The population of England and Wales has reached an estimated 62 million for the first time, primarily driven by international migration, according to projections from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). As of June 2025, the population grew by 224,000 from the previous year, reaching approximately 62.01 million.
Births are nearly being matched by deaths, with nearly 588,000 births recorded against just over 568,000 deaths. This marks the lowest number of annual births since 1978, occurring amidst declining fertility rates below the 'replacement level' necessary for population stability.
Net international migration played a significant role, with 816,000 people entering the UK and approximately 605,000 leaving to live abroad. This resulted in a net international migration figure of 211,700, a notable decrease from the 612,500 recorded in the year leading up to mid-2024.
Regional Population Shifts
The ONS data indicates that all regions of England experienced population increases, with the exception of London, which saw a 0.29% decline. This decrease in London is attributed to an increase in residents moving to other parts of the UK.
The data, compiled by the ONS, has been analyzed to create an interactive tool allowing users to examine population changes in specific areas, including births, deaths, internal migration, and international migration.
Population growth has surpassed earlier predictions, which anticipated England and Wales would not reach 60 million people until 2029. The statistics also highlight a growing aging population, characterized by fewer children per adult and increased life expectancy due to advancements in medicine and living standards.
Aging Demographics
The number of individuals aged over 100 across England and Wales reached approximately 15,172, an increase from 14,635 in 2024 and 12,472 in 2015. The population aged 105 and above saw a substantial rise of 34%, reaching 709 compared to 529 in the previous year.
Furthermore, the ONS projected that 581,400 people were aged 90 or over in the past year, up from 564,300 the year before. Men constitute 34.1% of the over-90 population and 18.8% of those over 100. For every centenarian man, there are 4.3 women over the age of 100.
Nigel Henretty of the ONS stated that migration has been the primary driver of population change in England and Wales for the last 25 years. While this remains the case, he noted that the recent decline in migration has resulted in the smallest population growth since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pointed out that London experienced its first population decrease since 2021, and the population of Wales fell for the first time in a decade.