# Brexit 10 years on: net migration triples, trade deficit widens 2026-08-08T05:53:22+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Ten years after the Brexit referendum, the UK has seen seven prime ministers and net migration has more than tripled. From 2.49 lakh in 2016, net migration surged to 8.91 lakh in 2022 and 8.48 lakh in 2023, according to official data. The total net migration of 27 lakh between 2021 and 2025 is double the 12.7 lakh recorded in the five years before the vote. Brexit campaigners promised to reduce immigration and boost independent trade. Instead, while EU migration turned negative, non-EU migration rose sharply. On trade, the UK's goods exports to the EU remain below 2019 pre-pandemic levels, and its trade deficit with the bloc as a share of exports increased from 13.5% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2025. Services exports have performed better but overall outcomes are mixed. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Brexit, European Union, Immigration, net migration, trade, United Kingdom Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/brexit-10-years-on-net-migration-triples-trade-deficit-widens/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/brexit-10-years-on-net-migration-triples-trade-deficit-widens/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.