Net migration falls to lowest in years but number in asylum hotels surges

Net migration to the UK has fallen to its lowest level since 2021 but the number of asylum seekers housed temporarily in hotels is up 13%, new figures have shown.

The latest statistics published on Thursday show that the number dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, a 69% year-on-year decrease.

This is the lowest figure for any 12-month period since 2021, according to recently updated data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving long-term to the country and the number of people leaving, and it has been on a downward trend for the past two years.

The total peaked at a record 944,000 in the year to March 2023 but since then has fallen sharply, reaching 345,000 in the year to December 2024.

Meanwhile, separate figures published by the Home Office show the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels has risen.

Some 36,273 people claiming asylum were living in hotels at the end of September, which is up 13% on the figure in June.

Home Office data shows that the number of asylum seekers in hotels peaked at 56,018 at the end of September 2023 but fell to a record low of 29,561 at the end of June 2024.

Ministers have promised to end the use of hotels by the next election and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants to see asylum hotels closed “as quickly as possible”.

The ONS said the fall in net migration is being driven by fewer people from outside the EU arriving in the UK for work or to study, along with an increase in people moving out of the country.

“Net migration is at the lowest level seen since 2021, when pandemic lockdown restrictions were lifted and the new immigration system was introduced following the UK’s EU exit,” Mary Gregory, ONS executive director for population and census, said.

“Overall, non-EU-plus net migration has more than halved in the year ending June 2025. Non-EU-plus emigration is driven by Indian and Chinese nationals, who originally arrived on study visas, while nine out of 10 British people emigrating are of working age.”

Reacting to the latest drop in net migration, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Net migration has “fallen by more than two-thirds under this Government”.

“But we are going further because the pace and scale of migration has placed immense pressure on local communities,” she said.

“Last week, I announced reforms to our migration system to ensure that those who come here must contribute and put in more than they take out.”