The population of the United Kingdom reached 68.3 million as of mid-2023, reflecting a 1% annual increase primarily driven by high levels of immigration, according to official statistics released on Tuesday.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that net international migration was the principal factor in the population growth across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland during the year leading up to mid-2023. Meanwhile, the natural change in population, calculated as the difference between births and deaths, saw a decline of 16,300, contrary to earlier ONS projections which anticipated negative growth only by the mid-2030s.
The UK has experienced significant immigration in recent years, including economic migrants and those arriving through irregular means, such as small boat crossings—a contentious political issue due to the pressure on public services following years of under-investment.
The population of England and Wales alone surged by 610,000 in mid-2023, marking the largest annual increase in 75 years. In contrast, net migration to Britain in 2015, prior to the Brexit referendum, was 329,000.
Population growth rates varied across the UK, with England and Wales both seeing a 1% rise, while Scotland experienced a growth of 0.8% and Northern Ireland recorded a 0.5% increase, the ONS noted.
Post-Brexit visa changes have led to a significant decrease in European Union migrants, but new work visa regulations have resulted in increased immigration from India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, often to fill gaps in health and social care roles.
In August, far-right groups staged protests against migrants, presenting an early challenge to the newly elected Labour government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has halted the previous Conservative government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda since taking office in July, stated that his approach to illegal migration would be pragmatic and signify a shift from the previous administration’s policies.
