ONS estimated 642,000 long-term emigrants in the year ending December 2025, including 246,000 British nationals. Its provisional May 2026 release does not identify millionaire departures.
246,000
How many British nationals left the UK?
British nationals who left the UK · year ending December 2025
Provisional for a year. The ONS says this is down 4% from an updated 257,000 for 2024. A new method for British nationals replaces the International Passenger Survey, so figures before and after June 2021 are not directly comparable. The ONS says its uncertainty intervals probably understate the true uncertainty. Published on 21 May 2026; the November 2025 release covered the year to June 2025.
642,000
How many people left the UK in total?
All people who left the UK (all nationalities) · year ending December 2025
Unit: taxpayers. (73,400 non-dom plus 8,500 deemed domiciled)
Down about 1% from 83,100. About 9,000 left the non-dom group and 8,600 joined it. A change in tax status need not mean a physical move. Combined tax and National Insurance contributions were £13.6bn, up 9%. Figures for 2023 to 2025 are provisional. HMRC says 'at least' 81,900. The year ends before the regime change on 6 April 2025, so it cannot show that change's effect. The 2025/26 figures are due in 2027.
What does each departure measure count?
ONS estimates migration. HMRC records tax populations. The sections below explain which comparisons the sources support.
How many people left the UK in the latest ONS figures?
ONS estimated 642,000 long-term emigrants in the year ending December 2025, including 246,000 British nationals. The provisional bulletin was published on 21 May 2026. The British figure is part of the total; adding them would count people twice.
Long-term migration generally means a change of usual residence lasting at least twelve months. Airport departures and HMRC form submissions measure different events.
How does net migration differ from emigration?
ONS separates immigration, emigration and net migration in its provisional release. Net migration subtracts departures from arrivals; it does not count leavers.
Can the revised British series show a sudden rise?
ONS replaced reliance on the International Passenger Survey with an administrative-data method for British nationals. It describes the underlying British emigration pattern as broadly stable. Estimates before June 2021 should not be joined directly to the newer series.
The published uncertainty ranges leave out some sources of error. Use the release's method and revision notes when comparing periods.