Net migration in the United Kingdom dropped sharply in 2024
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As the UK recalibrates its immigration policies in response to economic and political pressures, the Indian diaspora remains a central player—both in coming to and leaving the country
In a striking shift in UK migration trends, Indians have emerged as the leading nationality in long-term emigration from the United Kingdom, according to newly released data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The provisional figures for the year ending December 2024 show that around 58,000 Indians left the UK during the year, primarily for reasons related to study and work.
Of these, approximately 37,000 Indians were former international students, 18,000 had entered on work-related visas, and 3,000 left for unspecified reasons. This places Indians at the top of the emigration list, followed by nationals from China (45,000), Nigeria (16,000), Pakistan (12,000), and the United States (8,000).
“Among people emigrating, Indian was the most common nationality,” stated the ONS report titled “Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2024.” At the same time, it noted that Indians also constituted the largest group of non-EU nationals immigrating to the UK.
The ONS attributes the rise in emigration largely to international students, particularly from India and China, returning home or moving to other destinations after completing their studies. Mary Gregory, Director of Population Statistics at ONS, remarked that the easing of pandemic-era travel restrictions has facilitated this trend. “There has also been an increase in emigration… especially people leaving who originally came on study visas,” she noted.
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Overall, emigration from the UK rose by 11% to an estimated 517,000 in 2024, up from 466,000 in 2023
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This surge contributed significantly to a dramatic drop in net migration, which fell by nearly half—down to 516,000 from the previous year’s 947,000
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It marks the most substantial year-on-year decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
The UK government has highlighted this drop as a policy success amid ongoing political pressure over immigration levels. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the achievement in a public statement, declaring, “Today’s stats show we have nearly halved net migration in the last year. We’re taking back control.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also pointed to increased enforcement measures and a decline in asylum backlogs as contributing factors. Long-term immigration dipped below 1 million for the first time in three years, estimated at 948,000—down from 1.3 million in 2023.
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly, from the opposition Conservative Party, claimed credit for the shift, attributing it to visa policy changes introduced under the previous administration. “This drop is because of the visa rule changes that I put in place,” he asserted.