Is emigration rising again? What this year’s figures really show and what they mean for Lithuanians in the UK
For six years in a row, more citizens returned to Lithuania than left. Preliminary 2026 data show that this gap has almost disappeared, and in September more people left than returned. The United Kingdom remains one of the main emigration destinations. We look at what is known for certain, what is not yet known, and what this means for Lithuanians living here.
What the figures show
On 14 October, LRT published preliminary migration data:
- this year, the number of Lithuanian citizens who returned (more than 12,000) was only around 500 higher than the number who left;
- from February to May, the numbers leaving and returning were very similar, and in August they were level;
- in September, more citizens left than returned;
- more men than women are emigrating, and most of those leaving are of working age;
- the main destinations have not changed for some time: the United Kingdom, Norway and Germany.
For comparison: in June, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (URM), citing State Data Agency figures, reported that 19,310 citizens returned in 2025 and 9,940 left, so almost twice as many returned as left.
What we do not yet know
The data are preliminary. Vaiva Randytė, a specialist at the State Data Agency, stressed to LRT that the migration statistics currently being published are preliminary and will be revised. In our assessment, final figures for the year should be expected next year.
The year is not over yet. Whether 2026 ends with a negative migration balance for citizens will depend on the final months. For now, it is accurate to say that the surplus of returnees has almost disappeared, not that a new period of mass emigration has begun.
The door is not closed. According to a study carried out in 2024 and cited by LRT, six in ten emigrants did not rule out returning one day, but most likely not for at least five years.
Why people are leaving again
The LRT report cites as reasons the high cost of living, very expensive housing, rising prices of goods and services, and competition with immigrants in the labour market.
Žygimantas Mauricas, chief economist at Luminor bank, told LRT that the main reasons are economic: in Sweden, Finland or Norway, in his estimation, people can earn about twice as much for similar work. According to experts, geopolitical anxiety and fear of war also contribute. Mauricas also pointed out that the longer people live abroad, the less likely they are to return: they build circles of friends and families, and their children go to local schools. In his view, Lithuania needs a clear immigration policy.
What the government is proposing
- Lithuanian schools. Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristupas Vaitiekūnas urges diaspora families to send their children to Lithuanian supplementary schools, which helps them keep the language and their ties with Lithuania.
- Family Package. Minister of Social Security and Labour Inga Ruginienė told LRT that the draft Family Package proposes paying emigrants who bring their families back from 2,000 to 5,000 euros, plus a further thousand euros each for integration. Important: this is a draft. According to the minister, the government aims to have the legislative package adopted this autumn, but until it is adopted, the amounts and conditions may change.
Our assessment: what this means for Lithuanians in the UK
- The figures are not a reason to panic, but they are a signal. A trend that lasted six years has been broken. It is likely that the cost of living in Lithuania and the wage gap with Western Europe are once again becoming important in people’s decisions.
- The UK remains one of the main destinations. This means that the community living here may grow again, and newcomers will need reliable information about work, housing and rights. We would point out that Lithuanian citizens arriving in the UK now are subject to different rules from those before Brexit: the EU Settlement Scheme applies only to those who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, and to their family members whose relationship with them began by that date (for children, also those born later). Others who want to live or work in the UK need a visa; without one, they can come only for a short time, as a visitor.
- If you are considering returning, wait for clarity. If you plan to return with your family, it is worth following whether, and in what form, the Family Package is adopted. Information about returning is provided by the URM “Grįžtu LT” centre, at griztu.lt.
- Ties with Lithuania do not depend on your address. Lithuanian supplementary schools, communities and Lithuanian-language media help to maintain language and identity, whether or not a family ever returns.
Londono Žinios will publish the final 2026 migration data once they are confirmed by the State Data Agency.
Based on information from LRT (14 October 2026, by Irma Janauskaitė; 17 September 2026), URM data published by LRT English (BNS) on 3 June 2026, URM information about “Grįžtu LT” and Citizens Advice information about the EU Settlement Scheme.
Republication must credit Londonozinios.com as the source.
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