Net international migration to Northern Ireland fell to 1,900 people in 2025, the weakest figure in more than a decade outside the pandemic year, new official statistics show.

The data estimate 12,100 international arrivals against 10,100 departures — but the published net gain of 1,900 reflects the rounded balance of roughly 12,100 arrivals and 10,200 people leaving the region. Excluding 2020, when COVID-19 border restrictions suppressed movement worldwide, international immigration has not been this low in over ten years.

How does 2025 compare with recent years?

The decline marks a sharp reversal from the post-pandemic surge. Net international immigration to Northern Ireland reached a recent peak of almost 9,000 people in 2023. Two years later, that figure has dropped by roughly three-quarters.

The pattern mirrors the wider United Kingdom. National statistics show UK migration fell to 171,000 in the most recent period — almost half the 2024 figure — after a surge in arrivals in the years following the pandemic gave way to a steep decline.

What happens when movements within the UK are counted?

Adding intra-UK migration to the calculation changes the picture entirely. Once arrivals from and departures to Great Britain are included, Northern Ireland recorded overall net emigration of 800 people in 2025.

That means more people left the region for elsewhere — abroad or within the UK — than moved in.

Is the Northern Ireland population shrinking?

Not yet, but the trend points that way. The total population of Northern Ireland increased by just 600 people in 2025. The only reason it grew at all is natural change: there were 1,400 more births than deaths during the year.

With net international migration at 1,900, net intra-UK emigration at 800, and natural increase at 1,400, the overall balance lands at about 600.

The official analysis states the trends suggest the Northern Ireland population is likely to start shrinking soon.

Who does this affect?

The figures matter for anyone tracking UK regional migration — employers, policymakers and analysts watching labour supply in Northern Ireland. A net gain of 1,900 international migrants represents a dramatically smaller inflow than the near-9,000 peak of 2023, and it signals reduced demographic support for the region's workforce and economy.

Readers should treat these numbers as official estimates. The statistics come from the UK's official migration data releases, and future revisions can adjust the figures.

Key figures at a glance

• Net international migration, 2025: 1,900 people
• International arrivals: 12,100
• International departures: 10,200
• Recent peak: almost 9,000 net international immigrants in 2023
• Overall net emigration including intra-UK moves: 800 people
• Population growth in 2025: 600 people, driven by 1,400 more births than deaths
• UK-wide comparison: net migration of 171,000, almost half the 2024 figure