Shocking emigration: 250,000 people leave Britain in just 12 months!

The government said this figure is more than three times the expected rate 

            

Shocking emigration: 250,000 people leave Britain in just 12 months!

Official government figures in Britain revealed that more than a quarter of a million citizens emigrated from the country last year alone. The government stated that this figure is more than three times the expected rate. 

A report published by the local newspaper, the Evening Standard, stated that 257,000 British citizens left the country in the year ending December 2024, compared to the previous estimate of only 77,000.

The Office for National Statistics stated that net migration, which is the difference between the number of people moving to Britain long-term and the number leaving, was previously based on the International Travelers Survey. 

However, this survey "exceeded its original purpose" and used a small sample size, so it is no longer considered a reliable measure. This prompted the Office to review its statistics and figures, discovering that the true number of British citizens emigrating abroad was 257,000 last year, not 77,000 as previously thought. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, the current estimates were reached using more accurate and comprehensive data from the Department for Work and Pensions, which includes everyone with a National Insurance number. 

This data can be used to determine the potential emigration status of individuals in Britain. This comes amid reports that Britain is on track to lose a record 16,500 millionaires this year, amid rising taxes and a crackdown on wealthy individuals living in Britain who do not pay taxes or benefit from tax breaks that are being abolished.

Wealth Flight

This exodus from Britain is part of a "historic wave of wealth flight," as other countries compete with Britain for capital, according to the Henley Private Wealth Flight Report. Retired footballer Rio Ferdinand left Britain and moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, citing high taxes and declining public services as the reasons for his move.

The former Manchester United and England star said: “There are things falling apart and going wrong in the country, and then I sit and wonder: are we really paying taxes for what benefits the people here? That’s the most important question that needs answering, and I think a lot of us know the answer.”

Herman Narula, head of the £2.5 billion technology company Improbable, has previously stated that he is preparing to emigrate from Britain to the UAE because of the government’s introduction of a tax aimed at preventing the wealthy from avoiding taxes by moving their fortunes abroad. Among those who have reportedly left are Richard Gnod, CEO of Goldman Sachs, and Nick Storonski, co-founder of Revolut.

Net migration to Britain

Net migration to Britain peaked in recent years at a level slightly higher than initially expected, and has since fallen sharply, according to the latest figures.

The figures show that net migration peaked at 944,000 in the financial year ending March 2023, compared to the previous estimate of 906,000 for the financial year ending June 2023. This was followed by a sharper decline than initially reported, with net migration for the financial year ending December 2024 now estimated at 345,000, down from the original estimate of 431,000 published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in May of this year.

According to Mary Gregory, director of population statistics at the ONS, the office has been seeking different data sources to revise its estimates after the 2021 census showed that the International Travelers Survey underestimated the number of Britons abroad. She said: “Understanding long-term international migration patterns of British nationals has always been, and will continue to be, challenging given the sheer number of Britons who cross borders every day.”