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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Net migration to UK falls by nearly 50% after Labour’s vow to cut numbers

Travellers with luggage walk past a purple wall reading 'Welcome to the United Kingdom' at Heathrow airport
The figure was down 48% year on year from 331,000 in 2024, extending a sharp decline from a record peak of 944,000 in 2023. Photograph: Amer Ghazzal/Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Live News

Net migration to the UK fell by nearly 50% to 171,000 last year, according to official figures released on Thursday, in what will be seen as a boost for Keir Starmer’s government.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number of people leaving was at its lowest level since 2021.

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