According to the UK Office for National Statistics, the population growth rate in the UK reached 1% by mid-2023, totaling 68.3 million people, largely driven by significant immigration.
In its latest report, the Office for National Statistics revealed that all four regions of the UK—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—experienced population growth, primarily due to international migration. Notably, England and Wales saw an increase of 610,000 people over the past year, marking a growth rate of over 1% and the highest annual increase in 75 years. Scotland’s population grew by 0.8%, while Northern Ireland registered a growth rate of 0.5%.
As of mid-2023, natural population changes in the UK, defined as the difference between birth and death rates, showed a decrease of 16,300 people. Previous forecasts by the Office for National Statistics suggested that the UK’s natural population changes wouldn’t enter negative territory until around 2035.
In recent years, the number of immigrants to the UK has surged, including both economic migrants and asylum seekers arriving via small boats.
Despite a sharp decline in EU immigration following Brexit due to changes in visa policies, the new work visa regulations have led to a significant influx of immigrants from India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
Upon taking office, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak halted the previous Conservative government’s plan to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda. Sunak stated that the new government’s approach to addressing illegal immigration would be more pragmatic and would significantly differ from the previous administration’s strategy.
