Centre for International Migration

The Centre for International Migration aims to provide the best possible statistics and insights on international migration using new and existing data sources, to meet the needs of our users.

Notice

18 August 2020

We have reduced the content of our Short-Term International Migration (STIM) publication to focus on our migration transformation work and the development of these statistics. Further information can be found in Short-Term International Migration for England and Wales: year ending June 2018. As a result, the STIM table normally included in the Local Area Migration Indicatorsis not currently being produced. This means that the STIM data included in the Local Area Migration Indicators 2020 release will be the mid-2016 to mid-2017 provisional data (previously published in the Local Area Migration Indicators 2019 release). We welcome any thoughts you have on the development of STIM estimates in the future. If you would like to get in touch, please contact us by email at pop.info@ons.gov.uk.

21 May 2020

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is not currently interviewing at ports, airports and stations to gather information about migration, travel and tourism through the International Passenger Survey (IPS).

Data collection via the IPS was paused on 17 March 2020, which means the ONS has IPS data for the year ending December 2019, published 21 May 2020, and robust data for the year ending March 2020, published in August 2020.

We continue to explore alternative sources from across government that can help deliver the statistics our users need as part of our programme to transform population and migration statistics. An update has been provided on our Transformation of the population and migration statistics system: overview page on 21 May 2020.

We have worked with the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to provide additional context on current travel patterns within our May 2020 quarterly report.

For travel and tourism, we are exploring alternative sources of information and will provide an update once we develop our proposals further.

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  1. Our vision
  2. Related links
  3. Contact us

1. Our vision

Our vision is to provide the best possible international migration statistics and insights.​ Using the most up-to-date and accurate data available, we will produce outputs that are relevant, coherent and timely​.

We are transforming the way we produce population and migration statistics. We are doing this to better meet our users' needs for a more timely and accurate understanding of the population to meet the biggest challenges facing society. Our aim is to transform the way we produce our statistics. We will build in flexibility to changes in data, technology, and policy development, underpinned by integration of the best available data sources.

The Centre for International Migration is continuing to work closely with colleagues across the Government Statistical Service (GSS) to use all available data to draw earlier insights. This will result in more timely and accurate data for our users based on actual patterns of migration. We are also working closely with the devolved administrations to ensure comprehensive and coherent UK and country-level migration statistics.

We produce statistics on how many migrants are coming to and leaving the country. Additionally, we provide new insights on the impact and contribution of migrants while they are in the UK. We know that our users are also interested in how migration patterns are changing and what this means for society and the economy. This is especially relevant since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and our exit from the EU.

We also share our expertise internationally by helping steer the activities of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's migration statistics expert taskforces.

International migration statistics and insights

Our work spans the international migration topic area, including:

  • people migrating to and from the UK
  • the UK population by country of birth and nationality
  • new insights on the impact and contribution of international migration
  • reviewing how we define migration in our statistics
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2. Related links

We are working closely with the Government Statistical Service (GSS), other government departments and the devolved administrations to transform migration statistics. This will also ensure comprehensive and coherent UK and country-level migration statistics.

The Home Office and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) also produce regular migration statistics. The Home Office publishes statistics on migration and border control from their administrative systems as well as research and analysis. The DWP produces statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK.

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3. Contact us

We welcome feedback on our statistics and transformation plans. You can contact us by:

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