Emigration from the UK reached a record high in 2008, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

An estimated 427,000 people emigrated from the UK in 2008, up from 341,000 in 2007. This rise was due to an increase in non-British citizens leaving, up from 169,000 in 2007 to 255,000 in 2008.

Emigration of citizens of the A8 Accession countries (those countries of Central and Eastern Europe that joined the European Union in 2004) more than doubled from 25,000 to 69,000 between 2007 and 2008.

An estimated 590,000 people arrived to live in the UK in 2008. This compares with 574,000 in 2007 and is a continuation of the level of immigration seen since 2004.

Overall, net migration to the UK (the difference between immigration and emigration) was 163,000 in 2008.