Net migration fell by almost 50% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

New estimates showed 431,000 more people arrived in the UK than left over the 12-month period, compared to 860,000 a year earlier – the largest numerical drop on record.

The decrease was driven by declining numbers of people coming to work and study in the UK following changes introduced by the previous Conservative government, and large numbers of people who arrived on study visas after Covid-19 pandemic restrictions eased leaving.

There was also a large drop in the number of dependents accompanying people arriving in the UK on work and study visas, the ONS said.

The previous biggest calendar year fall was during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, when net migration dropped from 184,000 in the year ending December 2019 to 93,000 in December 2020.

The large falls announced on Thursday were the result of restrictions on visas introduced by the outgoing Conservative government and the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

There was a large drop in the number of students bringing family members to the UK – a key objective of the changes introduced by James Cleverly, the last Tory home secretary.

At the same time, the end of global travel restrictions caused by the pandemic meant people who delayed their intention to move away finally went through with their plans.

That group included people who came to the UK to study and have now left.

Separate data released on Thursday by the Home Office showed the number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels has fallen – but is still higher than when Labour came to power last year.

Home Office statistics showed there were 32,345 asylum seekers living in taxpayer-funded hotels in March 2025, down from 38,079 in December 2024.

That figure is far lower than the record of 58,636 under the last Conservative government in June 2023.

However, it represents a 9% increase since Labour came to power – the number of asylum seekers in hotels was 29,585 in June 2024.

Detailed figures show the Home Office has begun to speed up processing asylum claims – including from people on small boats.

This means that regardless of how many arrive every day, more people are either being allowed to stay as genuine refugees – and therefore pay their own way through work – or told they will be removed.

Ministers hope that speeding-up, coupled with the evolving measures to combat cross-channel boats, will ultimately slash the numbers in hotels.

On Thursday, the government highlighted Home Office data showing 29,867 people – including failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals – had been returned to their home countries.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said there had been a “300,000 drop in net migration since the election” last year, and promised the government would “further reduce net migration” by implementing its measures set out in the Immigration White Paper last week.

“These figures show a big increase in returns of failed asylum seekers and foreign national offenders, record levels of illegal working penalties, and the asylum backlog and hotel use coming down,” she said.

“We are going even further by introducing new counter terrorism style powers to boost our border security and smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for their vile trade.”

Meanwhile, several senior Conservative figures sought to take credit for the drop in net migration.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “The decisions taken by the last Conservative government have meant these net migration figures have fallen enormously… but let me be honest, those steps are not enough. These numbers need to go down further.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on social media that “numbers are still too high”.

Responding to the figures, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wrote on X: “Not as high as the great Tory betrayal, but still disastrous.”

Oxford University’s independent Migration Observatory said the record-breaking decline was “primarily” possible because numbers had been so high previously.

The unit’s head, Dr Madeleine Sumption, said: “UK migration patterns in 2023 were very unusual, with unexpectedly large numbers of visas for care workers, international students, and their family members.

“This made it easier for the government at that time to bring down the numbers.”

Dr Sumption predicted the changes would have little impact on the economy.

She said: “The groups that have driven the decline, such as study and work dependants, are neither the highest skilled, highest-paid migrants who make substantial contributions to tax revenues, nor the most disadvantaged groups that require substantial support.”