Immigration Drives UK Population Growth
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that the UK population has reached 68.3 million, marking a 1% increase year-on-year, primarily fueled by high immigration rates. This growth is observed across all four nations of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
In the year leading up to mid-2023, net international migration emerged as the predominant factor contributing to this population surge, overshadowing natural population changes, which recorded a decline of approximately 16,300. This decline indicates a shift in demographic trends, as previous forecasts had anticipated a negative natural change would not occur until the mid-2030s.
The ONS report highlights that England and Wales experienced the most significant growth, both seeing a 1% increase. In contrast, Scotland's population grew by 0.8%, while Northern Ireland saw a modest rise of 0.5%. The dramatic increase in population, particularly in England and Wales, is attributed to a record influx of migrants, including economic migrants and individuals arriving through irregular channels, such as small boat crossings in the English Channel. This influx has sparked intense political debate, particularly concerning the strain on public services that have suffered from years of underinvestment.
The figures indicate that the population of England and Wales has surged by around 610,000, marking the largest annual increase in 75 years. Notably, net migration to the UK was recorded at 329,000 in 2015, just before the Brexit referendum, underscoring the significant changes in immigration patterns since then.
