Overview

• Net migration to the UK fell from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 in 2024, marking the largest annual decline on record since the pandemic.
• The drop was primarily attributed to Conservative-introduced visa restrictions, including higher salary thresholds and bans on dependents for students and certain workers.
• Long-term immigration fell below one million for the first time in three years, with 948,000 arrivals recorded in 2024, while emigration rose by 11% to 517,000.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced additional reforms aimed at reducing migration by up to 100,000 per year, including stricter English language requirements and visa changes.
• Both Labour and Conservatives claim credit for the migration reduction, as political pressure mounts from the anti-immigration Reform UK party.