Second-highest population rise in 75 years of 700,000 is driven by net migration

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 more than 75 years, figures show.

- IAN JONES

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 per cent (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.”

Some 1,142,303 people were estimated to have immigrated to England and Wales in the 12 months to June 2024, while 452,156 were likely to have emigrated, giving a figure of 690,147 for net international migration.