Net migration to the UK from the European Union has fallen below 100,000 for the first time in more than four years, official figures reveal.
Some 90,000 more EU migrants arrived in Britain than left in the year to September 2017, data released by the Office for National Statistics show.
It is the first time net migration from the bloc has dipped below six figures since the year to march 2013, when it was 95,000.
The last time the measure was lower was in 2012, when it was 82,000.
(PA Graphics)
The net EU migration figure of 90,000 was down from an estimated 165,000 in the previous year, a fall of 45%.
Overall net long-term international migration was 244,000 in the 12 months to September, a year-on-year drop of around 29,000, or 11%.
Nicola White, ONS head of international migration statistics, said: “Brexit could well be a factor in people’s decision to move to or from the UK, but people’s decision to migrate is complicated and can be influenced by lots of different reasons.”