21/10/2009

UK Population 'To Top 70m'

The population is set to rise to more than 70 million by 2033, the latest official statistics have revealed.

According to the figures published today by the Office of National Statistics, the UK's population will increase by more than ten million by 2029, hitting 70 million.

This would be the fastest increase in a century, less than half the time than it took the population to increase from 50 to 60 million between 1948 and 2005.

Migration, both through immigrant numbers and the births amongst immigrants, is expected to account for two-thirds of the population growth, while just over half is expected to account for natural increase (ie. more births than deaths).

Immigrant numbers have dropped by only 10,000 from the last projection of the ONS two years ago and 180,000 new arrivals are expected every year for the next quarter of a century.

However, the UK's ageing population is also expected to increase more rapidly than other age groups, which the ONS says is the same as in other European countries.

The proportion of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 16% in 2008 to 23% in 2033, while the number of people aged over 85 is expected to double from 1.3 million in 2008 to 3.3 million by 2033 and the number of people aged 100 is expected to rise from 11,000 to 80,000 in the same time period.

The bulk of the increase is expected to be in England.

Shadow Immigration Minister Damian Green said that Labour's "failure to control immigration" had led to the increase. He said: "A Conservative government would introduce a limit on the numbers allowed to come here to work, as well as other measures to fight illegal immigration."

(KMcA/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 November 2013
UK Population To Rise By 9.6m Over 25 Years
The UK population is projected to increase by 9.6 million over the next 25 years from an estimated 63.7 million in mid-2012 to 73.3 million in mid-2037, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The UK population is also projected to reach 70 million in 2027.
23 October 2007
UK Population 'To Hit 70 Million By 2031'
The UK population is projected to increase by 4.4 million to reach 65 million by 2016, according to the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics. The increase is equivalent to an average annual rate of growth of 0.7% and the ONS says that if past trends continue, the population will continue to grow, reaching 71 million by 2031.
24 August 2006
UK population tops 60 million
The population of the UK has increased to more than 60 million for the first time, the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics has shown. The figures showed an increase of 0.6% or 375,000 to 60.2 million by June last year.
30 June 2011
ONS Report Major Rise In UK Population
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have said the rise in the UK population last year has been the biggest increase in almost half a century. The UK population has increased by 3.1 million people between 2001 and 2010. The report describes the recent changes in the population at UK, constituent country and regional levels.
07 August 2003
£10m fund for new classroom and staff rooms announced
More classrooms and staff rooms will be built in schools under a new £10 million grant scheme, unveiled by the Department for Education and Skills. The 'Teaching Environments for the Future' programme will see funding funnelled into building new rooms or remodel existing accommodation in a number of schools around the country.