The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2026 was published on 16 June 2026, but it does not provide a newly verified count showing that 165,000 millionaires have relocated this year. That figure was a forecast published in the 2025 report. It should be read as a modelled projection, not a confirmed migration total.

The distinction matters if you are considering residence or citizenship planning. These reports can highlight demand and sentiment, but they cannot tell you whether relocating is suitable for your tax position, family or business.

What the headline figures mean

Henley and its data partner, New World Wealth, have published millionaire migration estimates since 2013. Their figures include 120,000 relocations in 2023, 134,000 in 2024 and a provisional estimate of 142,000 for 2025. The forecast for 2026 was 165,000.

The figures are rounded estimates. Henley defines a migrating millionaire as someone with at least USD 1 million in liquid investable wealth who relocates and remains in another country for more than 6 months.

The 2026 report uses a different approach. Instead of publishing a country ranking of estimated inflows and outflows, it introduces a Global Wealth Mobility Framework. This considers factors including taxation, rule of law, residence pathways, family inclusion and geopolitical stability. The UK receives a score of 68.3 and is classified as a competitive jurisdiction under pressure. Henley states that the score is directional and does not measure actual millionaire departures.

What the UK figures show

Henley’s 2025 report projected a net loss of 16,500 millionaires from the UK, with an estimated £66 billion in liquid investable assets. This was a provisional model, not a figure confirmed through UK government departure records.

The 2026 report says applications from people with a UK address increased by 15% between 2024 and 2025. Henley also received applications from 86 nationalities across 47 investment migration programmes during the first 5 months of 2026.

Application volumes can show growing interest in international options. They do not prove that applicants moved, changed tax residence or transferred their wealth.

Headline claim	What it shows	What it does not prove
165,000 millionaires in 2026	A forecast of global movement	A verified final count
UK loss of 16,500 in 2025	Henley’s provisional estimate	Confirmed UK emigration
Rising applications	Interest in mobility planning	Completed relocation

Why the methodology remains disputed

Tax Policy Associates raised concerns about changes in the treatment of property wealth, unusual number patterns and the use of work-location information from sources such as LinkedIn. The Tax Justice Network also argued that the reported flows represent a very small share of the wider millionaire population and do not establish that tax caused particular moves.

Henley’s 2026 report acknowledges that wealthy migration is difficult to measure. People may hold several homes, passports and residence rights, while programme applications may reflect contingency planning rather than an intention to relocate.

What this means for your planning

Use migration reports as background rather than instructions. When comparing citizenship by investment programmes, review the legal framework, required investment, due diligence, family eligibility, residence obligations and tax consequences.

Active direct citizenship routes include Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia. Malta requires different treatment because its former direct-investment citizenship framework was repealed after the 2025 EU court judgment. Malta still offers residence routes, while citizenship by merit is discretionary and is not a replacement investment programme.

A St Lucia citizenship by investment lawyer can help assess eligibility, documents and source-of-funds requirements. Approval remains a decision for the Saint Lucian authorities.

Frequently asked questions

Is the millionaire exodus from the UK confirmed?

No official count confirms the widely reported 16,500 figure. There is evidence of increased mobility planning, but the scale of completed relocation remains uncertain.

Should migration reports determine where I relocate?

No. Base your decision on current immigration law, specialist tax advice, investment risk, family requirements and long-term plans.

Speak to someone who looks at the full picture

Coates Global can explain the St Lucia citizenship by investment programme and compare it with other residency and citizenship options. Contact Coates Global to arrange a consultation based on your circumstances.