UK population rises to 68.3 million in 2023, driven by record immigration
The UK's population grew 1% to 68.3 million by mid-2023, driven mainly by high immigration from countries including India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Net international migration surpassed natural population changes, and England and Wales saw the highe...
By ET Online |
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The United Kingdom's population grew by 1% to reach 68.3 million by mid-2023, largely driven by high immigration, according to data from Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS). Net international migration was the primary factor behind the population increase across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the ONS reported.
In contrast, the natural population change, which measures the difference between births and deaths, saw a decline of 16,300. This drop in natural growth occurred earlier than expected, as previous ONS projections anticipated such a trend only by the mid-2030s.
Immigration has surged in the UK over recent years, driven by both economic migrants and those arriving via irregular routes, including small boat crossings. This influx has sparked political debate, especially regarding the strain on public services, which have faced years of underinvestment. In mid-2023, the population of England and Wales experienced a significant increase of 610,000, marking the largest annual growth in 75 years. For comparison, net migration in 2015, just before the Brexit referendum, was 329,000.
England and Wales saw the highest population growth, each recording a 1% increase, followed by Scotland at 0.8% and Northern Ireland at 0.5%. Post-Brexit immigration patterns have shifted, with fewer migrants from the European Union, but an increase in immigration from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, primarily to address gaps in health and social care roles.
Recent immigration-related protests by far-right groups reflect growing political tensions, a challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's newly elected Labour government. Starmer has taken a different approach from his predecessor by abandoning the previous administration's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, opting instead for a more pragmatic stance on managing illegal migration.
In contrast, the natural population change, which measures the difference between births and deaths, saw a decline of 16,300. This drop in natural growth occurred earlier than expected, as previous ONS projections anticipated such a trend only by the mid-2030s.
Immigration has surged in the UK over recent years, driven by both economic migrants and those arriving via irregular routes, including small boat crossings. This influx has sparked political debate, especially regarding the strain on public services, which have faced years of underinvestment. In mid-2023, the population of England and Wales experienced a significant increase of 610,000, marking the largest annual growth in 75 years. For comparison, net migration in 2015, just before the Brexit referendum, was 329,000.
England and Wales saw the highest population growth, each recording a 1% increase, followed by Scotland at 0.8% and Northern Ireland at 0.5%. Post-Brexit immigration patterns have shifted, with fewer migrants from the European Union, but an increase in immigration from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, primarily to address gaps in health and social care roles.
Recent immigration-related protests by far-right groups reflect growing political tensions, a challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's newly elected Labour government. Starmer has taken a different approach from his predecessor by abandoning the previous administration's controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, opting instead for a more pragmatic stance on managing illegal migration.
The UK government has implemented significant increases in the salary requirements for various visas as part of its efforts to reduce migration to the country.
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