Newly released government statistics paint a complex picture of migration and asylum in the UK, revealing a dramatic drop in overall net migration but a concurrent rise in the number of people being housed in asylum hotels.
Sharp Decline in Net Migration
According to data from the Office for National Statistics covering the year to June 2025, net migration has fallen to 204,000. This represents a significant decrease of two-thirds, plummeting from the 649,000 recorded in the previous twelve-month period.
The figures show that 898,000 people entered the UK during this time, which is 401,000 fewer than the year before. In the same period, 693,000 people left the country.
Asylum Claims and Hotel Accommodation on the Rise
Contrasting the overall migration trend, Home Office data for the year ending September 2025 indicates that 111,000 people claimed asylum. This marks a 13% increase compared to the previous year and is higher than the previous recorded peak of 103,000 in 2002.
The number of asylum seekers requiring temporary accommodation in hotels has also grown. In September 2025, there were 36,273 people staying in such hotels while awaiting a decision on their claims. This is a 13% increase in just three months since the summer.
Removals and Asylum Decisions
The government has reported progress on removals, with 9,400 people removed from the UK in the year to September. This is a 22% increase on the previous 12 months, with Albanian nationals being the most represented nationality in these figures.
Furthermore, there were 5,300 returns of foreign national offenders, a 10% annual rise.
A key government initiative, the 'one-in-one-out' returns agreement with France, has led to 153 small boat arrivals being detained and deported so far.
On processing, the Home Office stated that 134,000 initial asylum decisions were made in the year to September, a 31% increase. However, the grant rate has fallen, with 45% of applications approved, down from 52% the previous year.
