Indian stu­dents, work­ers lead exit trend as UK net migra­tion declines: ONS ana­lysis

LONDON May 23: Indian students and workers are leading the trend of people leaving the UK, as newly released migration data from London on Thursday showed a sharp decline in net migration — nearly halving compared to the previous year.

According to the 2025 analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around 51,000 Indians who had arrived for study purposes left the UK, along with 21,000 who came for work and another 3,000 under unspecified categories. Indians topped the list of emigrating nationalities, followed by Chinese nationals, with 46,000 students and workers departing.

Ukrainians (18,000), Pakistanis (19,000), and Nigerians (19,000) rounded out the top five nationalities leaving the country. Overall, net migration dropped to 171,000 last year.

“Net migration is now at 171,000, down from a peak of 944,000 under the Conservatives. This government is restoring order and control to our borders,” a UK government spokesperson said.

“We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and want to build a better life here. But we must restore order and control to our borders.

“As these statistics show, real progress has been made, though more work remains. That is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas labour,” the spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Indians received the highest number of health and care worker visa extensions in the year ending March 2025, with 107,306 extensions issued. Nigerians followed with 89,575, while Zimbabwean nationals received 31,117.

Indians also led in skilled worker visa extensions, with 89,851 approvals, ahead of Pakistanis (16,607) and Nigerians (13,409).

Among international students, Indians received the highest number of graduate route visa extensions at 70,371. They also remained the largest nationality granted sponsored study visas to the UK, receiving 90,425 visas — accounting for 23 per cent of all visas issued in that category.

The ONS analysis found that arrivals from outside the European Union, including India, for work-related reasons fell by 47 per cent last year. This decline was identified as the main driver behind the continued drop in net migration — the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the UK.

“Net migration continues to fall and is now at levels last seen in early 2021, when the new immigration system was introduced and Covid-19 travel restrictions were still in place,” said Sarah Crofts, Deputy Director at the Office for National Statistics.

“The recent decline is being driven by fewer arrivals from outside the EU, particularly for work. While emigration had been rising, there are early indications that it may now be starting to decline, although it is too early to say whether this trend will continue,” she added.