The
"above average" increase of 491,100 from mid-2013 to mid-2014 included
net migration adding 259,700 to population growth, the ONS figures show. This was more than "natural growth" - births minus deaths - which added 226,200. The ONS said a quarter of births were to mothers born outside the UK. The
overall number of births was down compared with the previous year,
continuing a downward trend seen since a peak in mid-2012. The population increase was above average compared with rises over the last decade, the ONS said. As
well as net migration and natural growth, other changes and
adjustments, mainly in the armed forces, accounted for an increase of
5,200 people, the ONS said. The ONS figures show the annual growth
in population rose steadily from about 150,000 in 1992 to about 300,000
in 2004, but that rose sharply in 2005 to 460,000. It has remained above 400,000 since - 2014's net increase is the fifth biggest.
Ageing population
The figures also found that the number and proportion of older people in the UK continued to rise. The
median age of the population - the age at which half the population is
younger and half the population is older - in mid-2014 was 40 years, the
highest ever estimated. There were 11.4 million people (17.7% of
the population) aged 65 and over in mid-2014, up from 11.1 million
(17.4%) in the previous year. Of the UK's individual nations, England's population grew the most quickly during the year, growing by 450,800 people (0.84%). Within
England, London had the highest population growth, up 1.45%. The East
and South East regions of England increased by 1.08% and 0.92%
respectively.
Net migration accounted for 53% of the overall population increase
Regional increases
The
figures found that the population of Scotland increased by 19,900 (up
0.37%) to 5,347,600 and accounts for 8% of the UK's population. Meanwhile Wales' population increased by 9,600 (up 0.31%) to 3,092,000 and accounts for 5% of the UK's population Northern Ireland's population, which accounts for 3% of the UK's population, increased by 10,800 (up 0.59%) to 1,840,500 people/ The
lowest regional population increases in the year were seen in Wales,
North East of England and Scotland growing by 0.31%, 0.32% and 0.37%
respectively. No country of the UK or region of England experienced a population decrease.
Biggest population increases in the UK by local authority
1. City of London - up 5.54% from 7,600 to 8,100 2. Tower Hamlets, London - up 4.08% from 272,900 to 284,000 3. Westminster, London - up 2.84% from 226,800 to 233,300 4. Forest Heath, West Suffolk - up 2.56% from 61,200 to 62,800 5. Islington, London - up 2.48% from 215,700 to 221,000 6. Coventry - up 2.31% from 329,800 to 337,400 7. Hackney, London - up 2.24% from 257,400 to 263,200 8. Camden, London - up 2.23% from 229,700 to 234,800 9. Oxford - up 2.08% from 154,800 to 158,000 10. Exeter - up 2.08% from 121,800 to 124,300 Source: ONS, figures for mid-2013 to mid-2014
