UK population grows by 1% in 2023, driven by record immigration

The United Kingdom’s population increased by 1% to 68.3 million as of mid-2023, largely due to high immigration, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Reuters reported.

According to the data, net international migration was the key driver of population growth across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, while the natural population change (births minus deaths) fell by 16,300.

England and Wales saw the highest growth at 1%, with Scotland and Northern Ireland posting lower increases of 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. Immigration surged from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, filling gaps in health and social care sectors.

Record migration in mid-2023 marked the largest annual population increase in England and Wales in 75 years, while net migration to Britain stood at 329,000 in 2015 before the Brexit referendum.

Recent immigration policies have sparked protests, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer adopting a more pragmatic approach to illegal migration after scrapping plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.