The line graph illustrates the trends in immigration, emigration, and net migration to and from the UK between 1999 and 2008. Overall, both immigration and emigration figures showed an upward trend over the period, with immigration consistently exceeding emigration. Net migration, calculated as the difference between immigration and emigration, also generally increased, reaching a peak in 2004 and 2007.
In 1999, approximately 450,000 people immigrated to the UK, while over 300,000 emigrated, resulting in a net migration figure of just under 200,000. This pattern remained relatively stable until 2003, with net migration fluctuating around 200,000. However, in 2004, a significant increase in immigration, reaching around 550,000, coupled with a slight rise in emigration, led to a peak in net migration at over 250,000.
After 2004, immigration continued to remain high, with figures fluctuating between 450,000 and 550,000. Emigration figures, however, exhibited greater variability. While there was a slight decrease in 2005, there was a significant surge in 2008, reaching over 450,000. This fluctuation in emigration resulted in a second peak in net migration in 2007, again exceeding 250,000, before declining to around 200,000 in 2008.