Almost 415,000 residents left London in 2024, according to a Daily Mail analysis, equating to one person moving out every 75 seconds. The exodus was offset by 287,000 people moving into the capital, resulting in a net internal migration of nearly -128,000 – one of the highest figures on record.
Experts attribute the outflow to cost-of-living pressures, rising property prices, and soaring crime rates. Reform's candidate for Mayor of London, Laila Cunningham, said: 'Sadiq Khan has allowed criminality to flourish in London and it’s holding this city back. Not only do young people no longer want to live here, many are now moving away.'
With the exception of the West Midlands, every other region of England saw a net influx of internal migrants. The South West led with +28,600, followed by the South East (+22,300) and the North West (+20,800). Only two of London's 32 boroughs – Havering and Bexley – recorded a net inflow.
London's overall net figure of -128,200 was the third highest since ONS records began, surpassed only by 2023 and 2021. The pandemic had previously driven a surge in departures as remote work enabled lifestyle changes.
Mayor Sadiq Khan disputes claims of rampant crime, noting that London's homicide rate per capita is the lowest since records began, with neighbourhood crime down 14 per cent. However, rising property prices have forced many renters out, with average monthly rents in London at £2,200 compared to under £1,000 in the Midlands and North.
