Around 3.9 million EU-born people were estimated to be living in the UK in mid-2024, according to the latest population estimates analysed by the Migration Observatory using Office for National Statistics data. The UK’s total foreign-born population was approximately 13.1 million, meaning EU-born residents accounted for around 30% of people living in the UK who were born abroad.
That figure should not be confused with the number of EU nationals who move to the UK each year.
In the year ending December 2025, the ONS estimated that 76,000 EU+ nationals moved to the UK for 12 months or more, while 118,000 left. This produced net migration of approximately -42,000 for the EU+ group.
In other words, millions of people born in EU countries continue to live in the UK, even though recent annual migration flows show more EU+ nationals leaving than arriving.
How Many EU-Born People Live in the UK?
The latest available estimate puts the UK’s EU-born population at approximately 3.9 million in mid-2024.
At the same point, the overall foreign-born population was estimated at around 13.1 million, of whom approximately 9.2 million had been born outside the EU.
| Population measure | Latest estimate |
|---|---|
| EU-born residents | Around 3.9 million |
| Non-EU-born residents | Around 9.2 million |
| Total foreign-born population | Around 13.1 million |
| EU-born share of foreign-born population | Around 30% |
These are population estimates, meaning they are intended to show how many people were living in the UK at a particular point in time.
The term EU-born refers to a person’s country of birth. It does not necessarily tell us their current nationality or immigration status.
For example, an EU-born person may later have become a British citizen. Conversely, someone born in the UK may hold citizenship of an EU country.
This is one reason different sources can produce different figures when discussing the UK’s European population.
How Has the EU-Born Population Changed Since Brexit?
EU migration to the UK increased substantially during the two decades before Brexit, particularly following the enlargement of the European Union in the 2000s.
At the 2021/22 Census, there were approximately 4 million EU-born residents in the UK. They represented about 6% of the UK’s population and 37% of people born outside the UK.
More recent estimates put the EU-born population at approximately 3.9 million in mid-2024. The Migration Observatory notes that the EU-born population has declined slightly during the 2020s, while growth in the UK’s foreign-born population during this period has been driven by people born outside the EU.
This reflects a major change in the composition of migration to Britain.
Before Brexit, EU free movement played a significant role in immigration to the UK. Following the end of free movement, EU migration reduced while non-EU migration became much more prominent.
The ONS says the decline in EU+ immigration began around the time of the 2016 EU referendum and became sharper after free movement ended following December 2020.
Care is needed when comparing figures across long periods because the methods used to estimate migration and migrant populations have changed.
How Many EU Nationals Are Moving to and From the UK Now?
Population figures tell us how many people live in the UK. Migration-flow statistics answer a different question: how many people arrive and leave during a particular period.
For the year ending December 2025, the ONS estimated:
| EU+ long-term migration | Year ending December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Immigration to the UK | 76,000 |
| Emigration from the UK | 118,000 |
| Net migration | -42,000 |
A long-term international migrant in these statistics is broadly someone moving into or out of the UK for 12 months or more.
Net migration is calculated as:
Immigration − Emigration = Net migration
Therefore:
76,000 − 118,000 = -42,000
A negative figure means more people in the measured group left the UK than arrived during the period.
It does not mean that only 76,000 EU migrants live in the UK, or that the entire EU-born population fell to 42,000.
What does EU+ mean?
The ONS currently uses the category EU+ for these migration estimates.
EU+ includes:
- all EU countries;
- Iceland;
- Liechtenstein;
- Norway;
- Switzerland.
The ONS treats Irish nationals within its EU+ analysis, although Irish citizens have distinct rights in the UK under the Common Travel Area.
This means an EU+ migration figure is slightly broader than a figure covering EU countries alone.
Where Do EU Migrants Living in the UK Come From?
The latest detailed country-by-country picture of the resident EU-born population comes primarily from the 2021/22 Census.
At that time, Poland was the largest EU country of birth among UK residents.
The main groups included:
| Country of birth | Approximate UK population at 2021/22 Census |
|---|---|
| Poland | 841,000 |
| Romania | 558,000 |
| Ireland | 387,000 |
| Italy | 292,000 |
| Germany | 291,000 |
Polish-born residents accounted for approximately 21% of the EU-born population, followed by Romanian-born residents at 14% and Irish-born residents at around 10%. Italy and Germany each accounted for roughly 7%.
These figures should be read as a Census snapshot, not as exact 2026 population totals.
There are currently no equally detailed post-Census UK population estimates that provide an updated country-of-birth breakdown for every individual EU country. The Migration Observatory notes that numbers from countries such as Poland and Romania are likely to have changed since the Census because EU net migration has subsequently been negative.
Why Has EU Migration Changed?
There is no single explanation for the change in EU migration, but several developments are important.
The end of free movement
Free movement between the UK and EU ended following the Brexit transition period.
EU citizens who were not resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 and who do not have relevant rights under the Withdrawal Agreement generally need to meet the requirements of the UK’s immigration system if they want to move here for purposes such as work or long-term study.
That is fundamentally different from the pre-Brexit system.
Fewer EU nationals are arriving
ONS data show a continuing decline in EU+ immigration.
There were approximately 76,000 EU+ long-term arrivals in the year ending December 2025. Of these, the ONS estimated:
- 35,000 had EU Settlement Scheme status;
- 34,000 travelled under a visa;
- 7,000 were Irish nationals.
Existing EU residents continue to leave
The ONS estimated approximately 118,000 EU+ long-term emigrants in the same period.
Around 100,000 of them had status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
People leave the UK for many reasons, including employment, family circumstances, retirement and moves elsewhere. Migration statistics alone do not establish one reason for every departure.
Non-EU migration has become more significant
The composition of UK migration has also changed.
The Migration Observatory estimates that 70% of the UK’s foreign-born population in 2024 was born outside the EU. It reports that recent growth in the foreign-born population has been driven by non-EU countries.
EU migration remains important to the UK’s population, but it represents a smaller part of recent migration than it did before Brexit.
What Is the Role of the EU Settlement Scheme?
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was established to protect the residence rights of eligible EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their qualifying family members following the UK’s departure from the European Union.
Eligible people can hold either pre-settled status or settled status, depending on their circumstances and qualifying residence.
The Home Office reported that, since the EUSS was introduced in 2018, just under 4.6 million settled-status grants had been issued by 30 June 2026. In the year ending June 2026 alone, 336,229 settled-status grants were recorded.
However, those figures should not be interpreted as meaning exactly 4.6 million EU migrants currently live in the UK.
There are several reasons.
Some people have received more than one EUSS decision, particularly where they initially received pre-settled status and later obtained settled status. Automated conversions to settled status have also been introduced for eligible pre-settled-status holders.
In addition:
- some EUSS status holders may now live outside the UK;
- some eligible family members are not EU citizens;
- Irish citizens generally do not need EUSS status;
- British-EU dual nationals are different from people who require status under the scheme.
Research using Census data has similarly found that EUSS applicant numbers should not be used as a direct measure of the EU citizen population currently resident in the UK.
If you need information about an individual’s status under the scheme, see our guidance on EU Pre-Settled Status and related EUSS routes.
Can EU Citizens Still Move to the UK?
Yes.
Brexit did not prevent EU citizens from moving to the UK, but the legal framework is different from the previous free-movement system.
For most EU citizens who were not already protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, moving to the UK for work, long-term study or family reasons generally requires appropriate immigration permission.
Depending on their circumstances, possible routes can include:
- the Skilled Worker Visa;
- family immigration routes;
- student routes;
- the Global Talent Visa;
- other work or business immigration categories.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can generally visit the UK for short trips under the visitor rules, subject to current travel-document and Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements. A different immigration route may be needed if they plan to work, study for longer periods or settle.
Irish citizens are different
Irish citizens have a distinct position because of the Common Travel Area.
Under the CTA, Irish citizens can generally enter, live, work and study in the UK without needing UK immigration permission. These rights are separate from EU free movement and continued after Brexit.
Key Takeaways From the Latest EU Migration Data
The current statistics show a clear distinction between the long-established EU-origin population and today’s annual migration flows.
Around 3.9 million EU-born people were estimated to live in the UK in mid-2024. Millions of people who were born in EU countries therefore remain part of the UK population.
EU+ immigration is much lower than it was before Brexit. The ONS estimated 76,000 long-term EU+ arrivals in the year ending December 2025.
More EU+ nationals recently left than arrived. With approximately 118,000 departures, EU+ net migration was around -42,000 during that period.
Recent growth in the UK’s migrant population has primarily involved people born outside the EU. Non-EU-born residents represented approximately 70% of the foreign-born population in 2024.
These statistics measure different things, so resident-population figures should never be substituted for annual migration figures or EUSS application totals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many EU migrants currently live in the UK?
The latest available estimate indicates that approximately 3.9 million EU-born people lived in the UK in mid-2024. This measures people by country of birth rather than current nationality or immigration status.
Is EU migration to the UK increasing or decreasing?
Long-term EU+ immigration has declined substantially from earlier levels. The ONS says the decline began around the 2016 referendum and became sharper after free movement ended. In the year ending December 2025, 76,000 EU+ nationals arrived for 12 months or more.
Are more EU citizens leaving the UK than arriving?
Recent estimates indicate that they are. In the year ending December 2025, around 118,000 EU+ nationals left the UK, compared with approximately 76,000 arrivals, giving net migration of around -42,000.
Which EU country has the largest UK migrant population?
At the 2021/22 Census, Poland was the largest EU country of birth among UK residents, with approximately 841,000 Polish-born people. Romania was second with around 558,000.
What percentage of the UK’s foreign-born population comes from the EU?
Approximately 30% of the UK’s foreign-born population was EU-born in mid-2024. Around 70% had been born outside the EU.
Can EU citizens still move to the UK after Brexit?
Yes, but most EU citizens who are not protected by the Withdrawal Agreement now need to meet the requirements of the UK’s immigration system if moving for work, long-term study or another purpose requiring immigration permission. Irish citizens have separate rights under the Common Travel Area.
Does EU settled status mean British citizenship?
No. Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is an immigration status that allows an eligible person to live in the UK indefinitely. British citizenship is a separate nationality status and has its own eligibility and application requirements.
Do EUSS figures show exactly how many EU citizens live in the UK?
No. EU Settlement Scheme statistics measure applications and status decisions, not the number of EU citizens currently resident in the UK. Repeat applications, moves from pre-settled to settled status, family members and people who subsequently leave the UK mean EUSS totals cannot be treated as a population count.
Understanding the UK’s EU Migrant Population
The clearest current estimate is that around 3.9 million EU-born people were living in the UK in mid-2024.
That resident population remains substantial, even though the direction of annual EU migration has changed. In the year ending December 2025, the ONS estimated 76,000 EU+ arrivals and 118,000 departures, resulting in net migration of around -42,000.
EU citizens who need advice about their right to live, work or remain in the UK should check the immigration route or status that applies to their individual circumstances.