Latest statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Home Office show sharp declines in net migration and asylum hotel use, alongside a modest decrease in asylum claims and soaring citizenship applications, the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said today.
Net migration fell to 171,000 in 2025, a decline of 82% since the early 2023 peak, asylum claims have fallen by 12% year-on-year, with a fall in small boat arrivals and claims by people who arrived with visas, while the number of migrants in hotels is also down by 32% since December 2025.
The sharp decline in net migration results largely from policy choices taken by the previous government, which liberalised and then restricted migration, leading to a record high followed by a record fall and corresponding increase in emigration. Asylum-related arrivals also fell for the first time since mid-2024 though remained high by historical standards. New estimates released today show that the total foreign-born population increased by 2.4 million since the last census and now makes up 19% of the population (up from 16%).
The decline in immigration since 2023 results primarily from lower non-EU migration for work (down 69% since 2023) and family members of international students (down 87%). Restrictions on both routes came in under the previous government. The current government added further restrictions, most notably to work visas and the partners and children of refugees.
Dr Ben Brindle, Researcher for the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: “The sharp increase in net migration after the pandemic has pushed the foreign-born to its highest ever share of the UK population.
“Migration is down now, but the economic impacts depend more on who is — or is no longer — migrating than how many. Today’s data illustrate a challenge the government faces, namely that the categories of migration it would most like to reduce are the ones least amenable to policy. As a result, migration of groups that make positive or broadly neutral economic impacts—such as skilled workers and partners of students is down, while asylum-related migration remains high. Since refugees have lower employment rates and often need a lot of support from the state, this means that the composition of recent migration has probably become less favourable from an economic perspective.”
“Net migration may well have further to fall, because visa grants have continued to decline since 2025. All of this said, the downward trend is likely to be temporary. That’s because lower immigration will eventually feed through into lower emigration.”
Home Office data showed that the number of people claiming asylum fell by 12% in the year ending 31 March 2026, to 94,000. However, numbers remain high by historical standards. Grant rates for initial asylum claims have continued to fall, from 49% in YE March 2025 to 39% in YE March 2026. This is a large drop from the 76% grant rate in 2022.
The data also show that the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels fell by 9,800 in the first three months of 2026. This is primarily due to a decrease in the backlog of initial asylum applications.
Dr Mihnea Cuibus, Researcher for the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: “The current government has promised to close all asylum hotels by 2029, and the latest figures show the number of asylum seekers in hotels fell by 32% in the most recent quarter. Bringing these numbers down matters for the government, as the high costs of hotels has contributed to record spending on asylum in recent years.”
Home Office statistics also showed applications for UK citizenship reached a record of more than 300,000 in the year to March 2026.
Dr Nuni Jorgensen, Researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: “An increase in citizenship grants was always expected because non-EU migration rose in the late 2010s, and these people are now becoming eligible for citizenship. However, the increase has been sharper than anticipated, particularly among US and EU citizens. One potential reason is the heavy publicity around government and opposition plans to restrict permanent status and citizenship. In that context, some people may feel it is better to apply for citizenship now rather than risk tougher requirements later.”
