37,000 Indian Students, 18,000 Workers Left UK in 2024: Labour Vows Stricter Migration Controls

LONDON, May 22: The UK saw a major decline in net migration in 2024, with Indians topping the list of those leaving the country. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 37,000 Indian students, 18,000 workers, and 3,000 others exited the UK in the year ending December 2024.

These figures span a period that includes both Conservative and Labour governments—Labour assumed office in June 2024. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted a 300,000 drop in net migration since the election as “important and welcome,” attributing it partly to the Labour government’s new immigration White Paper, which outlines sweeping reforms to further reduce migration.

The statistics reflect the impact of stricter UK visa and immigration rules, particularly on students and workers from non-EU countries. Indians were the most common nationality to emigrate, followed closely by Chinese nationals, with a total of 45,000 Chinese students and workers leaving. Other top nationalities included Nigerians (16,000), Pakistanis (12,000), and Americans (8,000).

“Study-related emigration was the main driver among the top non-EU nationalities,” noted the ONS report. The increase in long-term emigration of non-EU nationals—particularly those who had initially come on student visas—is a key factor in the sharp decline in net migration.

ONS Director of Population Statistics Mary Gregory said the decrease was largely due to fewer arrivals for work and study, especially among student dependents. She also pointed to increased emigration after COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted, particularly among former international students.

The drop in net migration—down by 431,000—marks the steepest annual fall on record. Long-term immigration fell to an estimated 948,000, dropping below 1 million for the first time in nearly three years. Meanwhile, emigration rose by 11% to 517,000.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the reduction, saying: “Under the Tories, net migration reached nearly 1 million—the size of Birmingham. I promised change, and we are delivering. We’re taking back control.”

Home Secretary Cooper emphasized that the fall also reflects increased returns of failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders, tougher penalties for illegal working, and a shrinking asylum backlog and hotel use.

Former Home Secretary James Cleverly, from the opposition Conservatives, claimed credit for the decline, arguing that it stemmed from visa policy changes made under the previous government.

Labour has announced further plans to curb migration, including stricter work and study visa requirements, a higher English language threshold, and new integration measures. Starmer said he expects net migration to drop “significantly” before the next general election, although he stopped short of setting a numerical target.

Without better integration, he warned, the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers.”