With net migration hitting a staggering 744,000 in just one year, the UK's demographic landscape is undergoing a transformation so profound that it now accounts for virtually all of the nation's population growth.
Key Takeaways
- In the year ending June 2023, net migration to the UK reached a record high of 744,000, driven primarily by an increase in non-EU immigration.
- The UK's population grew by 1.2 million between mid-2021 and mid-2022, with 92% of this growth attributed to net international migration.
- From 2019 to 2022, net migration contributed 89% to the UK's population increase of 2.2 million.
- In year ending September 2023, 52,000 work visas granted to main applicants from India.
- Health and Care Worker visas: 118,000 granted in year ending September 2023, up 261% from pre-pandemic.
- Skilled Worker visas: 146,000 main applicants in year ending September 2023.
- In year ending September 2023, 457,000 sponsored study visas granted.
- Student dependants: 153,000 visas granted in year ending September 2023, up from 15,000 pre-pandemic.
- Postgraduate research student visas: 43,000 main applicants year ending September 2023.
- Year ending September 2023, 22,900 family visas granted to partners/spouses.
- Adult dependant relatives: 49 visas granted year ending September 2023.
- Child dependants on family visas: 7,900 in year ending September 2023.
- In 2023, 74,000 small boat arrivals detected crossing English Channel.
- Asylum applications: 84,200 principal applicants in year ending September 2023.
- Initial asylum grant rate: 48% in year ending September 2023.
Non-EU immigration has surged, pushing UK net migration to a record high.
Asylum, Refugees, and Irregular Migration
1In 2023, 74,000 small boat arrivals detected crossing English Channel.
Verified2Asylum applications: 84,200 principal applicants in year ending September 2023.
Verified3Initial asylum grant rate: 48% in year ending September 2023.
Verified4Top nationality asylum: Pakistan 11,000 applications year ending Q3 2023.
Directional5Afghanistan: 9,300 asylum claims year ending September 2023.
Single source6Iran: 9,100 asylum claims year ending September 2023.
Verified7Albania: 7,700 asylum claims, mostly small boat arrivals.
Verified8Syrian refugees resettled: 20,000 under schemes by 2023.
Verified9Asylum backlog: 175,000 cases at end September 2023.
Directional10Rwanda relocation plan: 0 relocations by end 2023 despite legislation.
Single source11Hotel asylum accommodation cost: £8.3 million per day in September 2023.
Verified1229% of small boat arrivals were Albanian men aged 18-39 in 2023.
Verified13Detected irregular arrivals: 44,000 by small boat in 2023.
Verified14Asylum appeals allowed: 46% success rate in 2023.
Directional15Ukraine humanitarian schemes: 309,000 visas by December 2023.
Single source16Afghan Relocations: 23,000 ARAP scheme by September 2023.
Verified17Afghan nationals granted asylum: 76% initial decision rate in 2023.
Verified18Unaccompanied asylum children: 9,000 applications in 2023.
Verified19Asylum support recipients: 51,000 households in 2023.
Directional20Small boat detection: average 75 per crossing in 2023.
Single sourceAsylum, Refugees, and Irregular Migration Interpretation
While the government's controversial policies, like the costly and yet-to-launch Rwanda plan, grab headlines, the real story is a staggering asylum backlog and a daily hotel bill of £8.3 million, all while the UK successfully provided sanctuary to over 350,000 Ukrainians and Afghans through separate, functioning legal routes.
Family and Other Visas
1Year ending September 2023, 22,900 family visas granted to partners/spouses.
Verified2Adult dependant relatives: 49 visas granted year ending September 2023.
Verified3Child dependants on family visas: 7,900 in year ending September 2023.
Verified4Family reunion for refugees: 2,700 grants in year ending September 2023.
Directional5British National (Overseas) visas: 146,000 granted since 2021 to September 2023.
Single source6Ukraine Family visas: 66,000 under schemes to September 2023.
Verified7Hong Kong BN(O): 176,000 arrivals by end 2023.
Verified8Other family routes: 1,300 grants year ending September 2023.
Verified9Partner/spouse visa income threshold met by 85% of applicants in 2023.
Directional1028% of family visas to Indian nationals year ending June 2023.
Single source11Pakistan: 18% of family visas year ending June 2023.
Verified12Albania: 4,900 family visas year ending June 2023.
Verified13Family visa refusals: 40% rate for adult dependants in 2023.
Verified14Ukraine Sponsorship: 243,000 visas by September 2023.
Directional15Settled status under EU Settlement Scheme: 6.95 million grants by June 2023.
Single source16Pre-settled status: 1.82 million by June 2023.
Verified17Late applications to EUSS: 1.8 million by deadline extensions.
Verified18Other visas (e.g. visitor): 28.6 million in 2019 pre-pandemic.
Verified19Creative Worker visas: 2,100 granted year ending September 2023.
Directional20Religious Worker visas: 2,800 year ending September 2023.
Single sourceFamily and Other Visas Interpretation
The UK's immigration story is a complex tapestry where an army of British National Overseas from Hong Kong and Ukrainian families finding refuge dwarf the handful of adult dependant relatives who've managed to sneak through a door that's almost entirely shut, proving it's easier to move a country's worth of people than to convince the Home Office you're a financially viable adult who needs their mum.
Overall Migration Statistics
1In the year ending June 2023, net migration to the UK reached a record high of 744,000, driven primarily by an increase in non-EU immigration.
Verified2The UK's population grew by 1.2 million between mid-2021 and mid-2022, with 92% of this growth attributed to net international migration.
Verified3From 2019 to 2022, net migration contributed 89% to the UK's population increase of 2.2 million.
Verified4In 2022, the UK saw 1.1 million long-term immigrants, the highest since records began in 1964.
Directional5Emigration from the UK in the year ending June 2023 was 489,000, down from previous years due to fewer EU citizens leaving.
Single source6Net migration excluding asylum was 606,000 in the year ending June 2023.
Verified7Between 2004 and 2022, cumulative net migration to the UK totalled 7.8 million.
Verified8In 2021, net migration was 184,000, rebounding from negative figures during COVID-19.
Verified9The foreign-born population in the UK rose from 8.9% in 2011 to 14.4% in 2021 Census.
Directional10UK's total population reached 67.6 million in mid-2023, with migration accounting for 100% of growth since 2022.
Single source11Immigration peaked at 1.2 million in year ending June 2022.
Verified12Non-EU net migration was 1.1 million in 2022, compared to EU net migration of -91,000.
Verified13Long-term migration definition: arrivals intending to stay 12+ months, departures leaving after 12+ months stay.
Verified14Provisional net migration estimates revised upwards by 139,000 for year ending June 2022.
Directional15UK's migrant population share is 14% of total, higher than US (14%) but lower than Australia (30%).
Single source16In 2023, 10.7% of England's population was non-UK born, up from 7.5% in 2001.
Verified17Net migration forecast by OBR: 350,000 annually from 2028 under policy changes.
Verified18Year ending Dec 2023: immigration 1.3 million, emigration 560,000, net 685,000.
Verified19EU net migration turned negative in 2020 at -88,000, remaining so through 2023.
Directional20Non-UK nationals made up 72% of net migration in year ending June 2023.
Single source21Immigration from India was 242,000 in year ending June 2023.
Verified22From Nigeria: 141,000 immigrants in same period.
Verified23Pakistan: 83,000 immigrants year ending June 2023.
Verified24China: 71,000 immigrants year ending June 2023.
Directional25Zimbabwe: 41,000 immigrants year ending June 2023.
Single source26In 2022 Census, 3.9 million UK residents born in Asia, 16% of population.
Verified27EU-born population in UK fell from 3.7 million in 2016 to 3.0 million in 2021.
Verified28Non-EU born rose from 5.3 million in 2016 to 7.1 million in 2021.
Verified29Year ending Dec 2022 net migration revised to 764,000.
Directional30Immigration from Ukraine: 188,000 in year ending June 2023 under special schemes.
Single sourceOverall Migration Statistics Interpretation
While Brexit made the UK less enticing for a pint, it’s apparently become the hottest ticket in town for everyone else, swapping EU migrants for a global crowd at a record pace.
Study-related Immigration
1In year ending September 2023, 457,000 sponsored study visas granted.
Verified2Student dependants: 153,000 visas granted in year ending September 2023, up from 15,000 pre-pandemic.
Verified3Postgraduate research student visas: 43,000 main applicants year ending September 2023.
Verified4India: 116,000 student visas year ending September 2023.
Directional5China: 112,000 student visas year ending September 2023.
Single source6Nigeria: 58,000 student visas year ending September 2023.
Verified7Pakistan: 33,000 student visas year ending September 2023.
Verified878% of student visa grants were for postgraduate level in year ending September 2023.
Verified9Student visas peaked at 496,000 in year ending July 2023.
Directional10Dependants of students: 145,000 from India, 17,000 from China in 2023.
Single source11Graduate visas granted: 164,000 in year ending September 2023.
Verified1250% of graduate route visas to master's graduates in 2023.
Verified13International students contribute £41.9 billion to UK economy annually pre-2023.
Verified14690,000 international students in UK higher education in 2022/23.
Directional15Non-EU students: 65% of international students in 2022/23.
Single source16London universities host 37% of international students.
Verified17Student visa refusal rate: 7% for main applicants in 2023.
Verified18From 2019 to 2023, student immigration net contribution was 280,000.
Verified19432,225 sponsored study visas in year ending December 2023.
Directional20Pakistan student dependants: 22,000 in year ending September 2023.
Single source21Nigeria student dependants: 36,000 in year ending September 2023.
Verified22Universities UK: 40% of PhDs by international students.
Verified23In year ending December 2023, 22,800 student visas refused.
VerifiedStudy-related Immigration Interpretation
Britain's academic allure remains potent, drawing a record-breaking number of international postgraduates and their families, which has transformed its student immigration from a purely scholarly pursuit into a significant demographic and economic force in one generation.
Work-related Immigration
1In year ending September 2023, 52,000 work visas granted to main applicants from India.
Verified2Health and Care Worker visas: 118,000 granted in year ending September 2023, up 261% from pre-pandemic.
Verified3Skilled Worker visas: 146,000 main applicants in year ending September 2023.
Verified4Temporary Worker visas granted: 157,000 in year ending September 2023.
Directional5Global Business Mobility visas: 53,400 issued in year ending September 2023.
Single source694% of Skilled Worker visa grants went to occupations below RQF level 6 in 2023.
Verified7Indian nationals received 46,000 Skilled Worker visas in year ending June 2023.
Verified8Nigerian nationals: 29,000 Skilled Worker visas year ending June 2023.
Verified9Work visa dependants: 144,000 granted in year ending September 2023.
Directional10Care workers: 106,000 visas granted in year ending September 2023, 75% to dependants.
Single source11Senior Care Worker visas: only 4% of care visas went to this role despite salary threshold.
Verified12IT professionals: 26% of Skilled Worker visas in 2023.
Verified13Health professionals: 39% of Skilled Worker visas in year ending December 2023.
Verified14Scale-up visas granted: 3,400 in year ending September 2023.
Directional15High Potential Individual visas: 5,800 granted since launch in 2022 to September 2023.
Single source16Work visas from India: 118,000 total in year ending June 2023.
Verified17From Philippines: 37,000 work visas year ending June 2023.
Verified18Zimbabwe: 24,000 work visas year ending June 2023.
Verified19Nigeria: 58,000 work visas year ending June 2023.
Directional2079,000 care worker visas sponsored by just 20% of care providers in 2023.
Single source21Adult social care vacancies: 152,000 in June 2023, filled partly by migrants.
Verified22Migrant workers fill 18% of UK jobs overall, but 27% in health/social care.
Verified23Post-Brexit, non-EU work visas tripled from 39,000 in 2019 to 146,000 in 2023.
VerifiedWork-related Immigration Interpretation
Post-Brexit Britain has leaned heavily on a rapid, and at times lopsided, global recruitment drive, where nearly a third of all health and social care roles are now filled by migrant workers, yet the system still seems to be scrambling to staff the wards while grappling with a heavy dependence on care worker dependants and a relative trickle of high-potential newcomers.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 2MIGRATIONOBSERVATORYmigrationobservatory.ox.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 3OBRobr.ukVisit source
- Reference 4GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 5UKCISAukcisa.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 6HESAhesa.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 7UNIVERSITIESUKuniversitiesuk.ac.ukVisit source