The United Kingdom’s population reached an estimated 69.5 million in mid-2025, marking a record high but the slowest annual growth rate since 1998, excluding the pandemic year, official data show. The population increased by approximately 227,665 over the previous 12 months, equivalent to a rise of 0.33 percent, significantly lower than growth rates seen in recent years.

The deceleration in population growth is attributed primarily to a steep decline in net migration, which dropped to an estimated 222,900 for the year ending mid-2025, down from a record 651,700 the year before. This reduction coincides with tightened immigration policies introduced by the Conservative government in 2024 and maintained by the current Labour administration, which have restricted work-related entries, particularly from non-European Union countries. Non-EU work arrivals reportedly fell from 471,000 in 2023 to 146,000 in 2025. Additionally, there has been a decrease in arrivals via humanitarian resettlement programs, alongside a rise in emigration.

Natural population change contributed minimally to overall growth. There were about 652,400 births and 647,500 deaths during the same period, resulting in a net increase of just 4,900 people from natural change. This marks a sharp decline from previous years when the difference between births and deaths was significantly higher. The total fertility rate has fallen to 1.39, the lowest level recorded in England and Wales, reflecting broader trends seen in other developed nations. Experts attribute these declines to factors such as rising housing and childcare costs, career implications for women, and changing social attitudes toward family size and childlessness.

Regional population patterns within the UK vary. England experienced a modest growth of 0.39 percent, while Scotland and Northern Ireland had almost no growth, with increases of just 0.04 percent and 0.03 percent respectively. Wales registered its first population decline in a decade, decreasing by about 0.09 percent. Notably, Scotland and Wales both recorded more deaths than births, and London’s population fell for the first time since 2021.

Projections by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published earlier in 2026 indicate that the UK’s population will peak much sooner than previously estimated, reaching around 72.5 million by 2054 before gradually declining. This contrasts with earlier forecasts that projected growth through the late 21st century. The ONS now expects England’s population to peak at just over 62 million in 2056, with similar earlier peak dates for Wales (2035), Scotland (2033), and Northern Ireland (2031).

Analysts note that while migration has been the main driver of population growth in recent decades, the slowdown raises concerns about sustaining the workforce, public services, and tax revenues in an aging society. The evolving demographic landscape poses challenges for future policy planning amid ongoing changes in migration and fertility patterns.