UK population increased 1%, driven largely by migration: Report

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - The population of the UK grew 1% during the last year, driven primarily by net international migration, according to figures released Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The population of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rose from an estimated 67.6 million in mid-2022 to 68.3 million in mid-2023 -- an increase of 662,400.

It marks the largest annual population growth in numerical and percentage terms, since comparable records began in 1971.

"Net international migration was the main contributor to population increase for all four countries of the UK in the year to mid-2023," said ONS.

Net migration for the period is currently estimated at 677,300.

Despite the overall rise in population, the natural change -- the difference between births and deaths -- showed a decline.

The ONS reported that the natural population change fell 16,300 during the same period.

It is only the second time since 1976, excluding the coronavirus pandemic year of 2020, that the UK has experienced negative natural population growth. Previous forecasts had not anticipated the trend until the mid-2030s.