Overview

• The population rose by 755,254 (1.1%) in the year to mid-2024 to an estimated 69.3 million, the second-largest annual increase since the late 1940s, according to the ONS.
• Net migration totaled about 738,718 and accounted for 98% of the growth, with an estimated 1,235,254 arrivals and 496,536 departures in the 12 months to June 2024.
• Natural change added just 16,239 people, as 662,148 births slightly exceeded 645,909 deaths and births hit their lowest level for at least 42 years.
• Growth was fastest in England at 1.2% compared with Scotland (0.7%), Wales (0.6%) and Northern Ireland (0.4%), with Wales and Scotland recording more deaths than births.
• Over two years to June 2024 the population rose by about 1.6 million, the largest two-year jump on record, while the ONS also revised 2011–2023 estimates and separate calendar-year data show net migration at 431,000 has not been revised.