Spotlight

How we are improving population and migration statistics
Find out more about our population and migration statistics transformation journey.
Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending June 2021
What's in the bulletin?
- We are continually improving our methodology to measure migration; these latest experimental estimates are produced using a new method that relies less on International Passenger Survey (IPS) data and statistical modelling and makes greater use of administrative data.
- These estimates are not comparable with our previously published official measures of international migration, however, early insights of provisional census results gives us further confidence in these estimates derived from administrative data sources.
- Based on our current best assessment of available sources, net migration was estimated to be in the region of 239,000 in the year ending June 2021; there is a degree of uncertainty around today’s figures, but this represents a small decrease from the year ending June 2020 (260,000).

Measuring migration: the story behind the headlines
In this interactive article, we take you behind the headlines and use the latest data to answer questions about international migration. We also explain why measuring migration is harder than you might think.
Datasets related to International migration
-
International migration – table of contents
Tool to locate the datasets of Long-Term International Migration and International Passenger Survey estimates.
-
Long-term international immigration, emigration and net migration flows, provisional
Experimental and provisional estimates for UK immigration, emigration and net migration, year ending June 2020 and year ending June 2021.
-
Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality
UK residents by broad country of birth and citizenship groups, broken down by UK country, local authority, unitary authority, metropolitan and London boroughs, and counties. Estimates from the Annual Population Survey.
-
Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality: individual country data
UK residents by individual countries of birth and citizenship, broken down by UK country, local authority, unitary authority, metropolitan and London boroughs, and counties. Estimates from the Annual Population Survey.
-
Local area migration indicators, UK
Different migration-related data sources at local authority level including migration flows, non-UK-born and non-British populations, National Insurance number registrations, GP registrations, and births to non-UK-born mothers.
-
Short-term international migration 01, Citizenship by main reason for migration - flows, England and Wales (Discontinued after mid-2019)
Nationality of short-term migrants by the primary purpose of their visit. Inflow and Outflow. Estimates from the International Passenger Survey, annual table.
Publications related to International migration
Statistical bulletins
-
Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending June 2021
Experimental statistics on UK international migration throughout 2020 and into 2021 including the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
-
Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality: year ending June 2021
Latest population estimates for the UK by country of birth and nationality, covering the period from 2004 to the year ending June 2021.
Articles
-
Changes in payrolled employments held by non-UK nationals during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and EU Exit periods
Using new Experimental Statistics from HMRC Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Real Time Information (RTI) data linked to Migrant Worker Scan (MWS) to explore changes in payrolled employments in the labour market by nationality, region and industry from July 2014 to June 2021.
-
Visa journeys and student outcomes
New analysis on people coming to the UK and holding multiple visas over time. Focus on students coming to the UK and what they do next, alongside workers, and the route to UK citizenship.
-
Measuring migration: the story behind the headlines
In this interactive article, we take you behind the headlines and use the latest data to answer questions about international migration. We also explain why measuring migration is harder than you might think.
Looking for local statistics?
A handy guide to let you know where to find local statistics.