__Menu ![\\"Return](\\"/static/img/ff-logo.a3c246edc83d.png\\"/) Donate * Fact checks ## Fact checks Our fact checking systematically raises standards in public debate and changes the behaviour of powerful actors * All fact checks * Latest * Health * Crime * Education * Climate * Tax * Cost of living * Politics Live * Campaigns ## Campaigns We’re campaigning to tackle bad information online, protect our elections and improve the quality of information in public debate * Campaigns * Follow: WhatsApp * Subscribe: Email * Read: Blog * Asks of the new government * Supporter interventions * Your MP * Policy ## Policy Our policy work aims to improve the information environment, in order to protect and encourage good public debate * Policy * Reports * Framework for information incidents * Research * Letters & submissions * Full Fact AI ## Full Fact AI Our technology and training work is designed to help everyone work faster and smarter * Full Fact AI * Full Fact Training * About Full Fact AI * About ## About Bad information ruins lives. We’re a team of independent fact checkers and campaigners who find, expose and counter the harm it does * Who we are * How we fact check * After we fact check * Our team * Contact us * Jobs * Funding * Independence * Impartiality * Feedback & corrections * FAQs * International networks * Search 1. Immigration / 2. Immigration statistics # Net migration equals a city the size of Cardiff 7 October 2016 ##### What was claimed Immigration adds a city the size of Cardiff to the UK’s population every year. ##### Our verdict Net migration in the UK was 327,000 in the year to March. Cardiff has a population of 357,000. But this isn’t true every year. In 2014 net migration was 243,000. > “We’re adding to the population of this country at the minute, the United > Kingdom that is, a city the size of Cardiff every year from immigration > alone.” > > Neil Hamilton AM, 6 October 2016 Net migration was 327,000 people for the year ending March 2016. This is the estimated increase in the overall population of the UK when you compare the number of people coming to live in the UK and the number going abroad. That’s almost as many people as live in Cardiff. The population there was 357,000 in mid-2015. This is a type of claim we’ve seen before and there are several towns and cities that could be used for comparison: Wakefield, where the population is around 334,000, Belfast where it’s 339,000 or Wigan where it’s 322,000. But net migration isn’t at this level every year. It’s been increasing and has been at roughly record levels since 2015. In 2014 net migration was around 243,000 people, or roughly a population the size of Swansea or Salford. There is a large margin of error in these migration figures as the number is estimated from surveys taken at the main air and sea ports and routes into the UK. * By Claire Milne * Share this: * Twitter * Facebook ## Was this helpful? Full Fact fights for good, reliable information in the media, online, and in politics. Support Full Fact today ### Related fact checks * PM’s conference speech claim about ‘23% increase’ in immigration returns based on unpublished data * There aren’t 1.6 million asylum seekers claiming benefits in the UK * Are recent migrants prioritised for council housing? * The UK asylum backlog: explained * Estimate of £400,000 cost per asylum seeker based on the Netherlands, not the UK * Did you find this fact check useful? * Yes No ## Full Fact fights bad information Bad information ruins lives. It promotes hate, damages people’s health, and hurts democracy. You deserve better. Get the information you need * Who we are * Funding and independence * Our impartiality * Feedback and corrections * Media enquiries * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram ![\\"Return](\\"/static/img/ff-logo.a3c246edc83d.png\\"/) Full Fact, 17 Oval Way, London, SE11 5RR Full Fact is a registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 06975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales. © Copyright 2010-2024 Full Fact. Thanks to Bytemark for donating our web hosting. Privacy, terms and conditions. Full Fact uses cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Find out more about cookies. Okay
Immigration adds a city the size of Cardiff to the UK’s population every year