by think-tank British Future claims Mr Farage made false claims about Brits leaving to try and explain the drop. It says: “Reform UK has an immigration policy targeting ‘net zero’ immigration but reacted to the November 2025 ONS figures by seeking to undermine the data, with Nigel Farage falsely claiming that the fall in net migration was largely driven by British emigration.”
Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the UK and the number of people leaving the country. An estimated 813,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year to June while 642,000 emigrated. The continued fall in net migration is being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work, the ONS said.
Those new figures also include a significant drop in the number of asylum seekers, which fell to 20,885 in the 12 months to March 2026 – a decrease of roughly 12 percent.
The number of asylum seekers being housed temporarily in UK hotels also stood at a new low of 20,885 at the end of March 2026, down 35% year-on-year, Home Office figures show. The numbers are down nearly 10,000 compared to the period running to December 2025.
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The last peak was recorded during the previous Conservative government, which oversaw 56,000 claims in September 2023, according to official figures.
The new numbers will be claimed as a major victory for Labour, which has sought to drive down the number of people coming to the country since gaining power in 2024. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has already hailed the reduction, saying the reduction in net migration demonstrates the Government is “restoring order and control to our borders”.
Reacting with a post on X, she added: “Net migration has fallen by 82% in just three years. We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and wish to build a better life here.
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“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 is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas workers.”