More Than 40,000 Immigrants Flee the UK in Pain and Disappointment — What They Said When Asked Why Is Heartbreaking

Tens of thousands of people are now leaving the UK in search of a life that feels cheaper, calmer, and safer, as everyday costs keep rising and public services, especially the NHS, come under increasing strain. Many families who once moved to Britain full of hope now say the country no longer offers the future they imagined.

One of those families is Alexandra Stamate, her husband, and their three children. They moved to Bristol in 2015 believing the UK would give them stability and opportunity. Instead, after years of rising bills and growing pressure, they decided to leave and return to Romania.

They now live in a rural area, where they say life feels more manageable and less stressful. Romania’s economy has grown rapidly in recent years, with wages rising sharply over the past decade, unemployment staying low, and housing remaining affordable compared to the UK.

Back in Britain, the financial pressure has continued to mount. Average household energy bills jumped by more than £1,200 this year, water bills also rose, and council tax increased by around five percent. For many families, these rising costs have made everyday life feel unsustainable.

As a result, more Romanians are leaving the UK than any other nationality. In the year up to last June, around 37,000 Romanians left, while only 14,000 moved to the UK. This marks a sharp reversal from the years after Romania’s 1989 revolution, when millions moved abroad in search of better lives.

Ms Stamate said the constant rise in the cost of living made raising children harder both financially and emotionally. She explained that safety concerns, the stress of city life, and the high cost of property, even in rural parts of the UK, all added to their decision.

She also said she did not want to rely on bank loans and found that Romania offered affordable land, a better climate, and a quieter countryside lifestyle that felt more suitable for her family.

Romanians are now leaving in much higher numbers than other groups, including Polish citizens, with around 25,000 Poles returning home in the same period.

Many migrants say their decision is not just about money. Some point to feelings of discrimination since Brexit, while others describe bad experiences with the NHS, which is struggling with long waiting lists, staff shortages, and severe financial pressure.

A woman from Bucharest named Stefania, who lived in the UK for 12 years before leaving in 2022, said she still loves England but felt let down by the healthcare system.

She claimed a doctor failed to diagnose a serious condition and instead gave her medication for anxiety. She believes that decision nearly cost her her life and says she now receives better medical care back in Romania.

It is not only migrants who are leaving. British citizens are also moving abroad in growing numbers. Analysis of United Nations data shows that countries like Poland and Romania have seen a sharp increase in British arrivals over the past four years, with more than 100,000 Britons relocating to central and eastern Europe during that time.

Overall migration figures also show a major shift. According to the Office for National Statistics, net migration to the UK fell by about two-thirds in the year up to June, dropping from 649,000 to around 204,000.

Speaking to GB News, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said migration levels have fallen significantly compared to previous years. He criticised the last government, saying net migration rose to nearly one million despite promises to cut it, and described the current lower figure as a move in the right direction.

For many families and individuals, however, the numbers reflect something more personal: a growing feeling that life in the UK has become too expensive, too stressful, and too uncertain to stay.