UK population to rise by 4m over decade
UK population to rise by four million over next decade, official figures show
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Wednesday, 21, Oct 2009 02:48
By Sarah Garrod
The UK population is predicted to rise by four million over the next decade, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has said today.
The ONS also forecasts that over the next 25 years the UK population could rise from an estimated 61.4 million in 2008 to 71.6 million by 2033.
Just over two-thirds of the increase is likely to be related directly or indirectly to migration to the UK, as well as an ageing population, which will see the population of pensionable age rise by 32 per cent over the next 25 years.
An ONS release read: "Of the 10.2 million projected increase in the UK population over the next 25 years, 55 per cent is projected natural increase (more births than deaths) and 45 per cent is projected net migration.
"However, future numbers of births and deaths are themselves partly dependent on future migration. Taking this is taken into account, just over two-thirds of the projected total increase in the UK population between 2008 and 2033 is expected to be either directly or indirectly due to future migration."
The ONS says in common with other European countries, the UK has an ageing population which will grow more rapidly than other age groups.