The number of people leaving the UK for 12 months or more reached a record high in 2008, with an estimated 427,000 people emigrating. This was up from 341,000 in 2007 and 398,000 in 2006. This rise was as a result of a 50 per cent increase in non-British citizens emigrating from 169,000 in 2007 to 255,000 in 2008. Just over half of the 86,000 increase were citizens of the A8 Accession countries which joined the EU in 2004.
An estimated 590,000 people arrived to live in the UK in 2008, the second highest figure on record after 596,000 in 2006. This compared with 574,000 in 2007 and represents a continuation of the level of immigration seen since 2004. Of all immigrants 505,000 (86 per cent) were non-British citizens in 2008.
Net migration, the difference between immigration and emigration, decreased from 233,000 in 2007 to 163,000 as a result of increased emigration.
There has been a large increase in the number of people emigrating for work related reasons, particularly those with a definite job to go to. In 2008 an estimated 136,000 people emigrated from the UK to take up a definite job, compared with 100,000 in 2007.
The International Passenger Survey (IPS) is the main component of these Long-Term International Migration estimates. IPS estimates allow a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of international migrants. This reveals that the increase in emigration of non-British citizens was most notable in the 25 to 44 age group, consistent with higher numbers of people emigrating for work related reasons. The IPS shows an increase in the number of non-British citizens leaving the UK to take up a definite job – up from 45,000 in 2007 to 62,000 in 2008. IPS estimates also show that Poland was the most popular country of next residence for non-British emigrants in 2008, with 50,000 people migrating there.
Source: Long-Term International Migration (LTIM), International Passenger Survey (IPS), ONS.
Notes: LTIM: Based mainly on International Passenger Survey (IPS) data. Includes adjustments for those whose intended length of stay changes so their migrant status changes (migrant/visitor switchers), asylum seekers & their dependants not identified by the IPS, and international migration to and from Northern Ireland.
International migrant: someone who changes their country of usual residence for at least a year, so that the country of destination effectively becomes the country of usual residence.
A8 refers to the eight Central and Eastern European countries which joined the EU in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia).
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International Migration: MN Series