According to data released on Tuesday, the population of the United Kingdom increased by 1% over the past year, reaching 68.3 million by mid-2023.
The rise is primarily attributed to high levels of immigration, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The figures indicate that net international migration significantly contributed to population growth across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
However, the report also highlighted a decline in natural population change, with deaths surpassing births by 16,300—a trend that emerged earlier than anticipated. Previous ONS projections had indicated that negative natural change wouldn’t occur until the mid-2030s.
The UK has seen an influx of economic migrants as well as individuals arriving through irregular routes, such as small boat crossings, which have intensified pressure on already strained public services.
This situation has been exacerbated by years of underfunding, making immigration a highly sensitive political issue amid the recent surge.
Specifically, the population of England and Wales grew by 610,000 by mid-2023, representing the largest annual increase in 75 years. In contrast, net migration was notably lower in 2015, the year before the Brexit referendum, at 329,000.
While both England and Wales experienced a 1% growth, Scotland’s population grew by a modest 0.8%, and Northern Ireland saw an increase of 0.5%, according to the ONS.
Post-Brexit immigration trends have shifted as well; the number of migrants from the European Union has decreased significantly due to new visa regulations, while there has been a notable rise in migrants from India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, many of whom have been recruited for essential roles in health and social care.
In the political landscape, immigration remains a contentious topic. In August, far-right groups organized protests against the increasing number of migrants, indicating rising tensions for the newly elected Labour government.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who assumed office in July, has adopted a different strategy regarding illegal immigration, discarding the previous Conservative government’s controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
He has emphasized that his administration’s approach will be more pragmatic and distinct from that of his predecessor.
