Long-Term Yearly Migration to UK Rises by 20,000 in 2015

Long-term migration to the United Kingdom has increased by 20,000 in 2015, reaching a net figure of 333,000, the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The number of long-term international migrants, defined as those staying in the country for over 12 months, reached 333,000 in 2015, up from 313,000 the year before, ONS said in its May 2016 Migration Statistics Quarterly Report.

The net value comes from an influx of 630,000 long-term migrants, down 2,000 from the year before, and an exodus of 297,000, down 22,000 from 2014, according to official data.

Net migration from non-EU countries was marginally higher, with 188,000 migrants settling in the United Kingdom, compared to the 184,000 migrants coming from the European Union.

The figures come amid growing debate over increased migration and its impact on the future of the United Kingdom in the European Union. Earlier this month, Justice Secretary Michael Gove said that more than 400,000 migrants could come to the United Kingdom every year starting from 2020 if the country did not leave the European Union.

UK citizens are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership, after UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 other EU member states reached a deal in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc, which includes restricting social benefits available to EU migrants.