Migration in Wales: Data, public opinion and political debate

Like many countries, Wales sees a steady flow of people arriving and leaving for other countries each year. The difference between those arriving and those leaving is known as "net migration".

Focusing on people moving from abroad, latest estimates say Wales' population - which was 3.2 million in June 2024 - had increased by about 23,000 over the previous year as a result of net international migration.

A recent YouGov poll found a quarter of people surveyed in Wales believed that immigration, alongside the economy, should be among the issues prioritised by the Welsh government, even though immigration is controlled by the UK government.

International migration figures include people planning to stay for at least 12 months, such as British nationals returning to Wales from abroad as well as those moving from other countries. Most people arrive to work or study, while others come to join family members, through humanitarian schemes - such as those for Ukraine and Hong Kong - or to seek asylum.

Legal immigrants are those who enter the country with permission such as a visa, while illegal immigrants arrive without it, or stay in the UK after their permission has expired. Asylum seekers are those asking for sanctuary due to dangers in their home country, and successful applicants are given refugee or protected status.

Apart from the Nation of Sanctuary policy, through which the Welsh government aims to help refugees and asylum seekers placed in Wales to integrate and access public services, the UK government is in charge of immigration. Home Office data from December 2025 showed that overall across Wales, there were 11 asylum seekers being supported per 10,000 people, the lowest rate across the UK's four nations.

The city of Wrexham, in north Wales, is home to 138,245 people, according to the latest ONS estimates from June 2024. Between 2020 and 2024, it is estimated that international net migration added 2,900 people to Wrexham's population. Wrexham has seen recent anti-immigration protests, after Home Office proposals - which were scrapped - to house 70 asylum seekers in a disused care home in the area.

Local residents expressed concerns regarding the prioritization of support services. Natalie Wasiuk, 38, stated she believed immigration was a problem in the area, while Kelsey Hesp, 32, felt that people arriving from overseas were given support with services before local families. Steven Rees-Davies, 63, expressed opposition to illegal immigration.

Most people who come to the UK from abroad do so legally. Official estimates suggest about 898,000 people arrived in the UK in the year to June 2025, with around 49,000 entering illegally. About half of all asylum claims in 2025 were made by people who had entered the country this way.

Anna Buckley, director of the Polish Integration Support Centre, noted that Wrexham is a welcoming city for those arriving legally, but expressed concerns about illegal immigration. Arlene Elano, a care home worker from the Philippines, highlighted that anti-immigration sentiment has led to tensions and safety concerns for overseas workers.

Mario Kreft, director of Pendine Park, emphasized that the healthcare sector would be lost without migrant workers. Prof Ryszard Piotrowicz of Aberystwyth University suggested that political parties might use immigration as a vote winner, noting that unless funding is increased to support the population, it could lead to negative impacts on resources.

Political parties in Wales hold differing views. The Welsh Conservatives and Reform want to scrap the Nation of Sanctuary policy. Plaid Cymru, Welsh Labour, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party support the policy, though they emphasize the need for a fair, rules-based system.