1980, UK migration
In 1980, 228,000 people moved away from the UK and 173,000 moved here.
- Net migration
- −55,000
People moving for a year or more. All UK, every nationality, including British citizens.
- British citizens
- 150,000 moved away from the UK and 67,000 moved here.
- Method
- An ONS estimate from the International Passenger Survey, a survey of passengers at ports and airports. The ONS changed its method in 1991, so years either side are not directly comparable. Its current series starts in the year ending June 2012, and its older survey-based figures, which run on to 2019 in Table 2.00, are not directly comparable with it. It changed its method again in mid-2021, and says comparisons across that change should be treated with caution.
- Latest year
- In 2025 (first estimate), 642,000 people moved away from the UK and 813,000 moved here. The ONS puts net migration that year at 171,000. That year uses the ONS's current method, so the two years are not directly comparable.
- Source
- ONS, Long-term international migration, Table 2.00 (1964 to 2019), published 26 November 2020
2025 from ONS, Long-term international migration, year ending December 2025
ONS figures for every year from 1964 to 2025.
Since you were born
From 1980 to 1990, 2,334,000 people moved away from the UK and 2,356,000 moved here.
These add up each year's ONS estimate. The ONS changed its method in 1991, so the years after 1990 cannot be added on. The same person can count more than once.
Every year
Each year opens its own page, with its card to share.