UK population sees biggest increase in 70 years

The population of the UK has seen its sharpest annual rise in almost 70 years, official figures have revealed.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 65,648,000 people were living in the country at the end of June last year.

Over the 12 months to the middle of 2016, the number of UK inhabitants rose by 0.8% or 538,0000.

It is the biggest increase in population since the year 1947, when population increased by 551,000.

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Citing the reasons for the rise, the ONS said net migration was the main driver – along with an increase in births and fewer deaths.

It is also the first time that population in England has exceeded 55 million.

Commenting on the population rise, Neil Park, head of the Population Estimates Unit at the ONS, said: ‘The population of the UK continued to grow in the year to mid-2016 at a similar rate to that seen over recent years. Net international migration continued to be the main driver, but there was also an increase in births and fewer deaths than last year.

‘Population growth was not evenly distributed however, with London’s growth rate more than twice that in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the three northern English regions.’

Despite fewer deaths occurring last year, there was only a small change to the proportion aged 65 and over, and an unchanged median age of 40.

Across the country, the vast majority of local authorities also saw rises in their population – with 14 areas where population went up by 2 percent or higher.

Net migration, meanwhile, the balance of the number of people arriving and leaving the country – was at 336,000.