Migratory Population Data Analysis
In the realm of demographic shifts, migration has been a major driver of population growth in the United Kingdom. According to the Migration Observatory, 65% of the UK's population increase between 2004 and 2023 can be attributed to net migration, with the population projected to reach 77 million by 2046, largely due to migration[1].
The Home Office's EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) data reveals that by March 2025, a total of 8.5 million applications were received, corresponding to approximately 6.4 million individuals[2]. Of these, approximately 5.8 million have been granted settled or pre-settled status, with 4.15 million being granted settled status and 1.62 million being granted pre-settled status.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is making strides to improve population and migration estimates. Upcoming releases include mid-2024 official population estimates and administrative-based population estimates, designed to enhance accuracy and comparability[3]. Additionally, ONS is refining migration methodologies by integrating Home Office Borders and Immigration data and adjusting methods to better capture long-term migration flows, particularly among EU nationals with settled status[4].
Public opinion data from August 2025 shows that around 70% of the British public believe immigration levels have been too high over the last decade, with higher concern among working-class social grades (C2DE) compared to middle-class (ABC1)[5].
It's worth noting that some immigration statistics, such as the "Control of immigration statistics" and the "EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics," are no longer released regularly, while others, like the "Irregular migration to the UK statistics," have been incorporated into the "Immigration system statistics quarterly release"[2][4]. For a comprehensive overview of Home Office produced statistical publications, one can refer to the "Statistics at Home Office" page.
These sources collectively indicate that migration continues to play a central role in UK demographic change, with ongoing methodological improvements enhancing the accuracy of official data, and significant public awareness and concern about immigration levels.
[1] Migration Observatory. (August 2025). Net migration drives UK population growth. [Online]. Available: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/net-migration-drives-uk-population-growth/
[2] Home Office. (March 2025). EU Settlement Scheme statistics. [Online]. Available: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/eu-settlement-scheme-statistics
[3] Office for National Statistics. (July–August 2025). Improvements to population and migration estimates. [Online]. Available: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/improvements-to-population-and-migration-estimates
[4] Office for National Statistics. (July–August 2025). Refining migration methodologies. [Online]. Available: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/refining-migration-methodologies
[5] Statista. (August 2025). Public opinion on immigration levels. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195057/british-public-opinion-on-immigration-levels/
- The ongoing revisions in population and migration estimates by the Office for National Statistics signify a continued focus on policy-and-legislation surrounding migration in the realm of general-news.
- The Home Office's data on the EU Settlement Scheme demonstrates that the politics of migration remains a significant topic of discussion, with 70% of the British public expressing concerns about immigration levels over the last decade.
