Population Change
UK population increases by 408,000
Components of population change, UK, mid-1998 to mid-2008
The population of the United Kingdom was 61,383,000 in mid-2008. This is an increase of 408,000 (0.7 per cent) on mid-2007 and is equivalent to an average increase of over 1,000 people a day.
Population growth has increased over recent decades; this latest increase compares with an average annual growth of 0.5 per cent since 2001; 0.3 per cent per year between 1991 and 2001; and 0.2 per cent between 1981 and 1991. Increases in births, decreases in deaths and changes in the pattern of international migration into and out of the United Kingdom have all contributed to population change.
The chart shows the contribution of natural change (the difference between births and deaths) and net migration (the difference between long term migration into and out of the UK) on population growth.
Natural change was the largest contributor to population growth until the year to mid-1999 and more recently in the year to mid-2008. Between these periods, net migration has been the main driver of population change. In the year to mid 2002, net migration accounted for over 70% of the total population change.
From 2002, natural change has increased and in the year to mid-2008 it accounted for over half of total population growth (54%). This was the first time in nearly a decade that natural change was the main contributor to population growth over a 12 month period.
Components of population change, UK, mid-2001 to mid-2008
The table shows that natural change contributed 220,000 to population growth in the year to mid-2008; this is more than a three fold increase from the mid-2002 figure of 62,000. This increase in natural change is mainly attributable to a growth in the number of births although a decrease in the numbers of deaths over this period has also played a part.
The number of births is increasing partly due to rising fertility among UK born women and partly because there are more women of childbearing ages due to inflows of female migrants to the UK.
In comparison, net migration contributed to 186,000 of population growth in the year to mid-2008, an increase of 26% on the mid 2002 figure of 148,000.
Sources: Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
Notes: Net migration & other changes include change in the population due to international migration and changes in the number of armed forces (both home and foreign) and their dependents resident in the UK.
Figures in the table may not add exactly due to rounding.
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Interactive Population Pyramid