According to the National Statistics Office, 2004 (the latest year for which statistics are available) was a record year for the number of newcomers to the United Kingdom. Approximately 223,000 more people came to the United Kingdom than left the UK in that year. This net inflow represents the highest number of newcomers to the UK since modern record-keeping methods began in 1991.

The number of people who came to the United Kingdom to live for at least one year increased from 513,000 in 2003 to approximately 582,000 in 2004. The inflow of newcomers to the United Kingdom has been climbing steadily since 1995. The UK requires an influx of skilled workers to keep pace with its growing economy and shrinking native-born population.