The population of England and Wales has reached an estimated 62 million, a new record high, despite over 600,000 people emigrating abroad. Over the year to June 2025, the population increased by 224,000, representing a growth rate of just under half a percent. This increase was primarily fueled by international migration, though the overall growth rate was the slowest since 2020 due to a significant drop in net migration.
A total of 816,500 people arrived in England and Wales from overseas, while 604,800 departed. This resulted in a net international migration figure of 211,700, a substantial decrease from the 612,500 recorded in the year to mid-2024.
Concurrently, the number of births declined to 588,000, the lowest figure recorded since 1978 and an 8,000 decrease from the previous year. The number of deaths was close to the number of births, with 568,400 recorded.
Regional Population Shifts
All regions in England saw population increases, with the exception of London, which experienced a 0.29 percent decline. This decrease in the capital is attributed to an increase in residents moving to other parts of the United Kingdom. Rugby in Warwickshire recorded the highest annual population growth at 2.4 percent, while the Isles of Scilly experienced the most significant decline, down 3.5 percent, followed by Camden in north London, which decreased by 1.8 percent.
An Ageing Population
The data also highlights a continuing trend of an ageing population. The number of individuals aged 100 or older in England and Wales reached approximately 15,172 last year, an increase from 14,635 in 2024 and 12,472 in 2015. The number of people aged 105 and above saw a rise of over a third (34 percent) to 709, compared to 529 in the previous year. Furthermore, the number of people aged 90 or over increased to 581,400, up from 564,300 the year before.
Nigel Henretty of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted that migration has been the primary driver of population change for the past 25 years. He added that the recent decrease in migration has resulted in the smallest population growth seen since the peak of the pandemic. The ONS data indicated that the population of Wales also fell for the first time in a decade.
The demographic shifts, including an ageing population and fewer births, are occurring against a backdrop of national discussions regarding the social care system. The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold cross-party talks on social care, though attendance from key political figures has been affected by prior commitments and scheduling.