Latest news with #OfficeForNationalStatistics
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Nigel Farage blasts 'disastrous' immigration levels as soaring UK population sees second biggest rise since 1949
Immigration fuelled the second largest annual population increase in England and Wales since the Second World War last year, official figures showed. The population is estimated to have grown by more than 700,000 people in the year to June 2024, the second largest annual increase since records began in 1949. It was eclipsed only by the 821,210 population increase in the 12 months to mid-2023, with growth in both years driven almost entirely by record rises in the number of migrants flocking to Britain. Net international migration - the difference between people moving to the country and leaving - accounted for 98 per cent of the estimated population increase of 706,881 people. There were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up from 61.1 million in mid-2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some 1,142,303 people were estimated to have come to England and Wales as immigrants in the 12 months to June 2024 while 452,156 were likely to have emigrated, the figures showed. Politicians warned the huge population growth fuelled by migration was unsustainable and would place unsustainable pressure on housing and public services. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: 'These figures are disastrous for the quality of life for everyone in the country. It puts impossible pressures on public services and further divides our communities.' Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice described the figures as 'deeply concerning' as they 'have serious implications for the housing crisis, crime rates, and quality of life across Britain'. 'The UK cannot benefit from, or cope with such high levels of unvetted, low skilled immigration,' he said. 'We need economic policies that support British families, encourage higher birth rates, and ensure that the interests of the British public come first.' The ONS stats also showed there was a decrease in the number of births and deaths in the year to mid-2024, compared with the previous year. There were slightly more births (596,012) than deaths (566,030) in the year to mid-2024, which added just 29,982 to the population. The highest rates of population growth were in the City of London (11.1 per cent), Oadby and Wigston (3.1 per cent), and Preston (2.9 per cent). And the greatest rates of population decrease were Isles of Scilly (-2.8 per cent), Kensington and Chelsea (-1.4 per cent) and Lambeth (-0.6 per cent). Nigel Henretty of the ONS said: 'The population of England and Wales 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.' Net international migration was positive in every local authority in England and Wales except South Holland, Lincolnshire. Without net migration, the population of a third of all local authorities would have fallen, the figures show. Birmingham the largest net international migration. It added 24,235 to its population with a total of 39,000 coming to the city from overseas between mid-2023 and mid-2024 while 14,000 left. Newham, London, saw the largest amount of international migration as a percentage of its existing population, at 4.7 per cent. Earlier this year, the total UK population exceeded that of France for the first time on record after it rose to 68.3 million in mid-2023. The ONS has predicted the UK population will grow to 73.7 million by mid-2036 and hit the 70 million mark a decade earlier than previously thought. Those projections assume that net migration will fall over the next few years from a peak of about 670,000 in the 12 months to June 2023, before settling at 315,000 a year from 2028 onwards. Tory shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said the ONS data showed the population is rising at 'an unsustainable pace', which is 'almost entirely driven by record levels of immigration'. 'This isn't about numbers on a spreadsheet, it's about pressure on housing, NHS waiting lists, school places, wages and it's about community and our culture,' she said. 'Britain simply cannot plan or build fast enough to keep up.' She added: 'We must secure our borders and deliver a fair and sustainable immigration system that works for the British people.' However Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures 'confirm the truth of the Tory legacy on immigration'. She added: 'Their failed open borders experiment resulted in net migration quadrupling to a peak of almost a million per year in 2023 even as they promised it would fall. 'Since the election, net migration has come steeply down, and as part of the Government's Plan for Change we have set out new measures in the Immigration White Paper and have already changed immigration rules to bring net migration down further. 'To be successful, effective and fair, our immigration system must be properly controlled and managed. Out of the chaos and failure of the Tory past, that is what this Government will deliver.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Migration fuels second-biggest population rise in 75 years
The population of England and Wales has seen its second biggest annual jump in 75 years due to surging immigration, new figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the population grew by 700,000 in the year to last June, almost entirely driven by migration. The statistics watchdog said a small portion of the increase was driven by natural change, the difference between births and deaths. But net migration, the difference between those moving to England and Wales and those leaving, accounted for 690,147 of the increase. Some 1,142,303 people were estimated to have arrived in England and Wales in the 12 months to June 2024 while 452,156 were likely to have left. There were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up 706,881 (1.2 per cent) from 61.1 million in mid-2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the second largest numerical jump since at least 1949, when comparable data begins, behind only the rise of 821,210 that took place in the preceding 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023. Nigel Henretty of the ONS said: "The population of England and Wales 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." Nigel Farage said the figures are 'disastrous for the quality of life for everyone in the country'. The Reform UK leader said: 'It puts impossible pressures on public services and further divides our communities.' Sir Keir Starmer has promised to bring down sky-high migration, pressing ahead with a slate of reforms set out by the Conservatives in government. But the prime minister found himself in hot water after a major speech on migration in which he echoed Enoch Powell, warning that Britain risked becoming an 'island of strangers'. The PM also said that the number of people entering the country is causing 'incalculable damage'. Going further than the Tories, Sir Keir vowed a ban on the recruitment of care workers from overseas, increased English language requirements for immigrants and the tightening of access to skilled worker visas. The number of people living in England and Wales has risen annually since mid-1982, with migration contributing most to population growth every year since mid-1999. Before then, increases were caused mainly by natural change. The rise of 706,881 in the 12 months to June 2024 is the second biggest year-on-year numerical jump in population since at least 1949, which is the earliest comparable ONS data. It is behind only the rise of 821,210 that took place in the preceding 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023. This means the population is estimated to have grown by 1.5 million between June 2022 and June 2024: the largest two-year jump since current records began.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Migration fuels second largest annual jump in population in over 75 years
The population of England and Wales is estimated to have jumped by more than 700,000 in the year to June 2024, the second largest annual numerical increase in over 75 years, figures show. Almost all of this rise was due to international migration, with natural change – more births than deaths – accounting for only a small proportion. There were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up 706,881 from 61.1 million in mid-2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Net international migration – the difference between people moving to the country and leaving – was the 'main driver' of the jump in population and accounted for 98% (690,147) of the increase, the ONS said. The number of people living in England and Wales has risen annually since mid-1982, with migration contributing most to population growth every year since mid-1999. Before then, increases were caused mainly by natural change. The rise of 706,881 in the 12 months to June 2024 is the second biggest year-on-year numerical jump in population since at least 1949, which is the earliest comparable ONS data. It is behind only the rise of 821,210 that took place in the preceding 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023. This means the population is estimated to have grown by 1.5 million between June 2022 and June 2024: the largest two-year jump since current records began. Nigel Henretty of the ONS said: 'The population of England and Wales 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.'
The Sun
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
England and Wales population surges by 703,000 in a year as migration drives second-biggest rise in 75 years
ENGLAND and Wales have seen their population soar by more than 700,000 in just a year – with migration behind nearly all of the record rise. The number of people living in the two nations hit 61.8 million by June 2024, up from 61.1 million the year before, according to the Office for National Statistics. 1 It marks the second-biggest annual increase since records began in 1949, following an even larger jump of 821,000 the previous year. Officials said births and deaths made up only a small part of the growth. The bulk of the increase came from net migration, with far more people arriving than leaving. The ONS's Nigel Henretty said: 'Net international migration continues to be the main driver of this growth, continuing the long-term trend seen since the turn of the century." The staggering figures pile pressure on Labour as the Tories blast ministers for failing to protect stretched public services. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp fumed: 'These numbers are far too high and must come substantially down. "The pressure on housing and social cohesion is unacceptable. We also now know that mass low-skill migration is bad for the economy and actually costs more than it contributes. "The only thing certain to get immigration numbers dramatically down is a hard cap on the number of visas issued, set by Parliament each year. "We tabled this proposal in Parliament just a few weeks ago, but Labour voted against it.'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Migration drives 707k population rise in England and Wales - marking the second largest jump since 1945
The population of England and Wales is estimated to have grown by more than 700,000 people in the year to June - driven almost entirely by international migration. It is the second largest annual numerical rise in over 75 years - behind only the increase of more than 800,000 people that took place from mid-2022 to mid-2023. There were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up 706,881 from 61.1 million in mid-2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Almost all of this increase was due to international migration, with natural change - the difference between births and deaths - accounting for only a small proportion. Net international migration - the difference between people moving to the country and leaving - accounted for 690,147 of the estimated population increase of 706,881 people, or 98 per cent of the total, the ONS said. Some 1,142,303 people were estimated to have come to England and Wales as immigrants in the 12 months to June 2024 while 452,156 were likely to have emigrated. There was a decrease in the number of births and deaths in the year to mid-2024, compared with the previous year, the figures show. There were slightly more births (596,012) than deaths (566,030) in the year to mid-2024, which added 29,982 to the population. By contrast, internal migration from England and Wales to elsewhere in the UK was higher (at 56,300) than the number of people moving from the UK into the two nations (42,693), meaning there was a net decrease in internal migration of 13,607. The highest rates of population growth were City of London (11.1 per cent), Oadby and Wigston (3.1 per cent), and Preston (2.9 per cent). And the greatest rates of population decrease were Isles of Scilly (-2.8 per cent), Kensington and Chelsea (-1.4 per cent) and Lambeth (-0.6 per cent). Nigel Henretty of the ONS said: 'The population of England and Wales 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.'
