FOI reference: FOI-2024-2214
You asked
Please supply under the FOI act the number of emigrants selling up and moving abroad for the 15 months ending 31.7.2024
We said
Thank you for your freedom of information request.
Provisional estimates for long-term emigration in the year ending (YE) December 2023 show that the number of people emigrating from the UK long-term is estimated at 532,000, which is 39,000 higher than the YE December 2022 (493,000) (Figure 3). This is driven largely by increased emigration from non-EU nationals, particularly among those who initially arrived on a study visa.
Further information can be found in the Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2023 released on 23 May 2024. This is the most up to date information.
November 2024 for Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending June 2024 will be available in November 2024.
Long-term international migration, provisional: year ending December 2024 will be available in 2025.
- Please keep an eye on our release calendar for updates.
The information you have requested is considered exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.