The UK’s population will reach seventy million people by 2029 according to figures released today by the Office of National Statistics.

They forecast an increase of 3.6 million (5.5%) over the next 10 years, from an estimated 65.6 million in mid-2016 to 69.2 million in mid-2026.

Population growth in England is projected to grow more quickly than the other UK nations, 5.9% between mid-2016 and mid-2026, compared with 4.2% for Northern Ireland, 3.2% for Scotland and 3.1% for Wales.

Meanwhile over the next 10 years, 46% of UK population growth is projected to result from more births than deaths, with 54% resulting from net international migration.

The ONS estimates that in the next ten years, 7.7 million people will be born, 6.1 million people will die, 5.2 million people will immigrate long-term to the UK and 3.2 million people will emigrate long-term from the UK.

The UK population is projected to pass 70 million by mid-2029 and be 72.9 million in mid-2041.

The forecasts see an increasing number of older people; the proportion aged 85 and over is projected to double over the next 25 years.

However say the OND, The UK population growth rate is slower than in the 2014-based projections; the projected population is 0.6 million less in mid-2026 and 2.0 million less in mid-2041.

“These projections suggest slower growth than the previous (2014-based) projections. This is because of lower assumptions about future levels of fertility and international migration, and an assumption of a slower rate of increase in life expectancy.” says Andrew Nash, Population Projections Unit, Office for National Statistics.

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