The number of asylum seekers living in the West Midlands is on the rise, bucking a national trend, according to the latest Home Office data. However, Birmingham has experienced a notable decline in its asylum seeker population.
Regional Increase, City Decrease
As of March 2026, a total of 25,526 asylum seekers were residing in the West Midlands, up from 24,028 in December 2024 and 22,421 in December 2023. Despite this increase, asylum seekers still account for only 0.4% of the region's population, with a significant proportion coming from Ukraine under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
In contrast, Birmingham saw a decrease in asylum seekers, with 4,153 living in the city in March 2026, down from 4,237 in December 2024 and 4,555 in December 2023.
Homes for Ukraine Scheme Major Contributor
The Homes for Ukraine scheme accounts for 40% of all asylum seekers in the West Midlands, with 10,165 Ukrainians now taking refuge in the region. This number has risen sharply from 7,738 in December 2023.
Significant Drop in Hotel Accommodation
There has been a large reduction in the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels in the region. In March 2026, only 2,314 asylum seekers were living in contingency accommodation, less than half the 5,652 recorded in December 2023.
The Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, previously used as a quarantine hotel, is now housing asylum seekers as part of this accommodation shift.
National Net Migration Trends
Nationally, UK net migration fell to 171,000 in the year to December 2025, less than half the figure for the same period in 2024 and drastically down from the peak of almost one million in 2023. This is the lowest level since 2012, excluding the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the number of British nationals leaving the country continues to rise. The UK experienced a net loss of 136,000 British nationals in the year to December 2025, up from a net loss of 117,000 in 2024 and 80,000 in 2012.
