The U.K. saw a record-breaking surge in immigration in 2023, with 746,900 people moving to Britain—a 52.9% increase from 2022, according to OECD data.
This growth made the U.K. the leader among developed nations in immigration rates, second only to the U.S. in total arrivals, which reached 1.2 million.
Family reunification drove 60% of the increase, largely tied to health and care worker visas. Despite recent limits on relatives accompanying care workers, skepticism remains high after consecutive years of record immigration. The U.K. also led the OECD in student visas, issuing nearly 450,000 last year.
This influx has boosted the number of foreign-born workers in Britain to 7 million, accounting for 20% of the workforce. London stands out, with 40% of residents born abroad. While common origins include India, Poland, and Pakistan, millions of migrants remain unemployed, relying on taxpayer-funded benefits.
Under both Conservative and Labour leadership, immigration has steadily risen. Labour leader Keir Starmer has echoed calls to combat illegal immigration and reduce reliance on foreign labor but has avoided setting firm caps. Critics like Nigel Farage argue mass immigration strains public services, housing, and the economy, without delivering promised GDP per capita growth.
A report by the Center for Policy Studies found immigration caused 89% of England’s housing deficit over the last decade and worsened rental market pressures. Between 2001 and 2021, the share of residents in England and Wales born outside the U.K. nearly doubled, from 9% to 17%, with projections showing continued rapid growth.
Farage has urged “net zero migration,” blaming both Labour and Conservatives for unchecked population growth. While Labour hints at vague restrictions, critics see little change on the horizon as immigration reshapes the U.K.’s economy and demographics.
