UK population hits 69.3 million as immigration drives growth, ONS reports

The UK population stood at an estimated 69.3 million in mid-2024, up 755,300 from a year earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics. The increase marks the second-largest annual rise since 1950, behind the 890,049 increase recorded in the previous 12 months.

The growth was not uniform across the country: England accounted for the bulk, up 1.2 percent; Scotland rose by 0.7 percent; Wales by 0.6 percent; and Northern Ireland by 0.4 percent.

The Office for National Statistics attributed most of the rise to net international migration, a continued trend since the turn of the century. Nigel Henretty, head of population estimates at the ONS, said, "The UK population has increased each year since mid-1982. The rate of population increase has been higher in recent years, and the rise seen in the year to mid-2024 represents the second-largest annual increase in numerical terms in over 75 years. Net international migration continues to be the main driver of this growth."

The release arrives amid ongoing public debate over immigration policy. Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced pressure to demonstrate a tougher stance on arrivals amid concerns over Channel crossings and the use of asylum hotels, while opponents have pressed for tighter controls on legal routes. Nigel Farage has called for ending indefinite leave to remain, though he later tempered some of his proposals.

Analysts note that migration has been a central factor shaping the UK population for more than two decades, with implications for labor markets, housing, and public services. The ONS cautions that mid-year population estimates are subject to revision as new data become available, and the figures released today reflect the latest official snapshot of population change.