Immigration growth hits 75-year high, UK population rises to 68.3 million_1

According to the Office for National Statistics, by mid-2023, the population growth rate in the UK was 1%, reaching a total of 68.3 million, primarily driven by a surge in immigration.

The latest population data released by the Office for National Statistics reveals that all four regions of the UK—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—experienced population growth. International migration emerged as the key factor behind this trend. Notably, England and Wales saw an increase of 610,000 people in the past year, marking a growth rate surpassing 1%, the largest annual increase in 75 years. Meanwhile, Scotland’s population growth rate was recorded at 0.8%, and Northern Ireland at 0.5%.

As of mid-2023, the natural population change in the UK—the difference between births and deaths—declined by 16,300 people. Previous forecasts from the Office for National Statistics had suggested that natural population decline would not occur until around 2035.

In recent years, the number of immigrants to the UK has surged, comprising both economic migrants and asylum seekers who arrived via small boats illegally.

Despite a significant drop in EU migration following Brexit and changes in visa policies, the new work visa regulations have led to a notable increase in immigrants from countries such as India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, upon taking office, halted the previous Conservative government’s plan to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda. He stated that the new administration’s approach to addressing illegal immigration would be more pragmatic, contrasting sharply with the tactics of the preceding government.