The UK's population reached a new high of 69.5 million people by mid-2025, but the growth rate slowed significantly to 0.33%, the lowest since 1998 excluding pandemic years. This slowdown is attributed primarily to decreased net migration, which dropped from 651,700 in the previous year to 222,900, following visa restrictions introduced by the Conservative government. Additionally, the number of births fell to a four-decade low of 652,400 while deaths were at 647,500, contributing minimally to population growth through natural change.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-01,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The UK's population growth slowed to its lowest rate outside the pandemic since 1998, reaching an estimated 69.5 million people in mid-2025. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a rise of just 0.33%, which is significantly lower than previous years' increases of 1.05%, 1.34%, and 0.97% in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively. This sharp slowdown is primarily due to a rapid drop in net migration since it peaked in 2023, with the latest figure standing at an estimated 222,900 migrants. Additionally, there were only 652,400 births recorded in the year to mid-2025, marking the lowest number of births in more than four decades. Wales experienced a first population decline since 2015, while Scotland and Northern Ireland saw minimal growth; England alone showed a small increase. The ONS also noted fewer arrivals through official humanitarian resettlement schemes and an uptick in people leaving the country.
Written for “UK Population Growth Slows” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
The UK population has hit a new high of 69.5million but the rate of growth has slowed significantly, official figures show.
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figures → hit → growth
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the slowdown was due to falls in net migration, which has dropped rapidly since hitting record levels in 2023.
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which → say → 2023
It represented a rise of 0.33 per cent – the lowest annual rate of increase since 1998, excluding the pandemic-affected year of 2020.
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It → represent → 2020
Much larger jumps in population were seen in other recent years, including 1.05 per cent in 2022, 1.34 per cent in 2023 and 0.97 per cent in 2024.
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jumps → see → 2024
The ONS said most population growth is down to net migration, the difference between the number of migrants arriving in the UK and those emigrating.
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growth → say → UK
Net migration in the year to mid-2025 was estimated at 222,900, the latest data showed.
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data → estimate → 222,900
It was down steeply from 651,700 in the previous 12 months thanks mainly to a series of visa restrictions introduced by the previous Conservative government in spring 2024.
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It → introduce → spring
The Office for National Statistics said the slowdown in population growth was due to falls in net migration, which has dropped rapidly since hitting record levels in 2023
Some 652,400 births took place in the year to mid-2025, the lowest for more than four decades, the ONS said.
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ONS → say → decades
There were 647,500 deaths over the same period, meaning natural change – the difference between births and deaths – contributed an increase to the UK population of only 4,900.
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change → be → 4,900
The four countries of the UK are showing different population trends, with Wales seeing its first drop for a decade, Scotland and Northern Ireland experiencing almost no growth, and only England showing a small increase.
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England → show → increase
Projections published earlier this year by the ONS suggested the UK’s population will peak more than 40 years earlier than previously thought.
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population → publish → ONS
It calculated the number of people living in the country will hit a high of 72.5million in 2054, and then begin to fall.
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number → calculate → 2054
Its previous estimates suggested the UK peak would not arrive until 2096.
uncertain
peak → suggest → 2096
Within that UK-wide total, changes in the ONS’s calculations mean it now expects the first ever peak – and decline - in England’s population.
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it → mean → population
Previous sets of data compiled by the official statistics body had forecast that the number of people living in England would continue to increase for at least the next century.
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number → compile → century
But now it is forecasting it will hit its highest point of just over 62million in 2056, before beginning to fall.
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it → forecast → 2056
For other nations in the UK their predicted population peaks have been brought forward.
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peaks → predict → UK
The ONS expects Wales’ population to peak in 2035, rather than in 2077.
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population → expect → 2077
Scotland’s population will reach its highest level just seven years from now, in 2033, rather than in 2051 as previously estimated.
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population → reach → 2051
And Northern Ireland’s population will peak two years earlier, in 2031.
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population → peak → 2031
The changes are due to a combination of slowing net migration and births outnumbering deaths.
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births → slow → deaths
The earlier projections set out how the UK population is set to grow more slowly than previously thought over the next few years.
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population → set → years
It is forecast to climb from 69.3million in 2024 to 71million in 2034 – 1.2million lower than previously forecast.
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It → forecast → 2034
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