Immigration has pushed the UK population to 69.3million, according to official figures today.
Numbers rose by 755,300 between mid-2023 and mid-2024 – the second-biggest annual increase since 1950.
That was only behind the eye-watering spike of 890,049 estimated for the previous 12 months.
The bump was largest in England at 1.2 per cent, while Scotland saw a 0.7 per cent rise, Wales 0.6 per cent and Northern Ireland 0.4 per cent.
Numbers rose by 755,300 between mid-2023 and mid-2024 – the second-biggest annual increase since 1950
The ONS said the growth in the UK population was mostly due to net international migration
Nigel Henretty of 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, continuing the long-term trend seen since the turn of the century.’
Births nudged above deaths over the year, making a marginal contribution to the population after being a net negative in the previous 12 months.
There were 662,148 births and 645,909 deaths, adding 16,239 to the population.
But the ONS said the main factor was the 738,700 boost from long-term net international migration.
The ONS said the main factor driving population growth was the 738,700 boost from long-term net international migration
Births nudged above deaths over the year, making a marginal contribution to the population after being a net negative in the previous 12 months
Some 1,235,254 people were estimated to have arrived in the UK in the 12 months to June 2024 while 496,536 were likely to have emigrated.
The numbers were released as Keir Starmer desperately tries to show he is serious about cracking down on arrivals.
Sir Keir has been facing collapse in the polls amid mounting anger about Channel boats and asylum hotels.
There has also been a growing backlash against the scale of legal arrivals, with Nigel Farage demanding an end to indefinite leave to remain status – although he later watered down his own proposals.
The numbers come as Keir Starmer desperately tries to show he is serious about cracking down on arrivals
