Net immigration from the EU has fallen to the lowest level since 2013 – but still added more than 100,000 to the population last year.
The number of EU citizens leaving the UK reached a new record high of 139,000, according to the latest official figures.
However, another 240,000 moved to Britain from the bloc in 2017, giving a net inflow of 101,000.
The evidence of a shift in behaviour came as the Office for National Statistics released estimates showing that overall long-term immigration from around the world rose to 282,000 last year.
Numbers arriving the UK rose to 630,000 in 2017, while emigration fell slightly, according to the latest official figures.
The net total is nearly triple Theresa May’s target, and equivalent to adding a town the size of Stoke to the population in just 12 months.
There have been claims of a ‘Brexodus’ since the referendum in 2016 – though commentators stressed that more people are still coming to live in the UK than departing.
The 101,000 of the net immigration accounted for by EU citizens was the lowest since the year ending March 2013.
Numbers arriving the UK rose to 630,000 in 2017, while emigration fell slightly, according to the latest official figures
Although technically the 139,000 emigration from the UK is a record high, the figures have a big margin of error – meaning they are technically unchanged from the 12 months to September and the year to December 2008.
While net migration has fallen from record levels of around a third of a million in 2015 and 2016, it is still well above the Government’s target of less than 100,000.
The latest ONS migration report shows:
- A fall in the number of EU citizens coming to the UK ‘looking for work’, which decreased by a third (33%) from 55,000 in 2016 to 37,000 last year;
- Emigration of EU nationals went up by a fifth year-on-year, with an estimated outflow of 139,000 in 2017;
- Net migration from eight eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 – Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia and Latvia – has fallen from 42,000 in the year prior to the referendum to 6,000 in 2017;
- Net migration from 14 longer-term member states such as Germany, Italy, Spain and France, has almost halved since the vote, falling from 84,000 in the 12 months to June 2016 to 46,000 last year;
- An estimated 40,000 more Romanians and Bulgarians migrated to the UK than left last year – the joint lowest net migration figure for the two countries since the year to September 2014;
- Non-EU net migration was estimated at 227,000 last year – more than twice the figure for the EU
The total net migration figure for the previous quarter has also been revised up by the statistics watchdog after concerns were raised about the data.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said a ‘processing issue’ with the International Passenger Survey had resulted in problems with the numbers, delaying release of the latest figures.
Long-term net immigration for the year to September is now estimated at 274,000 rather than the 244,000 estimated in February.
The net flow to the UK in the year to June has been revised down marginally from 230,000 to 226,000.
Nicola White, Migration Statistics Division, Office for National Statistics said: ‘With around 280,000 more people coming to the UK than leaving in 2017, these latest figures show that migration has continued to add to the UK population.
‘Net migration fell following record levels in 2015 and early 2016 and has been broadly stable. This is similar to the level recorded in year ending September 2014.
‘Underlying this, immigration has remained broadly stable at around 630,000 and emigration has shown a gradual increase since 2015 and is currently around 350,000.’
Lord Green of Deddington, chairman of Migration Watch UK, described the figures as ‘very disappointing’.
He said: ‘Migration from the EU is still adding 100,000 a year to our population and non-EU net migration is the highest level in a calendar year for 13 years.
Some 101,000 of net migration in 2017 was accounted for by EU citizens – but that was the lowest level since the year ending March 2013. Long-term arrivals from the EU were 240,000 last year, but that was down from 249,000 in the previous 12 months
‘It’s time for the Government to get serious about reducing immigration instead of caving into every demand of the immigration lobby.’
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said the data suggests the UK is ‘still an attractive country, but its allure for EU migrants has declined considerably over the past couple of years’.
The latest findings sparked fresh calls for Tories to scrap their aim to bring net migration below six figures.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: ‘Like the ‘hostile environment’, it’s clear to almost everyone except Theresa May that the net migration target should go.’
James Stewart, head of Brexit at KPMG UK, said: ‘Although net migration is on a slight upwards trajectory again what we’re hearing from the market is that sectors such as construction, food production, retail and hospitality are all struggling to find affordable labour, and costs are climbing.’
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said the statistics show ‘more of the people who are coming to the UK are coming for the reasons we would want – to take up a definite job or to study’.
She added: ‘More EU nationals continue to arrive than leave and as the ONS have made clear, net migration has been broadly stable since late 2016.
‘But while it is not unusual to see quarterly ups and downs, we know more needs to be done if we are to bring net migration down to sustainable levels.’
The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘We remain committed to bringing net migration down to sustainable levels and that is the tens of thousands.
‘There is no consent in Britain for uncontrolled immigration.
‘We are developing an immigration system that will continue to attract and retain people who come here to work and bring significant benefits but will not offer an open door to those who don’t.’