The South East experienced the largest net gain from internal migration – immigration less emigration to and from other UK regions – between 1998 and 2007 according to Halifax.

Since 1998, 550,889 more people have moved to the South East from elsewhere in the UK than have left to live in another region. This was 7% more than the South West, recipients of the second highest net gain from internal migration (514,511).

London recorded the only net loss from internal migration (-344,558) of any UK region. However, this loss was more than offset by the arrival of nearly two million people to London from abroad since 1998.

Six of the twelve UK regions saw at least one million people migrate to their region from another UK region over the past ten years. The South East was the most popular region for people to move to between 1998 and 2007 with more than 2.2 million people arriving from elsewhere in the UK. This was 39% more than the 1.6 million who migrated to London from elsewhere in the UK.

Almost two million people moved out of the capital to live in other parts of the country during the ten years to 2007. This was the biggest number to move away from any of the 12 UK regions to live elsewhere in the UK. Therefore, London recorded the only net loss from internal migration (-344,558) of any UK region.

The South East experienced the second highest level of emigration to elsewhere in the UK (1.7 million), followed by the East of England (1 million). Eight of the twelve UK regions saw at least three quarters of a million people depart for another UK region. In contrast, Northern Ireland (95,551) recorded the lowest level of internal emigration followed by the North East (335,280).

Overall, London’s population has risen by 370,000 over the last decade, the biggest increase of any region despite being the only region to experience a net loss from internal migration. This was because the capital has seen by far the highest level of net international migration with 1.8 million more people moving to London from abroad than have moved from the capital to live outside the UK.

The North East (-26,000) and North West (-27,000) were the only UK regions to see an overall decline in their population between 1998 and 2007.

Martin Ellis, Halifax chief economist, said: “There have been significant population movements across the UK over the past ten years. Regions in southern England saw the largest gain from internal migration with the South East proving the most popular region for people to move to from elsewhere in the UK.”