UK Experiences Record Population Growth Due to Migration Surge

The UK's population increased by 1% in the past year, driven by net international migration as deaths outpaced births.

The UK population reached 68.3 million in mid-2023, marking the largest annual increase since 1971.
Net international migration contributed 677,300 people to the population, offsetting a natural decline of 16,300 more deaths than births.
This demographic shift highlights a growing reliance on migration to sustain population numbers amid declining birth rates.
England and Northern Ireland saw slight natural population increases, while Scotland and Wales experienced more deaths than births.
The Office for National Statistics cautions that these figures are subject to revision as migration data continues to improve.